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WWI 318th Engineer Regiment Grouping - French Made Uniform


MasonK
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Picked up this uniform yesterday from a local Antique Mall. Was browsing the military items in one stand, and the guy running it said I have a uniform out in the car you may be interested in. He said all of the items came fresh out of an estate.

 

Grouping is named to 1st Sgt Jordan Groff Fitzgerald (B. 2/23/188, D. 5/6/1981). Sgt Fitzgerald enlisted in November 7th, 1913. From 1913-1917, he served with the 3rd Battalion of Engineers, later the 3rd Engineer Regiment. During his WWI service, he served with Co B. of the 318th Engineer Regiment, 6th Division. He served overseas with the regiment from May 1918-June 1919. Worn on his WWI Victory Medal is the Meuse-Argonne battle clasp.

 

Uniform is French made, including the Breeches. 6th Division SSI on his left sleeve, Engineer First Sergeant rank on right. A single Gold Service stripe near the lower right hand cuff.

 

I'm not up on my WWI insignia, however I believe the rank and 6th SSI may be French made?

 

Pinned to his uniform is the VFW Medal, Sharpshooter Qualification Badge, and WWI Victory Medal w/Meuse-Argonne clasp.

 

Also included is various paperwork related to his service.

 

Lastly, a studio portrait of the veteran. Oddly enough, he is wearing officers collar insignia. I can only guess this was added for the photo for some reason? No indication that he was ever an officer, and no rank insignia in the portrait. Looking at the uniform, there appears to be an indentation of the Engineer insignia on the wearers right collar.

 

Comments good and bad are welcome. Thanks for looking!

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Documentation that came with the group

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Documentation found on Ancestry

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I thought this was cool...application for his WWI Victory Medal.

 

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Documentation just makes it more better and the portrait gives it that personal touch.

 

Chris

 

 

A really nice uniform group...thank you for posting!

 

Mike

 

 

Great grouping Eric!!!!

 

 

Thanks, gentlemen! Much appreciated!

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Thought I'd share this photo I found of Co B on eBay. Sadly, it sold 2 months ago. I contacted the seller, and they have no high-res scan of the photo, and they state they were unsuccessful in passing my contact info onto the buyer.

 

Hoping to one day track down an original. I'm thinking Fitzgerald could be one of two vets in the photo, assuming he was there when the photo was taken.

 

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