Thursday, April 12, 2012

WWII USMC Corporal 3rd Marine Division

Another unique coat, this marine was not a reservist but a USMC regular. This Marine had a long career and served all the way into the early 1980's. This must have been one of his earliest coats he was issued as the coat has some missing corporal chevrons and no shoulder sleeve insignia was ever sewed on the sleeve. This Marine was also wounded in action later in WWII but I am not sure what campaign he participated in. This jacket was manufactured by the Marine Quartermaster department in the 1940-41 fiscal year. Update 5/12: Received the causality card for this Marine and he was wounded in the 2nd Battle of Guam. he was in the Weapons Company, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division.11/12 update: After a protracted wait on receiving the records for this Marine I finally received his records. He enlisted in 1941 and was involved in two Battles: the 2nd Battle of Guam and The Battle of Iwo Jima. I did not know this Marine was involved in the battle Of Iwo Jima and although I looked long and hard for a 3rd Division coat it looks like I had one all along. But it doesn't stop there, as he was involved at the Landing of Inchon and liberation of Seoul in 1950 and very much did all the major Battles during the Korean War. In the mid 1950's he became a Mustang and was commissioned an officer, first a lieutenant and finally retiring in 1961 as a Captain. In my book Inchon is one of biggest landings in USMC history and it is nice to be the caretaker of this uniform to a Marine who gave it his all. Semper Fi!

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