Archive by category 'Militaria Articles by Era'
Harold J. Kats was drafted on 11/30/1948 and sent to Fort Riley Kansas for training. He was later attached to Service Company, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Division at Fort Benning, GA then released on 12/11/1949 after being transferred to inactive reserves.
The Korean War broke out in June 1950 and Harold was called up again 9/27/1950 and assigned to Medical Company, 9th Infantry Regiment “Manchus”, 2nd Division at Fort Lewis, WA on 10/05/1950.
The Manchus were the first troops of the Indianhead Division to enter Korea and fought in the following battles:
- Bloody Ridge – (8/18/1951 – 9/5/1951)
- Heartbreak Ridge – (9/13/1951 – 10/15/1951)
- Old Baldy – (6/26/1952 – 8/4/1952)
- Pork Chop Hill – (3/1953 – 7/1953)
Harold was discharged 7/21/1951 with the following decorations and awards:
- Sharpshooter w/ rifle bar
- Combat Medic Badge
- Korean Service Medal w/ one Bronze Service Star
- Bronze Star Medal w/ V Device for “Valor”
- United Nations Service Medal
- Rep of Korea Presidential Unit Citiation
- National Defense Service Medal
- Army Commendation Medal
- Army Occupation Medal
All attempts to obtain Harold’s Bronze Star Medal citation were unsuccessful because his service record was lost in the NARA fire in 1972. Based on Harold’s time spent in Korea, I suspect it was for valor exhibited during the Battle of Bloody Ridge.
Posted in Korean War Militaria | 4 Comments »
Archive by category 'Militaria Articles by Era'
This pair of NVA (North Vietnamese Army) boots were sent home as a souvenir by veteran Danny Felton. Danny served in Vietnam as a Marine in 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment, 3rd Division and acquired the boots during Operation Hastings in 08/1966, after his unit overran part of the 826th Regiment on “Mudders Ridge.”
After the battle, the remaining North Vietnamese prisoners were detained and their shoes were removed to discourage them from escape. This pair of boots came from a prisoner who had been shot through the thigh. You can see specks of dried blood from the wearer’s injury stained in the canvas. There is even Vietnam soil still clinging to the soles.
In my conversation with Danny, he mentioned that he had also acquired a Chi-Com (Chinese Communist) pistol, but an officer ordered him to turn it in (to him) for intelligence. Danny remarked that he had only been in country for a few weeks and didn’t have a choice in the matter.
Danny’s tour in Vietnam ended when he was wounded during Operation Buffalo in 07/1967 and sent home for recovery.
Posted in Vietnam War Militaria | No Comments »
Archive by category 'Militaria Articles by Era'
When you find a Special Forces berets outside of a grouping, they are seldom able to be attributed to a veteran. When I found the following beret, I was elated to see an embroidered tag discretely sewn inside the lining with the vet’s name and full Army serial number.
Even without the name tag, this beret would be impressive. It is a 1963 dated Canadian made “Fleur De Lis.” Prior the US Government having a contract with Dorothy Mills to manufacture green berets around 1965*, most early Special Forces personnel wore Fleur De Lis made berets. This beret has a desirable Okinawa-made 1st Group flash. Notice its irregular shape and noticeably thicker black border. The DI (distinctive insignia) is the early “skull harp” pattern with Meyer hallmarks.
I researched and found the Special Forces veteran on a roster from a TDY (temporary duty) assignment in Thailand beginning in January 1964. An official flash for 46th Special Forces Group (Thailand) was not approved May 30th, 1967, so it is very likely this 1st Group beret was worn by the veteran during his Thailand tour.
*US Army Special Forces 1952-84 by Gordon Rottman
Posted in Special Forces & MACV-SOG, Vietnam War Militaria | No Comments »
Archive by category 'Militaria Articles by Era'
Several months ago, I picked up an interesting WWII “fixed bale” M1 helmet from a local man who claimed his brother, a WWII Navy veteran brought the helmet home as a memento. His brother had served on one of the LSTs (Landing Ship, Tank) during the invasion of Okinawa (March 18, 1945- June 23, 1945), and said he found the helmet in the ships hull and that it had come from one of the wounded or deceased soldiers they transported back to the ship. Unfortunately, this would be difficult to verify because the brother is now deceased and the helmet liner only bares the penned marking “D-17″, which is possibly an abbreviated ID number.
The helmet shell is an M1 fixed bale w/ khaki straps and early brass hardware. It is stamped with the lot number “281B” which I am told dates the shell to approximately Sept/Oct 1942. The finish has a wonderful field used look with what appears to be vehicle paint touch ups. If you inspect carefully, you will see a 5″ diameter outline of a dark green circle on the helmet front extending up to the crown. I have no idea what this marking is, or if it served a purpose. Any ideas?
The liner is a low pressure type made by St Clair. The green finish inside the liner indicates very early production. It retains non-removable leather strap and has Master Sergeant decals affixed on each side that were crudely painted over, as one may expect t0 see on a field used helmet. The rayon suspension is weathered and the nape strap is missing.
I love the look of a salty piece of headgear with honest wear and this helmet is gorgeous. If only it could talk…
Posted in WWII US Militaria | 2 Comments »
Archive by category 'Militaria Articles by Era'
My favorite antiques and collectibles tell a story. It’s been my experience that unearthing the story is more rewarding than the challenge of obtaining the item. My most recent “story” began at the Hastings, Nebraska military collectibles show in March 2008. I had just set up my dealer table and started walking the floor to see what other dealers brought to sell. A fellow Omaha dealer was loading a garment rack with several US WWII uniforms, so I walked over to take a look.
My eyes were drawn to a green wool USMC blouse and trousers with a 6th Marine Division patch, corporal chevrons, an honorable discharge patch, and matching EGA (Eagle, Globe, and Anchor) collar devices. I looked inside the blouse to discover an unusual name penned inside the shoulder (where size and date are marked on WWII USMC uniforms). The dealer had no information about the veteran, nor did he recall how he acquired the uniform, but he was sure it was a local find.
We agreed on a price, and I walked away with the uniform and a gut feeling that I was going to find information about this soldier. When I returned from the show, I began my research and quickly discovered the veteran was born in Grinnell, Iowa and had attended college at Grinnell University. After college, he entered the Marines and later became an editorial writer for the Omaha World Herald newspaper.
I was on a roll! Further research revealed that he and his wife were living in a retirement community a few miles from my home and his children published a book in 2000 containing a large selection of their father’s World Herald editorials. The book was available at Amazon.com and the first chapter exclusively detailed his experiences as a Scout with H Company, 29th Marines, 6th Division during WWII. Before attempting to contact the veteran, I ordered a copy of his book and read every page regarding his experiences being a Marine.
One story addresses the randomness of death and injury in combat. It explains how the veteran earned his Purple Heart Medal for a gunshot wound, while simultaneously losing a fellow Marine who had been lying beside him. The two Marines were ahead of their platoon scouting enemy movement on Sugar Loaf Hill (located on the island of Okinawa), when a Japanese machine gun crew flanked them and opened fire on their position. Had the Japanese flanked from the opposite direction fate may have reversed the outcome of these men.
After reading the book, I decided to call the veteran and our conversation went well. He was intrigued that I’d take the time to locate him. After explaining my methodologies in locating him he proclaimed that, “I knew his whole life story.” With a laugh I replied, “That’s what happens when you publish a book about yourself!”
I asked about this uniform and apparently it was sold when he and his wife liquidated their house to move into a smaller apartment. After a nice talk over the phone, we agreed to meet in person. He was kind enough to offer me a copy of his discharge papers, military photos, as well as other ephemera from his days as a Marine to put with the uniform. I listened as he talked about Marine life, his career as a writer, and his family. Being the first generation in my family to finish college, I was intrigued to hear the veteran’s father and grandfather had also graduated from college.
As I prepared to leave, I pulled my copy of his book from my bag and said it would be an honor if he signed it. He smiled and wrote inside the cover, “To Chris: Best Wishes & Semper Fi!!” I thanked him for the sacrifices he made for our country and for taking the time to share his experiences with me. I am deeply honored to be the caretaker of his uniform and his stories.
To read more about Scout and Sniper Company, 6th Marine Division, click here.
Posted in USMC, WWII US Militaria | 2 Comments »
