RPPC Portrait - WW1 Father & WW2 Son - Unit ID?

[MWalsh]

I found this real photo post card not too long ago and loved it! Its only about the 2nd or 3rd I have ever had with a WW1 vet AND WW2 soldier or veteran in the picture together and in uniform. I know who these two were but have not yet had time to research the WW1 father. Their names are on the back and they were from the Osage, Iowa area. It is also interesting that someone in the WW2 era was still making real photo post cards - odd, they were typically a WW1 thing in my experience. Maybe from an old "local" photographer who still made them?

 

The father's WW1 unit patch is what I have been unsure about. Is it perhaps a trench mortar looking piece in the middle? Since he was Iowa the thought crossed my mind that perhaps it was a 34th Division variation, but I am not feeling so strong about that.

 

Thoughts? Thanks!

 

 

[MWalsh]

 

 

[MWalsh]

[hink441]

I can't help with the elder's patch, but that is a really nice photograph!!

 

Chris

[agate hunter]

WWI patch looks like a Liberty Bell, perhaps the 76th Division?

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/172-76th-infantry-division/

[double canister]

That'd be my guess, too.

[gauthieb3sxz]

Harvey - the father served with #263 Prisoner of War Escort Service. Or at least that's the unit he returned to the states with.

[GITom1944]

It also looks like he left Hoboken aboard the S.S. Pocohantas on September 15, 1918 with the Camp Gordon September Automatic Replacement Draft Company #1, Infantry. The 76th Division became a Depot Division in France, used to train and provide replacements to other units. I've also seen accounts of which soldiers who were wounded, gassed or became ill being re-asigned to Prisoner of War Escort duty after leaving the hospital if their overall fitness had declined. Could be he was assigned to the 76th for awhile followed by the 263 PWE. Also looks like Arthur is not his son. Perhaps he's a nephew?

 

Tom