Show us your Korean War uniforms!

[GIl Sanow]

"KKlinejr" offered several KW Ike jackets for sale earlier today and mentioned how few he had in his collection. Is this true of all of us? It occuers to me that perhaps we could get something going in "show-n-tell" and share what we have.

 

Everyone is invited to chime in!

 

To start the ball rolling, a SSG's Ike -- note the 65th Engineers (Combat) DI's and the 25th ID patch. Only 2 ribbons though -- shows 3 campaigns, but no overseas bars. Picked this one upo at the MAX last fall.

[GIl Sanow]

I have had this one for years. I posted a closeup of the bullion "grumpy Indianhead" patch recently on another thread. It's pretty well decked out, I think.

 

G

[GIl Sanow]

Yes, I collect KW big brass too! Here is MG (later GEN) Henry Hodes' TW shirt. Hodes commanded the 24th ID in action in Korea. Note the location of his nametape and the lack of a U.S. Army tape. From photos I have seen, this is typical of the late KW era. The Army adopted double tapes by the mid '50's Army wide. The metal stars have an odd staple-like attachment -- I assume they are Korean made.

[GIl Sanow]

And finally, probably the best of my KW uniforms -- the Ike jacket worn by MG (later LTG) Arthur G. Trudeau as CG of the 7th ID. He commanded the division at the end of the war -- at the time of the Battle of Pork Chop Hill, and is mentioned several times in SLA Marshall's book.

 

When I got the jacket, it was missing the stars on the leadership loops. I restored thjem using a pair of bullion stars embroidered on heavy overcoat weight wool. They don't match the others, but they look a whole lot better than if they were missing.

[Guest SONOF24THCORPS]

And finally, probably the best of my KW uniforms -- the Ike jacket worn by MG (later LTG) Arthur G. Trudeau as CG of the 7th ID. He commanded the division at the end of the war -- at the time of the Battle of Pork Chop Hill, and is mentioned several times in SLA Marshall's book.

 

When I got the jacket, it was missing the stars on the leadership loops. I restored thjem using a pair of bullion stars embroidered on heavy overcoat weight wool. They don't match the others, but they look a whole lot better than if they were missing.

 

Hello: Nice Dress Uniform Jacket

 

My father served in the US Army in Korea in 1947 in the 24th Corps, 392 Quater Master Refrigeration Truck Detachment and he had a dress uniform very much like the one you have posted. He let me wear it and I had it stolen out of a locker in high school. I was looking at his old photos from album and remember he had the Blue with white heart 24th Corps patch on the upper arm and he had two strips under the patch. My father is about to celebrate his 80th birthday at the end of the month and I would really like to replace it with one of like kind.

 

Any suggestions. I recall it being brown in color and similar, if not exactly like the one you have in the photograph with the exeption of the different junk jewerly. I think that is what you call it? Sorry I never served in the military myself.

[BEAST]

KKlinejr has a good point. Korea is one of the most passed over wars, especially in the field of collecting. I think one problem is how few actually served in Korea as compared to WWII or Vietnam.

 

This is an ID'd enlisted engineer's Ike.

 

[BEAST]

THis is his bullion 8th Army SSI.

 

[4STARCHRIS]

 

Here is your guy G in his fatigues with his ribbon bar. Sweet.

Nice pic of the uniform.

4starchris

[4STARCHRIS]

 

Here you see the Army DSM, Silver Star, Legion of Merit etc.

4starchris

[4STARCHRIS]

 

Here is three war veteran USMC LTG O.P. Smith also Korean war veteran.

[Bob Hudson]

I recently acquired the Korean War HBT uniform of a Marine tank battalion member who went to Korea in 1950: the shirt, pants and utility cap, all in great condition. I am now in the process of gathering gear and other items need to put together a KW Marine display.

 

Fellow forum admin Greg Robinson specializes in Korean War USMC militaria and he and I just today updated a thread about a little know USMC issue item of the Korean War: alpaca lined vests: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...?showtopic=6310

 

These apparently originally used by the AAF but we are now convinced they were issued to Marines early in the war.

 

[4STARCHRIS]

 

Here is a close up of LTG O.P. Smith ribbon bars.

4starchris

[collector]

 

Here is three war veteran USMC LTG O.P. Smith also Korean war veteran.

 

Interesting that he still has the 1st MarDiv patch, long after they were no longer supposed to be worn.

[CNY Militaria]

Here is my favotire...To an unnamed colonel from the FEC, with X corps on the other side. Most of the insignia is custom.

[CNY Militaria]

More insignia...

[Nkomo]

These are a couple of my Korean War uniforms. I don't usually collect dress/service uniforms, but I took exceptions on these two. The first uniform is a 1946 pattern Ike jacket with an 11th Airborne patch. This uniform has been tailored heavily with the addition of a zipper on the front, snaps on several locations, and the pockets flaps being sewn down. Unfortunately, this uniform has some condition issues (moth knips). However, I do have the guys other greens somewhere in my room.

[BEAST]

I guess you would call this "Korean War Era" as the vet never went over seas. Nonetheless it is part of a nice ID'd grouping.

 

 

 

 

[Nkomo]

The second uniform is one of the most complete groupings that I own. I have researched this gentleman and found out that he was awarded two Purple Hearts for being wounded in North Korean rocket attacks while with the 2nd ID. This jacket has been a labor of love. When I got it, the son of the soldier took everything off the jacket to make his dad a shadow box. My wife and I have slowly been sewing the patches (which were included in the auction) back on to the uniform.

[Nkomo]

Another picture of the uniform, the collar brass, and the ribbon bars.

[Nkomo]

These pictures are of his A Paratrooper's Faith (with all his jump dates), his New Testament (with duplicate set of jump dates), his mini Seperation Qualification Record (1948 date), his mini 11th Airborne Glider Qualification Certificate, his Selective Service card, Military ID, VFW card, mini honorable discharge card, and a mini Seperation Record. Funny thing is that all the mini's are from his prior service in the 1940's.

[GIl Sanow]

 

Here you see the Army DSM, Silver Star, Legion of Merit etc.

4starchris

 

Trudeau commanded I Corps after the armistice -- I think your pic is from that era since he has the SS on his ribbon set. Years ago I had a chance to buy a similar fatigue shirt, his pistil belt and footlocker, plus his helmet I think. I did take his 3-star TW's but since turned them loose. Was really happy to get this one awhile back.

 

Apparently the wear of ribbons and badges on fatigues was common right after the war.

 

G

[Nkomo]

These two pictures show his jump dates and some of his badges. They are as follows:

CIB- Sterling marked made by N.S. Meyer Inc.

US jump wings- Pin back marked NS Meyer Sterling

Glider wings- Marked 1946 Sendai Japan

Jump oval

Two sets of dog tags

Qualifaction badge with Expert, Rifle, and Carbine hangers

[collector]

Uniform of Maj. D.J. Hancock

[GIl Sanow]

Almost forgot I had this WO coat. What is really neat is that all of the insignia except the KMAG patch is bullion. The o/s bars, the unit citation and the CBI on the right sleeve are sewn on. The ribbons are custom made and the WO and collar insignia are direct embroidered. You almost have to see it to believe how neat it is.

[36-tex]

WO jacket with sewn ribbons.