artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Share #1 Posted October 28, 2013 Having been honorably discharged at the end of the war, Vern left the Marine Corp with over 5 years of service. Having served in numerous campaigns including Guadacanal, the Solomons, and Bougainville, he reached the rank of Plt. Sgt. As a reservist, he worked as a stock room worker at Macy's in Chicago when the war broke out. His outfit, the 7th Marines, was called up as a result. Being sent overseas, he saw his first combat on Guadacanal. While on Guadacanal and after the initial combat he was sent back stateside and attended an aerial photographer's course at Quantico. After completion he returned to the island but found the 7th Marines had already left. Assigned to the 1st Marine Division's Intelligence Section (D-2), he participated in many reconnaissance missions. Surviving a number of close calls, he was fortunate and remained unwounded for a long time. It was only until he contracted malaria and was being evacuated was he injured. The ship he was being evacuated on from the island was torpedoed, and he was wounded in the process. Eventually he wound up back in the states where he was stationed until his discharge. He taught intelligence at Quantico and was awarded the Purple Heart while serving as an instructor. Here are a few of his things... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #2 Posted October 28, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #3 Posted October 28, 2013 Vern is on the right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #4 Posted October 28, 2013 This photo was taken right before a patrol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #5 Posted October 28, 2013 Notice how his name is on his equipment... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #6 Posted October 28, 2013 Here is an exert on Vern from a Macy's newspaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #7 Posted October 28, 2013 His certificate for the aerial photographer's course he completed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #8 Posted October 28, 2013 A newspaper clipping on Vern from a local newspaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #9 Posted October 28, 2013 His locker... Whats inside? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #10 Posted October 28, 2013 Just some of his things that I took out to air. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #11 Posted October 28, 2013 I'll post more detailed pics in a while, I need to recharge my laptop battery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted October 28, 2013 Share #12 Posted October 28, 2013 This is a great group!Can't wait to see more pics!He has some cool gear.Can anyone ID that knife he has?Is that a wrist compass he's wearing? I would also like to get a better look at the boots,or leggings he's wearing.Thanks for posting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #13 Posted October 28, 2013 The first photos are of the hats. There are two, but the leather is unfortunately warped. There were ALOT of photos and paper work in the trunk but almost ALL of them were somehow damaged. Vern compiled an album of 'patrol photos' from his time on Guadacanal but all the pictures were ruined by water damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #14 Posted October 28, 2013 Here is the inside of his blue dress cover (correct me if I'm wrong on the name). There are a few dress covers in the group and two of them, the white ones, are in remarkable condition for their age. This cover is especially nice since it's made in good ole' Illinois Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #15 Posted October 28, 2013 Cap galore! I have an instant collection of different makes and weaves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #16 Posted October 28, 2013 This cap is a particularly nice example. Its Australian made from the Myer Company and was purchased when the 1st was in Australia. The leather is worn, but the stamp is still visible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
etienne Posted October 28, 2013 Share #17 Posted October 28, 2013 Very nice grouping ... excellent find The full footlocker is really amazing ... could you post pics of the haversac ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #18 Posted October 28, 2013 Some more photos of the haversack. If you'd like more detailed photos, just describe what you'd like to see better and I'll try my best to focus on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #19 Posted October 28, 2013 How he printed his name on his magazine carrier is almost identical to his haversack. If this is a early model (which I think it is), then it's safe to say that he carried this into combat on Guadacanal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #20 Posted October 28, 2013 This was stamped inside the haversack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #21 Posted October 28, 2013 Here are some of the small booklets included. The one I especially like is the "Pigeon Communication" booklet because it describes how a pigeon carrier unit is structured at the various levels of command. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #22 Posted October 28, 2013 Here are two Christmas cards sent from Guadacanal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #23 Posted October 28, 2013 Unfortunately, peace would come two years later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #24 Posted October 28, 2013 The second card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artur95 Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #25 Posted October 28, 2013 Here is a photo of Corpsmen carrying a wounded Marine off a troop ship in Australia. You can see slight water damage on the back... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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