Posted 13 years ago
Stonie
(99 items)
My Uncles WW2 uniform, I was talking to my aunt several years ago and asked her what she was doing and she told me she was going through my Uncles WW2 pictures etc. and looking at them one more time as she puts each item in the trash. I told her to take it all out and when I could make it over (a state away) I would like to have them. She asked why I would want the stuff and I told her it's my families history, sadly several medals, uniforms, photos and some German items he had brought back were washed away in a flood years before, but I'm so glad I could save what I have.
I only know that my Uncle had fought at the Battle of the Bulge and I wish I could remember every thing else I was told as a kid. My dad's 13th Birthday was December 7th and he said he got his first gun that day, a few days later his older brothers signed up and went off to war, happy to say they all came back home after the war.
The wool trench coat I picked up at a estate sale, It had his papers and patches in the pockets, this coat is in mint condition
Awesome stuff. I'm a little PO'd at people like your aunt who just throw this stuff away. Nice catch ;)
She was old and sad, missing him and her only son that had passed and just wouldn't think anyone would want her old stuff. What's really sad is when she passed, I had pretty much caught that she was leaving most everything with me, her sisters sold everything including the house with out letting anyone know the week after she passed. Not going by the second will and never gave anyone a chance on anything even to buy.
stonie- i will forgive the dear lady. I'm sorry she was sad. Glad you got these things!!
From the uniform, I can tell that he was a Staff Sergeant (SSG) in the Artillery of the 70th Division ("Trailblazers").
The Infantry Regiments of the Division arrived overseas in mid DEC 44 and were in the fight within two weeks!
Scott
From the uniform, I can tell that he was a Staff Sergeant (SSG) in the Artillery of the 70th Division ("Trailblazers").
The Infantry Regiments of the Division arrived overseas in mid DEC 44 and were in the fight within two weeks!
Scott
Thanks for the info Scott.
It also looks like he was awarded the Bronze Star twice and the lenght of ribbon in the box looks like the ribbon for the 1939 Iron Cross second class which would have been one of his war souvenirs.
Thanks for the info. I wondered about the ribbon and thought it looked like what the Germans had, I wish I knew what was lost and knew more of what he had done. As a kid I remember him having a large stack of German paper money and so many other things, sadly all lost in the flood.
? on the ribbon, it's the same pattern on the pin on the left chest on his coat, I'll try to get a close up of it.
The pair of medals are Bronze Stars (BSM). The single medal with the eagle on the front is a Good Conduct Medal (GCM).
Scott
Know what the medals are, but not sure on some of the pins or badges in the photo I just added. I would take that the 2 red with a blue centers are for the Bronze Star, but what about the rest.
Thanks again for any info.
The 6 ribbons are; 1 ? not for an iron Cross like I first thought. Maybe a state national guard issue or a veterans group ribbon. 2 Army Good Conduct with 2 knots = awarded 3 times, 3 European, African, Mid. East Campaign with battle stars, 4 Bronze Star, 5 American Defense Medal, 6 Brz. Star again. The correct order for wear would be 4 with oak leaf, 2, 5, 3, and he should also have a WWII Victory. If you could find his discharge papers many of your questions would be answered. A copy should be on file with the county clerks office where ever he lived.
Thanks, I really appreciate the information.
It is nice that you have your father's uniforms.
Many families see them old junk and it is their collectibility that keeps them from ending up at the garbage dump (sometimes).
If you can post your father's uniform on here, many of us would like to see it. I am not sure how familiar you are with his service, but the insignia and badges can reveal a lot about when, where and what jobs he served in.
Scott