Archive by category 'Militaria Articles by Era'
Here is a uniform and document group for an airborne trooper that fought in combat with the 187th RCT in Korea and later the 173rd Airborne in Vietnam until we was mortally wounded.
Sgt. Robert Allen Gray served 11 months in Korea with the 187th RCT Rakkasan’s. He served in Company C, 2nd Battalion, 503rd PIR, 173rd Airborne in Vietnam.
On 18 Dccember 1965, Gray’s company was on a Search and Destroy mission at Courtenay, Republic of Vietnam when his company encountered a large force of well-entrenched Viet Cong. The forward elements of the company were ordered to mark the Viet Cong positions with smoke grenades. One of the grenades thrown hit thick underbrush and bounced back onto a soldier and became entangled in his webbing.
SGT Gray saw that the soldier was being burned by the grenade and rushed to his aid, exposing himself to intense enemy fire. He grabbed the grenade and threw back at the Viet Cong but was killed by small arms fire in the process. His grenade landed on target and marked the enemy position for air strike.
For this act of heroism, SGT Gray received a posthumous Silver Star Medal and Purple Heart Medal.
The items in this group include:
• Class A Blouse, Shirt, and Trousers. The blouse is patched with a Korean era 187th RCT patch on the right (combat) sleeve and an 82nd Airborne patch on the right sleeve. Gray was in the 82nd Airborne prior to being attached to the 173rd. The blouse and trousers are both 1960 dated. All three items are in excellent condition with no stains or mothing.
• 1st Pattern OG-107 Utility shirt with all full color insignia. The 187th RCT patch is a highly desirable Okinawa-made version. The shirt is 1963 dated and in excellent condition. This shirt and insignia configuration is what SGT Gray would have been wearing when he was mortally wounded. Jungle fatigues and boots were still limited issue at this point.
• Class B Khaki shirt and trousers in excellent condition. The shirt is 1956 dated and has SGT chevrons machine sewn on the sleeves. It is laundry stamped in several places with Gray’s ID number. The Trousers are 1952 dated and also marked in several places with Gray’s ID number
• Paperwork Copies:
o General Order for Gray’s Silver Star including the full citation
o Western Union Telegram informing SGT Gray’s wife that her husband has been killed in action
o Two documents detailing SGT Gray’s personal possessions (including weight) that were being sent back to the United States. Note: the uniform pieces in this group were among these items.
o Customs sheet for SGT Gray’s personnel effects
o A sheet containing copies of local newspaper clippings about SGT Gray’s heroism and death
o Letters of condolence from President Johnson, General Abrams, General Westmorleand, General Williamson, Stanley Resor (Secretary Of The Army), the Army Relief Society, Air Vice Marshal Nguyen-Cao-Ky, and CPT Frederick G. Henchell (Gray’s Commanding Officer).
o Copies of military records from NARA
Posted in Militaria Articles by Era, Vietnam War Militaria | 1 Comment »
Archive by category 'Militaria Articles by Era'
This uniform was worn by the Battalion Surgeon for the 466th PFA (17th Airborne). He jumped near Wesel, Germany on March 24, 1945 during Operation Varsity and was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for his actions on this day. When the 17th Airborne disbanded, he went to the 463rd PFA (101st Airborne), then the 456th PFA (82nd Airborne). This veteran is credited with creating an irrigation device for eye wounds that is still used by medical personnel in the field today.
The group includes:
- Officers overseas cap w/ para glider patch and pin-back Captain bars
- Ike jacket with the following attached:
- 17th Airborne patch
- 82nd Airborne patch
- Officer Medical ciphers
- Officer “US” ciphers
- Pin-back Captain bars
- Presidential Unit Citation
- Sterling Pin-back Combat Medic Badge
- Belgium Fourragere (shoulder cord)
- French Fourragere (shoulder cord)
- Three-place sewn on ribbon bar with Bronze Star Medal (For Valor), American Campaign, ETO Campaign w/ 1 Invasion Arrowhead (for Operation Varsity) and 3 Campaign Stars (Rhineland, Ardennes, Central Europe)
- Red Wool Parachute Oval (for Artillery)
- Pinback “Sterling” marked jump wings with a combat star affixed (for Operation Varsity)
- Three overseas stripes
- Wool trousers w/ name penned in two places (see pics)
- Tan web belt
- Jump Boots w/ vet’s name inked on both tongues (see pic). They are size 10 1/2 D and dated July 26, 1943.
- Original print of veteran posing beside his uniform
- Copies of WWII images of veteran posing with his family
- Copy of Separation Record
- Copy of General Order for Bronze Star Medal
- Copy of the write up for the 466th PFA’s recommendation for the Unit Citation, in which the veteran is mentioned several times
- Copy of General Order for Combat Medic Badge
- Copies of Special/Transfer Orders
- Photocopies of Unit related articles the veteran kept
Posted in Airborne, WWII US Militaria | No Comments »
Archive by category 'Militaria Articles by Era'
This uniform was worn by a local veteran that served in the First Special Service Force. He was a scout (MOS 761) attached to headquarters and did reconnaissance for all three regiments. His separation record describes his duties as:
Served as a scout for infantry troops in combat with enemy in both European and Pacific theaters of operations. Patrolled enemy territory in order to obtain information concerning strength and positions of enemy units. Noted terrain features for combat purposes. Reported to S-2 and S-3 offices and made necessary changes on maps and records. Served on Aleutian Islands, in Cassino, and on Anzio Beachhead.
This soldier was at Fort Harrison (Helena, Montana) from its inception. His diary lists his arrival date as August 4th, 1942. Fort Harrison was where the FSSF was formed and training before being sent to kiska.
He received his Combat Infantry Badge December 5, 1944 (for La Difensa) and a Purple Heart for wounds received at Mussolini Canal.
Some of the items included in the group are:
• Class A blouse (shirt and necktie were added for the photo)
• Officers quality overseas cap w/ Force braid
• Wool Trousers and belt
• Discharge papers
• Diaries
• Wood carving from Aleutians
• Photographs
• Beachhead News papers from Anzio
• Letter opener made from two FSSF “fat tail” patches
• Fort Harrison souvenir pillow case
• FSSF Unit History book
• Print of the FSSF monument in Helena, MT
• Marble desk memento from a circa 1990′s FSSF reunion
• Kiska Booklet
• Hard Cover book about Anzio w/ veteran’s notes written inside
• Ephemera and other documents
Posted in WWII US Militaria | 5 Comments »
Archive by category 'Militaria Articles by Era'
This 503rd RCT / 511th PIR uniform was worn by a paratrooper that served from April 7th, 1944 through May 10th, 1946. He participated in the Negros Campaign (Southern Philippines) with the 503rd Regimental Combat Team (attached to the 11th Airborne Division) before being transferred to the 511th PIR, 11th Airborne.
The Ike jacket has a beautiful, hand embroidered, Japanese-made, 503rd RCT patch on his combat sleeve and a pin-back Combat Infantry Badge.
The grouping included his knife, dog tags, some occupation currency, photographs, paperwork, ephemera, and a hand painted silk scarf that is named to the veteran across the neck.
Posted in Airborne, WWII US Militaria | No Comments »
Archive by category 'Militaria Articles by Era'
I’ve had this German Wehrpass for awhile. Since I’ve recently posted some German tropical items, I thought I would add this. The soldier’s name was Heinrich Esser and his last unit entry is “7./Pz. Gren. Rgt. 361″ or 7th Company of the Panzer Grenadier Regiment 361. This unit was under the famous 90th Light Africa Division (March 1942-May 1943).
The date of the last unit entry is December 29, 1942, so Heinrich may have been killed or captured in Tunis. I like to think that he was captured and sent to a POW camp in the US.
Interestingly, I bought this wehrpass from a man who lives around Hastings, NE, not far from a WWII POW camp that houses many DAK soldiers.
If anyone knows of a German casualty index, or has information as to how I can research this soldier, please contact me.
Posted in WWII German Militaria | 11 Comments »
