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

[Show as slideshow]

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.

[Show as slideshow]

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

[Show as slideshow]

12►