Championhilz Posted December 23, 2007 Share #1 Posted December 23, 2007 I thought the group might be interested in these photos, as I know there are a lot of USMC collectors out there. I collect artifacts related to the USS Seattle, an armored cruiser that my grandfather served on during WW I. I recently made contact with a very nice lady that had a great uncle who was part of the Marine detachment on the Seattle during WW I. She was kind enough to send me several photos of him, and a copy of a letter he wrote while onboard the Seattle. His name was John Prater, and he was in the Marines for over twenty years, ending his career as a gunnery sergeant. Here is the first photo, if anyone can identify all of the medals he is wearing, please let me know and I will pass the information on to the family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Championhilz Posted December 23, 2007 Author Share #2 Posted December 23, 2007 Here is another picture of Prater and his detachment with President Woodrow Wilson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siege1863 Posted December 23, 2007 Share #3 Posted December 23, 2007 Outstanding items! One could write a book on the career of this Marine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Championhilz Posted December 23, 2007 Author Share #4 Posted December 23, 2007 Here is the text of a letter written by Prater while stationed on the Seattle; it is a very interesting letter as he saw combat in France before being posted to the Seattle and he talks about it in some detail: John_PRATER_to_EA_DENT_7_21_1918_1_.doc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhunde.ret Posted December 23, 2007 Share #5 Posted December 23, 2007 Exceptional studio photography, Dirk will drool over this one. The letter is well worth the read too. Thx for sharing w/ us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted December 23, 2007 Share #6 Posted December 23, 2007 Darrell droll is an understatement! For me photos of that subject matter show up once a year at best....this one is a real joy to look at! I like the fact that he is wearing his ER and SS at the same time.....kind of overkill for the folks back home maybe? Also like the crease running down the arm where the seam-to-seam ends. Just a darned great shot! Championhilz maybe when we finally do our thread on marine uniforms you will consider posting it again as well. Dirk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KurtA Posted December 23, 2007 Share #7 Posted December 23, 2007 That bottom center medal sure looks like a USN Good Conduct. I wonder if he did one enlistement in the Navy and then transfered over to the Marines? Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firegirl Posted March 7, 2016 Share #8 Posted March 7, 2016 I recently inherited a box full of my great Uncle John Lester Prater's items, including quite a bit of military pictures and information. Thought I would add one more picture of him in uniform, taken earlier in his career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firegirl Posted March 7, 2016 Share #9 Posted March 7, 2016 One more picture of John Lester PRATER. I am sorry that I do not have any additional information on where or when this photo was taken. John Prater is bottom row right hand side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted March 7, 2016 Share #10 Posted March 7, 2016 Scan_20160214 (11)r.jpgOne more picture of John Lester PRATER. I am sorry that I do not have any additional information on where or when this photo was taken. John Prater is bottom row right hand side. Looks like the group is on board ship. Great photos thanks for posting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firegirl Posted March 7, 2016 Share #11 Posted March 7, 2016 This picture was taken on John Lester Prater's wedding day to Hanna Louise Cattell April 8, 1918 at the Uptown Presbyterian Church, Newark, NJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted March 8, 2016 Share #12 Posted March 8, 2016 Great images of a Marine who entered the Corps no later than 1906...and with scarcely seen Gunnery Sergeant chevrons, and an unusual rather long ribbon on his Good Conduct Medal. Fantastic early images, I have always been partial to early USMC portraits. Thanks for sharing your family history Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted March 8, 2016 Share #13 Posted March 8, 2016 Wonderful additions to this thread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelligerentBlue Posted March 8, 2016 Share #14 Posted March 8, 2016 Amazing photos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firegirl Posted March 8, 2016 Share #15 Posted March 8, 2016 Thank you all and glad you liked seeing them. I have his records, along with those stripes. Do you think copies of his records would be appropriate on this site? I am new but want to share what I can of his that may be of interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted March 8, 2016 Share #16 Posted March 8, 2016 Please post them both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SgtMaddoxUSMC Posted March 8, 2016 Share #17 Posted March 8, 2016 GREAT photos! Love seeing photos of Marines from this time frame! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firegirl Posted March 8, 2016 Share #18 Posted March 8, 2016 I have 3 separate sets of military records for John Lester Prater, 2 pages each, that I will post. They are from 1911, 1915 and 1919. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firegirl Posted March 8, 2016 Share #19 Posted March 8, 2016 1911 Page 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firegirl Posted March 8, 2016 Share #20 Posted March 8, 2016 1915 Page 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firegirl Posted March 8, 2016 Share #21 Posted March 8, 2016 1915 Page 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firegirl Posted March 8, 2016 Share #22 Posted March 8, 2016 1919 Page 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firegirl Posted March 8, 2016 Share #23 Posted March 8, 2016 1919 Page 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firegirl Posted March 8, 2016 Share #24 Posted March 8, 2016 Found one from 1903 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firegirl Posted March 8, 2016 Share #25 Posted March 8, 2016 1903 Page 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now