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504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) dogtags and photograph

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ttomtucker's loves6 of 12681Vintage Sears Craftsman Model No 121-8191This is a example of fun in old times .
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    Posted 12 years ago

    scottvez
    (977 items)

    I just picked up this small grouping that is identified to Engelbert "Bert" Ruescher, who served in WW2 with the 504th PIR.

    Ruescher, who died earlier this year, joined the Army in February of 1943 from NY City. He was single, worked in the glass industry and was 19 or 20 years old.

    His dogtags are the early style "Next of Kin" dogtags, which most likely carry his mothers NOK information.

    Ruescher's early 43 enlistment, means he probably missed the early action of the 504th at Sicily ("Operation Husky") in JUL 1944.

    He may have been part of the first replacements and seen his first action at Salerno or Anzio (where the nickname "Devils in Baggy Pants" was given to the Regiment).

    Because of casualties the 504th was not part of Normandy Invasion.

    The 504th did jump during Operation Market Garden and was a part of the defenses of Bastogne.

    The photograph is a French Real Photo PostCard and shows a full standing Ruescher. He wears the ABN oval on his hat and proudly shows both his Combat Infantryman's Badge (CIB) and Airborne Wings. Additionally, he wears a Purple Heart and Campaign Ribbon bar. I don't have information on when/ where he was wounded. Most likely the image was taken in late 1944 while on R & R in France.

    Reproduction of these images in any form is not authorized.

    scott

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    Comments

    1. scottvez scottvez, 12 years ago
      Thanks for looking tom and tony!

      scott
    2. scottvez scottvez, 12 years ago
      Thanks for looking and commenting bellin.

      Best Wishes for a Happy New Year!

      scott
    3. AmberRose AmberRose, 12 years ago
      He looks like he could take on a bear!

      Hope you are doing well Scott, Happy New Year!
    4. scottvez scottvez, 12 years ago
      Thanks amber-- he did take on a bear!

      He participated in some of the toughests fights in WW2.

      scott
    5. scottvez scottvez, 12 years ago
      Thanks manikin and walksoftly!

      scott
    6. scottvez scottvez, 12 years ago
      Thanks tlmbaran and vetraio!

      scott
    7. scottvez scottvez, 12 years ago
      Thanks for looking majestic!

      scott
    8. scottvez scottvez, 12 years ago
      Thanks for looking buss!

      scott
    9. scottvez scottvez, 12 years ago
      Thanks for looking p.

      scott
    10. scottvez scottvez, 12 years ago
      Thanks for looking mikko!

      scott
    11. scottvez scottvez, 12 years ago
      Thanks tom!

      scott
    12. fhrjr2 fhrjr2, 12 years ago
      Looks like type 2 dog tags. Somewhere in my stash I have a pair with a seven digit serial number. These would have been issued before July of 43. Every time I find a pair I wonder about the original owner and the story behind him.
    13. scottvez scottvez, 12 years ago
      Yep-- thanks for looking fhrjr.

      scott
    14. scottvez scottvez, 12 years ago
      Thanks dino!

      scott
    15. gazorpf, 10 years ago
      This is my father. He was wounded in the thigh and buttocks and carried some shrapnel in his hand between the webbing of the fingers.

      He was born in Germany and came here as a toddler. His father, my grandfather, fought for Germany under Kaiser Wilhelm. My father spent his life trying to prove that he was American. After the war, he worked for Grumman and then became a police officer around the time I was born.
    16. gazorpf, 10 years ago
      After he was wounded, he was in a hospital in Italy. He talked about Mt. Vesuvius erupting.
    17. scottvez scottvez, 10 years ago
      Thanks for sharing your stories!

      scott

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