tom2001 Posted March 21, 2011 Share #1 Posted March 21, 2011 This one just arrived in the mail today. It's a nice, clean Navy Type I Purple Heart, officially engraved to ENSIGN ARTHUR DIIRCK JR, USN. ENS Diirck graduated from the US Naval Academy in June, 1942, and he was serving aboard USS VINCENNES on the night of August 8-9, 1942, when the cruiser VINCENNES was attacked by the Japanese 8th Fleet in the Batle of Savo Island Diirck was from Los Angeles, California. His remains were never recovered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom2001 Posted March 21, 2011 Author Share #2 Posted March 21, 2011 And a few items from his Lucky Bag entry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted March 21, 2011 Share #3 Posted March 21, 2011 wow!!! :thumbsup: very nice Tom!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dskjl Posted March 21, 2011 Share #4 Posted March 21, 2011 I just got my 1st one of these and have been cruising the forum for posts looking at so many of these beautifully engraved medals. I now understand why these are so sought after, great medal :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack's Son Posted March 21, 2011 Share #5 Posted March 21, 2011 Gotta love the older engraving, beautiful medal. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
101world Posted March 21, 2011 Share #6 Posted March 21, 2011 Tom, nice medal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1944 Posted March 21, 2011 Share #7 Posted March 21, 2011 Thats a Fantastic looking P.H you have got there :thumbsup: . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted March 21, 2011 Share #8 Posted March 21, 2011 Historic battle and ship. Very nice. Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SA1794 Posted March 21, 2011 Share #9 Posted March 21, 2011 Very nice indeed! :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww1collector Posted March 21, 2011 Share #10 Posted March 21, 2011 Love it! :w00t: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Dentino Posted March 22, 2011 Share #11 Posted March 22, 2011 Very nice PH Tom! Man, after viewing so many of these beautifully engraved Hearts on here I just gotta get me one....or two.....or :think: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
67Rally Posted March 22, 2011 Share #12 Posted March 22, 2011 Damn...that is a fantastic medal. That has special meaning to me being a plankowner of the Vincennes (CG-49, not the heavy cruiser). I focus, when I can, on Vincennes-related items. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtpcamaroz Posted March 23, 2011 Share #13 Posted March 23, 2011 What a beauty. I'm still actively seeking my first! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted March 23, 2011 Share #14 Posted March 23, 2011 Beautiful Purple Heart Tom! These "remains not recovered" medals to me are even more somber than other Purple Hearts as this may be the only item that the family receives to remember their loved one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
67Rally Posted March 26, 2011 Share #15 Posted March 26, 2011 This one just arrived in the mail today. It's a nice, clean Navy Type I Purple Heart, officially engraved to ENSIGN ARTHUR DIIRCK JR, USN. ENS Diirck graduated from the US Naval Academy in June, 1942, and he was serving aboard USS VINCENNES on the night of August 8-9, 1942, when the cruiser VINCENNES was attacked by the Japanese 8th Fleet in the Batle of Savo Island Diirck was from Los Angeles, California. His remains were never recovered. Tom, I have the Survivor, WIA, KIA and MIA lists for the CA-44 that were dated October of 1942...Ensign Diirck is not amongst any of the lists. Are you sure he wasn't on the Quincy or Astoria? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom2001 Posted March 26, 2011 Author Share #16 Posted March 26, 2011 Tom, I have the Survivor, WIA, KIA and MIA lists for the CA-44 that were dated October of 1942...Ensign Diirck is not amongst any of the lists. Are you sure he wasn't on the Quincy or Astoria? My info comes from the USNA's Register of Alumni. I'll post a scan from the page later. Unfortunately, the Register of Alumni can sometimes be inaccurate, so I'm open to correction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom2001 Posted March 26, 2011 Author Share #17 Posted March 26, 2011 My info comes from the USNA's Register of Alumni. I'll post a scan from the page later. Unfortunately, the Register of Alumni can sometimes be inaccurate, so I'm open to correction. Here's the scan: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWalsh Posted March 26, 2011 Share #18 Posted March 26, 2011 Could he have been a pilot or part of the aviation detachment that was assigned to the Vincennes, for her float planes, and thus not techincally not a member of the ship's crew, and thus not on their official ship's crew KIA list? MW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
67Rally Posted March 26, 2011 Share #19 Posted March 26, 2011 Could he have been a pilot or part of the aviation detachment that was assigned to the Vincennes, for her float planes, and thus not techincally not a member of the ship's crew, and thus not on their official ship's crew KIA list? MW The lists I have include all men assigned to the ship. My friend (Vernon French) was a member of the air dept. attached to the '44 and is listed amongst the lists (he was WIA) along with the aviators. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom2001 Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share #20 Posted April 12, 2011 Tom, I have the Survivor, WIA, KIA and MIA lists for the CA-44 that were dated October of 1942...Ensign Diirck is not amongst any of the lists. Are you sure he wasn't on the Quincy or Astoria? Just a follow up: Got these docs today from NHHC: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpast32 Posted April 13, 2011 Share #21 Posted April 13, 2011 I can only envy you Tom, you probably have one of the best USN Heart collectrions around !!! Dom Pastore Jr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
67Rally Posted April 13, 2011 Share #22 Posted April 13, 2011 Tom, Thanks for updating that. I wonder if having only being aboard a month by the sinking, if something was overlooked on the rosters. I know that Ken Ruiz (author of Luck of the Draw) reported aboard about the same time as Ensign Diirck and he is on the roster. Nothing is perfect - not even the US Navy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom2001 Posted April 13, 2011 Author Share #23 Posted April 13, 2011 I can only envy you Tom, you probably have one of the best USN Heart collectrions around !!! Dom Pastore Jr. No Dom.... I just show off my collection. I know of a few guys with a lot better collections. If I had theirs, I'd burn mine!! I do, however, have this cool Rhode Island group......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamsdivision1944 Posted April 15, 2011 Share #24 Posted April 15, 2011 Nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamsdivision1944 Posted April 15, 2011 Share #25 Posted April 15, 2011 Nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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