A nice pick up this weekend is my fourth 5th Marine Division coat belonging to a private in I Co. 3rd Battalion 26th Marines 5th Marine Division, the Sgt. stripes were added on at a later date and not original to the jacket and a welcome addition to my USMC spare patch box. He doesn't look like he was in long maybe two years at the most, looking forward to bringing this one back.
6/2/13 update: I picked up a matched set of collar EGAs and a very nice original 5th Marine Division patch for this restoration. I already had a spare set of PFC patches in my spare patch box. I ordered his records last week so hopefully I will receive them later this month.9/9/13 update: I received the records for this Marine to quite possibly the shortest career in the USMC ever. He enlisted in April of 1944, after which he was attached to the 26th Marines in time for Iwo Jima. He was part of a light machine gun crew during the battle. By October 1945 he was honorable discharged from the Marines perhaps ending one of the shortest careers I have seen. His unusually sparse ribbon bar, even by USMC standards, reflects his short career in the service: Presidential Unit Citation with 1x Star, Asiatic Campaign with 1 Star and WWII Victory Medal. Well done Marine!
I want to tell you how much I enjoy your blog, I check it regularly.
ReplyDeleteThanks! It is much appreciated!
ReplyDeleteI have a few more WWII USMC items that you would appreciate that I picked up at the Vintage Militaria Show last week in Pomona.
Stay Tuned!
Leonardo
Will do. I collect WWII Marine Corps field gear, but your uniforms are awesome to see too
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