Korea War USMC Corporal 1st Marine Division Blues

In all my years of collecting I have never owned any dress blues in my collection. But in two short weeks I was able to acquire two for my collection. This is the second one belonging to a Marine Corporal who went in in 1947 and went over to Korea with the 1st marine division. He was later medically evacuated, but not clear if it was combat related or not. He was evacuated to Japan in which is where I picked up the coat from a Japanese dealer. Looks like he made it home but his Blues didn't. I am not really a Korea war collector but it is always great when one of these Chosin Marines uniforms make it home.

WWII USN Hospital Corpsman Training Book manual

This here is a book I have never seen before, a WWII USN Hospital Corpsman training manual. I like the art design of the cover.

WWII USMC Technical Sergeant 2nd Division

Where do you start with a Marine that enlisted in 1929 and left the corp in 1951? This marine did nearly everything a Marine could possibly do in the service during that era: Virginia, San Diego, Cuba, China, Guam, American Samoa, WIA, 2nd Division, Panama, 4th Marines, V Corp and 2nd 155mm Howitzer Battalion which served at Iwo Jima. Wow what a Marine! This dress blues dates from the late 40's when the marines went to a four pocket Dress Blues Jacket. I'm sure there is an incredible story behind this one! update 2/20/13: I am about to have a custom rack made for this coat, thought I'd give you a sneak peak of this Marines career:

LCVP Higgins Boat

It's the year 2012 and it is amazing what is still out there. To me one of the quintessential WWII Marine items is the LCVP Higgins Boat which were used by many of the Marines in the Pacific.

Incredibly there are still a few out there including these two that appeared in CL a few months back in Maine.

Now I will be straight out, this would be one of the best additions to a WWII collection and wouldn't mind getting one of these historic boats for my WWII USMC collection one day. Until then I guess I will have to be happy with the Italeri 1/35 scale Model Kit! UPDATE!!! This LCVP has been purchased!

WWII USN Radioman 1st Class USS Sanborn

One item I was trying to locate was a WWII Navy Jumper with Amphibious Patch of a sailor was participated in the Battle Of Iwo Jima. That was a tough request as patched Navy Jumper are not found that often. I was fortunate enough to locate this jumper of a sailor on the USS Sanborn (APA-139). The USS Sanborn felt the battle first hand with many of its landing force were killed on the beach and with another Sanborn sailor earning a Silver Star for actions at Iwo Jima.

WWII USMC Shirt Pea Green

While the shorts are often seen for sale it is the pea green shirts that are very difficult to locate for the collection. According to the list of items that go into the field transport pack three shirts are suppose to be in the pack but finding even one is extremely difficult. This was a nice example that appeared recently.

WWII USMC Sergeant 1st Marine Division

This Marine was in the 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division was transported on the USN ships USS McCawley and the USS Fuller and participated in the Battle of Guadalcanal. He's listed on the Rosters through 1958 so he had a long career.