Purple Heart
Prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the United States involvement in WWII, Elmer L. Clark worked as a sales clerk in the menswear department at J.C. Penney’s in Moultrie, Georgia. Elmer was inducted in the Marine Corps on March 27, 1943 and went through basic training on Paris Island, where he trained to be a mortarman (MOS 607) a rifleman (MOS 745), and a qualified combat swimmer.
On April 22, 1945, Elmer was attached to B Co., 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division. His unit embarked aboard LST 929 at Kawaihae, Hawaii on January 10, 1945 and began their voyage to the pacific theater. After a stop at Saipan, Mariana Islands, they boarded again for their final destination, Iwo Jima.
On February 19, 1945 Elmer charged Iwo Jima beach with his mortar crew and the 5th Mar Div. He fought until being wounded by gunshot at the base of his skull. Elmer was medevaced aboard the USS Highlands. By March 5, 1945, Elmer was recovering at the 148th General Hospital in San Francisco, CA.
On May 22, 1945 Elmer was transferred to the 1st Training Bn, 1st Training Rgt at Camp Lejune, N.C., where he served until the war ended. Elmer was discharged February 7, 1946 and earned the following awards during his military service:
Purple Heart Medal
USMC Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 1 Bronze Star
Presidential Unit Citation
WWII Victory Medal
USMC Sharpshooter Rifle Badge
Elmer passed away on September 9, 2002. His USMC Class A blouse and trousers were rescued from the trash by his great nephew when his wife’s estate was being liquidated.
Posted in USMC, WWII US Militaria | 2 Comments »
Purple Heart
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 »
Purple Heart
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 | No Comments »
Purple Heart
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 »
Purple Heart
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 »
