KIA
This jungle jacket was worn by a 173rd Airborne Brigade troop attached to B Co., 2nd Bn., 503rd PIR (Parachute Infantry Regiment). The veteran served two tours in Vietnam with the 173rd and was wounded in 11/1966.
The jacket is a “1st pattern” with shiny exposed buttons, waist tabs, gas flap, and epaulets. It is a size short-medium and is 1963 dated. It has “sandwiched” 173rd shoulder sleeve insignia to denote current service in the 173rd, as well as a prior combat tour. The name tape is theater-made and the Army tape is printed. The Combat Infantry Badge and jump wings are also theater made.
The jump wings have a gold star embroidered on the canopy riders to denote participation in a combat jump with the 173rd on February 22, 1967 (Operation Junction City). SP4 Payne is listed on the Junction City jump manifest for this operation (GO 444, March 12, 1967).
The left breast pocket has a silk woven South Vietnamese Airborne Qualification patch, commonly seen worn by early 173rd troops. The breast pocket was partially removed so the patch could be sewn on while still having a functional pocket. Afterward, it was machine resewn back on (see pic). When examining the jacket carefully, you can see the Specialist sleeve rank is sewn over a faint outline of removed PFC chevrons, due to promotion in rank.
Some of SP4 Payne’s awards and decorations include:
- Purple Heart Medal
- Good Conduct Medal
- Vietnam Service Medal with 2/ Bronze Service Stars
- Meritorious Unit Commendation
- Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ Palm
- Parachutist Badge with Combat Star (for Junction City)
- Combat Infantry Badge
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KIA
Lt Howard W Danks flew as a P-47 fighter pilot with the 8th Army Air Corps and 12th Army Air Corps (66th Fighter Squadron, 57th Fighter Group) before becoming a fighter pilot instructor in Byran, Texas. On 05/05/1945 Lt Danks was tragically killed when his At-6 aircraft collided with another aircraft during a training exercise.
This uniform group includes:
- Beautiful English-Made Ike Jacket with brown bakelite buttons, satin lining, and smartly tailored lapels. Danks penned his name and the date May 1943 on the name tag inside the inner pocket. The jacket has the following insignia:
- Felt AAC shoulder sleeve insignia (right shoulder)
- Embroidered 8th AAC shoulder sleeve insignia (left shoulder)
- Officer AAC props and “US” pins with WWII smooth-back clutches
- 2nd Leutenant pin-back insignia on the epaulets
- Air Medal ribbon bar with 2 oaklead clusters
- Purple Heart ribbon bar
- 3 inch pin-back aviator winges marked “Amcraft” and “sterling”
- Presidential Unit Citation
- Officer quality overseas cap with a pin-back 2nd Leutenant bar
- Pin-back AAC photo ID badge
- Copy of a document verifiying eligibility to wear 3 oakleaf clusters on his Air Medal (from G.O. No. 122, Hq. Twelth Air Force, August 7, 1944)
- Copy of a 6 page document involving a plane crash of a fellow squadron member during a bombing run in Italy on 09/07/1944. Includes Lt Dank’s eye witness account.
- Copy of a 6 page aircraft accident report where Lt. Danks crashed his plane during flight school.
- Copy of a 38 page report involving Lt. Danks’ fatal collission. The report includes periods images of the wreckage.
Currently Listed for Auction on ebay Here
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KIA
This is an original studio portrait of a Wehrmacht Army Infantry soldier. The print measures 8 x 11 3/4 inches and is accompanied by a wallet size print (2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches). Floating behind the glass is the original newspaper clipping of the obituary for this fallen soldier. I do not read German, but it loosely translates to, ”My most loving, good son, our brother, brother-in-law, uncle, nephew and groom, private first class Herbert Rybarczyk died a hero’s death in the heavy battles in the east on 28.7 in the age of 26 years old.” Further down, there is correspondence (addresses and names) of those grieving including the mother, bride, uncle, aunt, etc.
This item is currently listed on ebay. Click here to view auction.
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KIA
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
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