Brig Posted May 24, 2013 Share #1 Posted May 24, 2013 Friend of mine found this in a thrift shop and thought of me...very interesting cigar box presented to MOH Recipient and 22nd Commandant of the Marine Corps General Shoup, likely as a retirement gift...even better is Shoup's connection to 2/6, my former unit. Shoup was rather fond of cigars, and rather unpopular amongst the General Corps of the other branches due to the high regard JFK had for him. Hard to read in the images due to being tarnished, but the box states: FOR GENERAL DAVID M SHOUP, USMC WHO IS TO ME AS HE WAS TO PRESIDENT JOHN F KENNEDY WHO EXPRESSED IN HIS GREETINGS TO THE MARINES ON THEIR 188TH BIRTHDAY: "WITH DUE RESPECT TO ALL THE IMMORTALIZED MARINES WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE IN MY TIME, DAVE SHOUP IS MY MARINE." WITH ADMIRATION AND AFFECTION PAUL "RED" FAY, JR UNDER SECRETARY OF THE NAVY DECEMBER 1963 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack's Son Posted May 25, 2013 Share #2 Posted May 25, 2013 That's a real gem, Brig! I'm sure you could have it cleaned to reveal more, and have a very nice centerpiece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
normaninvasion Posted May 25, 2013 Share #3 Posted May 25, 2013 That's a heluva find in a thrift store! Concur it being for retirement, being Dec. 63 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
History Man Posted May 25, 2013 Share #4 Posted May 25, 2013 Great find, really has a nice look to it. Philip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torch03 Posted May 25, 2013 Share #5 Posted May 25, 2013 Awesome find Brig! Thanks for sharing it with us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted May 25, 2013 Author Share #6 Posted May 25, 2013 I'm not in the habit of cleaning original patinas off stuff, though this one has me more tempted than any other piece I've owned I must state, that while it was a thrift store, it had an antique store price Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack's Son Posted May 25, 2013 Share #7 Posted May 25, 2013 I'm not in the habit of cleaning original patinas off stuff, though this one has me more tempted than any other piece I've owned I would normally not have suggested it, but this piece is an exception in my opinion!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpw_42 Posted May 25, 2013 Share #8 Posted May 25, 2013 Congrats on a tremendous score, Brig! Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry K. Posted May 25, 2013 Share #9 Posted May 25, 2013 Great find! Clean it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRR Posted May 25, 2013 Share #10 Posted May 25, 2013 What a smokin score I would use a chemical cleaner and soft cloth to take down the oxidation, but nothing abrasive. Really a cool find! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted May 25, 2013 Share #11 Posted May 25, 2013 I agree with these guys Brig. Clean it. But I disagree with you on one thing. If you clean it, you're not removing the original patina.....you're bringing it back to it's original patina.......the patina of new, or almost new. That's a very neat piece. Ronnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted May 25, 2013 Share #12 Posted May 25, 2013 Very nice addition to your collection! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pchepurko Posted May 25, 2013 Share #13 Posted May 25, 2013 I say don't clean it. It will decrease the value. Great find and Semper Fi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhunde.ret Posted May 25, 2013 Share #14 Posted May 25, 2013 To clean or not, is the question? Nice score! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinO Posted May 25, 2013 Share #15 Posted May 25, 2013 Its silver plate not silver (so don't clean it). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted May 25, 2013 Share #16 Posted May 25, 2013 Very nice, Brig! IMHO Silver or Silver Plate is meant to be (carefully) cleaned. Tarnish on silver is not a patina of age. BUT it's yours so you are the "decider". Now, if you had it anodized........YUCK! My 2-cents Semper Fi......Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dskjl Posted May 25, 2013 Share #17 Posted May 25, 2013 my vote would be not to clean it and sell it to me. for a quick profit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted May 25, 2013 Share #18 Posted May 25, 2013 Very nice find! I always like seeing items related to Shoup as, besides being an incredible Marine, he was also a Hoosier being born not far from Purdue University. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtdorango Posted May 25, 2013 Share #19 Posted May 25, 2013 I vote to put some stoggies in it!... ...mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt Barickman Posted May 25, 2013 Share #20 Posted May 25, 2013 The only MOH on Tarawa that was not posthumous!! Great item and I vote NOT to clean it. Congrats. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt Barickman Posted May 25, 2013 Share #21 Posted May 25, 2013 Also, on Ebay right now is a photo of Shoup having his wife tie his MOH ribbon around his neck; would like nice with your cigar humidor. Or even the photo of him wearing his P-42 camouflage pants and hbt shirt prior to Tarawa with a big stogie in his mouth. Just a thought. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadet Posted May 25, 2013 Share #22 Posted May 25, 2013 This is an exceptional, and IMO historically significant item. The presenter, "Red" Fay, was more than Undersecretary of the Navy. He was one of JFK's most trusted associates and, like Shoup, part of the Kennedy inner circle. The date on the box is what makes it significant. December 1963 is only weeks after Kennedy was assassinated. It seems to me that Fay's inscription was meant to reflect what Kennedy may have said had he been alive...very nice, and the box would also have strong appeal in the world of JFK collectibles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted May 25, 2013 Share #23 Posted May 25, 2013 WOW!! Blown away.Awesome find.I also vote on cleaning it.I would take pictures and print them out.Then you'll have a before and after so if anybody questions its authenticity you have proof.I would ask or google for the best and safest way to polish it.Again very cool find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted May 26, 2013 Author Share #24 Posted May 26, 2013 Thanks for all the input, gents. If I can figure out what brand of cigar's in this size SHoup preferred, I could have some repro labels made and make a nice filler! I imagine the fact that it was so close to JFK's could be a coincidence with the writing...it may have been ordered prior to that, especially if it had special ordered cigars in it. If it came full, I imagine they were some quality stogies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack's Son Posted May 26, 2013 Share #25 Posted May 26, 2013 After smoking a Cuban cigar, you don't go back. JFK, and I imagine Shoup shared this pleasant addiction!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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