Bronze Star Medal
This is a wonderful, completely original insignia and paperwork grouping from SSGT Peter Swedo Jr, a decorated A Company, 2nd Battalion Ranger that participated on D-Day. Items included are:
- Original wartime copy of a citation for the Bronze Star medal for actions on June 7th, 1944
- Wool 2nd Bn Ranger scroll (removed from a uniform)
- Ranger “Sunoco” diamond patch in excellent condition
- Sterling pin-back Combat Infantry badge
- Photocopy of the 2nd Bn Unit Citation write up for actions on D-Day. SSGT Swedo wrote on the document “Save this for me. This is what we got for coming in on D-Day.”
- Photocopy of Geneal Order #42 (16 July 1945) listing SSGT Swedo as a recipient for the Bronze Star Medal
- Photocopy of SSGT Swedo’s Separation Qualification Record listing him as a Squad leader
- Photocopies of paperwork pertaining to his employment history
- Photocopies of paperwork pertaining to Swedo’s request for replacement medals in 1984
I had everything archivally mounted in a frame using acid free materials and UV protected glass. SSGT Swedo’s Bronze Star citiation reads:
“Staff Sergeant Peter Swedo, Junior, 33320939, Second Ranger Infantry Battalion, United States Army. For heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on 7 June 1944 at au Guay, France. Staff Sergeant (then Private First Class) Swedo, together with two other soldiers, found three men of his unit trapped by the enemy. He and his two companions gallantly fought 100 yards foward through heavy machine gun and mortar fire, relieving the trapped men and causing the enemy to withdraw. The heroism shown by Staff Sergeant Swedo is in keeping with the highest traditions of the armed forces of the United States.”
Price: SOLD
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Bronze Star Medal
This Ike jacket was worn by a WWII veteran that served as an Airplane Maintenance Technician in the 596th Bomb Squadron (Medium), 397th Bomb Group in England. He was inducted into the service on 04/02/1942 and was discharged on 10/20/1945.
His discharge (copy included with Ike) verifies is participation in the following campaigns:
- Air Offensive-Europe
- Normandy
- Northern France
- Rhineland
- Ardennes
- Central Europe
He received the following Decorations and Citations:
- Good Conduct Medal (GO 3, 416th Bomb Group 1943)
- Distinguished Unit Badge (1944)
- Bronze Star Medal (GO 189, 9th AF 1944)
The ike jacket has a beautiful bullion on wool 9th AAC shoulder sleeve insignia. All the insignia is original to the jacket and has not been messed with. The ETO campaign ribbon has nice English oversized campaign stars. The jacket has a moth nip here and there, but nothing that detracts from the display on this wonderful, original uniform.
Price: Sold
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Bronze Star Medal
This is one of the most extensive paperwork groups I’ve owned. It contains the vet’s actual 201 file plus plenty of other interesting documents. Before I detail the contents of this group, I will say this vet had a colorful military career, having received a Bronze Star Medal while serving on the front lines of Korea and a combat medic. He also had two serious bouts of insubordination resulting Court Marshall trials and disciplinary action. Both episodes involved alcohol and fist fighting! The complete trial records for both offenses are included in his paperwork and make for a highly entertaining read.
The group consists of:
• HBT utility shirt w/ theater-made white name tape, black/gold bevo Army tape, and cut-edge 1st Cavalry shoulder sleeve insignia
• Sateen utility shirt w/ theater-made white name tape and hand embroidered Combat Medic Badge on HBT material, black/gold bevo Army tape, 24th Infantry shoulder sleeve insignia, and 1st Cavalry shoulder sleeve insignia
• Set of Dog Tags w/ original surgical tubing over the chain
• Sterling bracelet engraved with “24th MED BN Soldier of the Week” and “PFC K. DeBerry 3 FEB 50” engraved on the reverse side
• Three-place ribbon bar w/ Good Conduct, Occupation Medal, and Korea Campaign Medal w/ three Bronze Stars
• Individual ribbon bars for Korean Campaign (2), Good Conduct, and Bronze Star
• Lapel pin for Good Conduct Medal
• 3-Ring binder w/ 24 snapshots, 6 ID cards, 55+ pages of documentation including awards, citations (including Bronze Star Medal), certificates, general orders, special orders, etc. All photos are mounted on acid free board. Photos and docs are in archival safe protective sheets.
• Complete 201 file (not sure how he got to keep this)
• File folder containing Court Marshall records, 4 racy Korea short-timer calendars, discharge certificates, and a bunch of other items.
Price: Sold
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Bronze Star Medal
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 »
Bronze Star Medal
This is a very complete group for a Special Forces veteran that served two tours in Vietnam and was killed on 16 July, 1970 at camp A-236 (Bu Prang) while patrolling the camp perimeter. Prior to assignment at Camp A-236, he was with 1st Special Forces Group and TDY’d to FOB-3, (Command and Control North MACV-SOG) on a Snakebite Team and served on a Hatchet Force. This vet is listed in Sherman’s Who Who in SOG on page 132. Some of his awards include: US and Philippine Jump Wings, Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medals, Vietnamese Gross of Gallantry w/ Palm, PUB, and Navy PUC.
I purchased everything in this group from a person who lives in the same town as the veteran’s parents. He purchased the items directly from the family.
The items in this group include:
1. CISO made PJs. CISO (Counter Insurgency Support Office) was located on Okinawa and headed by Ben Baker. They made “sterile” untraceable weapons, equipment, and garments to be used by CIA, Special Forces, and Indigenous personnel in Vietnam and denied areas like Laos and Cambodia. There is ample photographic evidence of CISO PJs being worn by SOG Hatchet Teams in cross border operations.
This Set of PJs have been worn but are in excellent condition. They have the CISO silk size tags marked “M” for medium. The trousers have the vet’s initials in white laundry marker.
2. Tiger stripe camouflage shirt in “Tadpole Sparse” pattern. Size tag in neck is marked “A-L” for Asian Large. The shirt has strong color and all buttons with original thread. There is one pea-sized hole in the chest. Otherwise, the shirt is in excellent condition.
3. 1968 dated Jungle jacket in excellent condition. This must have been the soldier’s garrison jacket because it is crisp with nicely sewn insignia. The shoulder has early twill subdued Special Forces SSI. The breast has US and Philippine jump wings.
4. 1968 dated OG-107 Utility shirt with early twill subdued Special Forces SSI on the shoulder, a Combat Infantry Badge, and US Jump Wings. There are period repairs to both armpits that are not visible when displayed. The collar has a laundry tag with the last 4 digits of the vet’s Army serial number.
5. Rare and unique tiger stripe Okinawa-made apron with “SP/5 WEAVER, CAMP HARDY, COMBAT TRAINING CENTER” machine embroidered on the front. The vet’s MOS was Demolitions and I would assume that he wore this apron when working with and advising on explosives.
6. 1965 dated OG-107 Dive Shorts. The soldier’s nametape is sewn across the leg and his laundry ID is in the waist. These were commonly worn while scuba diving.
7. Green Class A Blouse with SSGT Chevrons and cut-edge color Special Forces SSI. The blouse has several moth nips, but still could display decently. Loose insignia is listed in number 17.
8. Black leather jump boots in excellent condition.
9. Theater-made camouflage ascot
10. Theater-made pillow cover with hand embroidered tiger and “Viet-Nam”.
11. Interesting rigger-made Airborne M1-C helmet web chin cup
12. Vietnam souvenir ceramic ashtray
13. The vet’s Basic Training yearbook from Fort Knox, Kentucky
14. Two Special Forces transfer decals
15. Training Manuals with Weaver’s Name on them
16. Spiral notebook with demolition notes and a letter to a girlfriend that he never finished…
17. Insignia including 8 nametapes, Army tape, two cloth jump wings, two cloth CIBs, two Special Forces para ovals, two subdued SF SSIs, two color SF SSIs, 1 color airborne tab, 5th Group flash, 1st Group flash, 10th Group flash, SF DI (with 1 prong missing), Vietnamese-made Playboy Bunny patch, Vietnamese made three place ribbon bar, EM garrison cap badge with blue infantry disk.
18. Montagnard carving of a Huey Helicopter
19. Copies of general orders and citations for Weaver’s Army Commendation Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Award Document.
20. Detailed NARA records containing undeleted sheets of Weaver’s awards received, assignments, and achievements.
Price: SOLD
Posted in Recently Sold Militaria, Vietnam War Militaria, Vietnam War Militaria | 6 Comments »
