bellasilva Posted October 24, 2016 Share #1 Posted October 24, 2016 This just came in, and I'm naturally ecstatic to add it to the collection. It came from a big name in the dog tag collecting field. He found everything located in the green soapbox, and it contains a salty, well worn pair of WWII USN tags stamped in the USMC format of the day (last name, first and middle initial). Two aluminum bands, one named to the same sailor, with "Japanese zero metal" etched on the back. The other band has "Guadalcanal 1943" etched onto it with a makeshift watch type fastener. Also included is a very rusted Japanese dog tag. Some stamping is still visible but the rest is illegible. I don't plan on cleaning it but will contact someone who may be able to decipher what it says. And lastly is what I'm told is a Japanese aircraft specification plate. I'll be ordering this Sailors file to find out what he was up to, but all in all this is a pretty great grouping! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted October 24, 2016 Author Share #2 Posted October 24, 2016 .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted October 24, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted October 24, 2016 .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted October 24, 2016 Author Share #4 Posted October 24, 2016 .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted October 24, 2016 Author Share #5 Posted October 24, 2016 Lastly the spec plate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted October 24, 2016 Share #6 Posted October 24, 2016 Those 2 bands make up a single watch band. Very cool. I have seen other examples like these. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted October 24, 2016 Author Share #7 Posted October 24, 2016 Ah, I see now Kurt, thanks! He must have worn it quite a bit, the "Japanese zero metal" is very worn down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USdog Posted October 24, 2016 Share #8 Posted October 24, 2016 Nice Phil! I think it would be well worth finding out the history on the Japanese tag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted October 24, 2016 Share #9 Posted October 24, 2016 It'll be interesting to learn what he did: my guess is CB's since he doesn't show up on any Navy ship muster rolls for WWII (nor in the USMC rolls, which would include Navy corpsmen). Those watchbands made from Zero aluminum always seem to show up in Seabees stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted October 24, 2016 Author Share #10 Posted October 24, 2016 Thanks gents, I agree, probably a seabee. The USMC formatted dog tags made me wonder but I did also run his name through the muster rolls and came up empty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Queen Posted October 24, 2016 Share #11 Posted October 24, 2016 The spec plate is done in an old, stylized form of Kanji which is no longer used. I can read it all but one character. The first two characters on top are "setsuzoku" (connect). I cannot read the third one. It was made by Mitsubishi Electric (Osaka) in March of 1941 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USCapturephotos Posted October 24, 2016 Share #12 Posted October 24, 2016 Nice little grouping. I love the souvenirs. Thanks. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted October 25, 2016 Author Share #13 Posted October 25, 2016 The spec plate is done in an old, stylized form of Kanji which is no longer used. I can read it all but one character. The first two characters on top are "setsuzoku" (connect). I cannot read the third one. It was made by Mitsubishi Electric (Osaka) in March of 1941Much appreciated!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted October 25, 2016 Share #14 Posted October 25, 2016 There's a similar data plate online attributed to the compass on the Sally bomber: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieony Posted October 25, 2016 Share #15 Posted October 25, 2016 A really interesting group of "bring backs"! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted October 26, 2016 Author Share #16 Posted October 26, 2016 Thanks all! I sent away for his file so I'll update when I receive it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViewfinderGyrene Posted October 27, 2016 Share #17 Posted October 27, 2016 It'll be interesting to learn what he did: my guess is CB's since he doesn't show up on any Navy ship muster rolls for WWII (nor in the USMC rolls, which would include Navy corpsmen). Those watchbands made from Zero aluminum always seem to show up in Seabees stuff. It's possible he was in 3/18 or 3/17 since those were the 2nd and 1st Marine Division engineer regiments [respectively] and the 3rd Bn of each MarEngRegt was comprised of "Marine Seabees"...I have letters from one who was in 3/18 at the Canal, and they were stationed on the airfield so this would seem a good possibility. ~VFG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted October 29, 2016 Author Share #18 Posted October 29, 2016 I received Kent's personnel file today, and the consensus was correct, he was a Seabee with the 25th Naval Construction Battalion and was transferred to the 19th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division and the 21st Marine Regiment as early as January 1943. Looks like he stayed with the 3rd Marine Division on Guadalcanal until around August 1944, and then went on to Guam. His file is filled with good information so I'll be posting the screenshots shortly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USdog Posted October 29, 2016 Share #19 Posted October 29, 2016 I received Kent's personnel file today, and the consensus was correct, he was a Seabee with the 25th Naval Construction Battalion and was transferred to the 19th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division and the 21st Marine Regiment as early as January 1943. Looks like he stayed with the 3rd Marine Division on Guadalcanal until around August 1944, and then went on to Guam. His file is filled with good information so I'll be posting the screenshots shortly! Very cool! That's what I had guessed too! Looking forward to screenshots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share #20 Posted October 30, 2016 Here's a few shots I picked. He's listed as having been transferred over to the 3rd Marine Division in January 1943 and serving with them until January 1945, just missing Iwo Jima. His service on Guadalcanal and Guam is confirmed though, and his transfer to the Marine Corps would explain the USMC formatted dog tags! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share #21 Posted October 30, 2016 .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share #22 Posted October 30, 2016 .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share #23 Posted October 30, 2016 .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViewfinderGyrene Posted October 30, 2016 Share #24 Posted October 30, 2016 Congrats man, great group! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share #25 Posted October 30, 2016 Congrats man, great group!Thanks man! It's the most unique group I've ever owned. I've always had a special interest in the Guadalcanal campaign, so this really fits in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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