WWII USMC Wool Shirt I. Unterberg & Co, Inc

This excellent example NOS WWII USMC Wool shirt appeared recently, manufactured by I. Unterberg & Co, Inc and dated 1945. Very rarely does one still see manufactures and contract tags still attached to USMC items as they were well used by Marines.

WWII USS Iowa (BB-61) Navy and Marine Uniform Pair

Last year I was fortunate to pick up a navy uniform belonging to a sailor EM3c who was on the USS Indiana and USS Iowa during WWII. Although it was out of the scope of my Iwo Jima collection, I thought is was great to have a jumper from a WWII ship that has recently been berthed in Southern California. The jumper also came with a few photos of the sailor and was quite happy when I received it in the mail. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to pick up an alpha forest green service coat belong to a Marine guard PFC who was also on the Iowa during the entire duration of the war. Incredible enough both this sailor and Marine served at the same time for a six month period. Locating WWII Marine battleships detachment coats are not easy, but also finding a sailor who also served aboard the same ship is incredible. The Marine served aboard the Iowa during her entire WWII career, his Asiatic ribbon bar perhaps might mirror the Iowa's nine battle stars she earned in the war. I don't need to tell you these two uniforms send off a great vibe when displayed together. The stories this Sailor and Marine could tell! Requests for both records have been sent and will update this post when I get more information.

Wolf and Brown Mania! WW1 & WW II USN or Marine Ribbon Rack

This stellar example of a Wolf and Brown ribbon rack of a two war Navy or USMC military veteran is one of the nicest I've seen offered up for sale. The rack includes many rarer W&B ribbons not often found on the loose.

WWII Coral and Brass Book by General Holland M. Smith

General Holland M. Smith controversial book has been published a few times since it's original publication in 1946. Serving more as a way to get his version of the incident of his relieving of army commander General Ralph Smith at the Battle of Saipan, the book is filled with many factual errors but serves as a nice historical document of his mindset at the end of WWII. This is less a review of the book but a gallery of the different covers of the book, the one above being the first edition. I love the first edition cover with the two tone artwork typical of 1940's art design. One aspect I do love of this book is the title, "Coral and Brass" a simple but highly effective description of the Pacific War.

This is a later paperback edition of the book, I believe dating from the 1950's and 1960's. The oil painting style cover is beautifully done.

This is latest edition from 1987 of Coral and Brass, and usually the one most often found. Besides the first edition, they are very plentiful and easily found. It is worth picking up and reading if you are a reader of USMC history.

Also in the 1980's the USMC released this version of the book as an official study manual for Marines. I like the unique binding and cover of this version which is very different from the others. If you would like to read Coral & Brass online, here is its entire text posted online here

WWII USMC Sgt. 2nd Armored Amphibious Battalion Iwo Jima

Here is a coat I picked up a few months ago but wanted to wait until I received his records before I posted it here on Marines in Forest Green. This is a coat I've been looking high and low for, to include it my Iwo Jima collection. This Marine belonged to the Company A 2nd Armored Amphibious Battalion, which covered the 4th Marine Division on Blue Beach II, the farthest right beach landing. The 2nd Armored Amphibious Battalion was outfitted with LVT(A)4, the turreted tank version of the famous amphibious tractor. These LVT's from the 2nd lead the landing craft LVT's to shore, essentially being the first Marines to land on Iwo preceding the assault troops of the 4th and 5th MarDiv. Many of the pictures you see of the LVT(A)4's on the first few hours of the invasion are from the 2nd Armored Amphibious Battalion. This Marine was the Amphibious Commander on one of these LVT's, with Iwo being his second landing after Saipan. He passed away in the mid 1970's and his incredible coat seemed to floating around over the years. What is so great about this coat is his incredible FMF-PAC Amtrac patch which are only worn by these brave Marines.

WWII USMC Marine Liberty Pass

Here is a classic example of WWII USMC paper material, a Liberty Pass IDed to Marine who was based in New York and Massachusetts during WWII. These items are not often found, unless the Marine kept all his paperwork, but nearly every marine had one filled out to them at one time or another, while they were passing through many cities throughout the world.