BILL THE PATCH Posted February 1, 2018 Share #1 Posted February 1, 2018 I scored this group of eBay because of the 188th connection. It's named to a Byron j hicks ser# 14030151. There are lots of hicks on Nara finally found him on page 70. From North Carolina enlisted 1940. Born 1917. Not sure if he was in the gliders first then went airborne. 188th went airborne I think right at the tail end of the war or immediately post. Has a really nice para cap patch emb on silk I'm assuming Japanese made. The will g is marked gemsco, Sterling. It attached to a 188th oval and it's been there for a long time. Nice px pocket patch. And a matching set of 188th DUIs. I'm not sure when the DUIs and oval came about or ate they unauthorized. But definitely post war, being he enlisted in 1940 did he reup? The seller stated he got this info off a photo album that the relatives we're not willing to sell. I asked to give them my contact info hoping they might make copies of some pictures. He never got back to me. I did send for his records via golden arrow. Hopefully something pans out. If anyone can find any info on this trooper I would appreciate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted February 1, 2018 Author Share #2 Posted February 1, 2018 Cap patch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted February 1, 2018 Author Share #3 Posted February 1, 2018 DUIs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Michael Posted February 1, 2018 Share #4 Posted February 1, 2018 Nice grouping! General Swing wanted all his troopers to be jump Qualified so many of the Glider riders earned their jump wings while on New Guinea. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted February 1, 2018 Author Share #5 Posted February 1, 2018 Abn wing and oval Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted February 2, 2018 Author Share #6 Posted February 2, 2018 This first grouping I was able to find for the 188th, trying to find more seeing my dad was in this unit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted February 2, 2018 Author Share #7 Posted February 2, 2018 Nice grouping! General Swing wanted all his troopers to be jump Qualified so many of the Glider riders earned their jump wings while on New Guinea. Mike i remember asking my dad why he didn't make his jumps, he told me they started asking at the end of hostilities but he declined. His friend Tony voluntered but my dad was scheduled to go home so he said no way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntssurplus Posted February 2, 2018 Share #8 Posted February 2, 2018 Great little grouping! Looks like a great research project, especially with the family connection. Maybe you will find that they knew each other? Thanks for sharingHunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan H. Posted February 2, 2018 Share #9 Posted February 2, 2018 During the occupation, the 187th and 188th Infantry Regiments flip-flopped as being designated parachute or glider infantry. This was allow as many troops as possible to be dual trained as parachute or glider qualified. The DUIs that you show are from the early 1950's, as is the 188th oval. I would also venture to say that the pocket patch dates to that timeframe as well. Great little group of insignia. Obviously, the Japanese-made cap patch is the best piece in the group! Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted February 2, 2018 Author Share #10 Posted February 2, 2018 Thanks Allan, I new about the insignia and yes the Japanese made cap patch is the highlight. I'm think this guy might have been with the 11th during the war also. Time will tell. his records are being sent for as I type. Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtdorango Posted February 3, 2018 Share #11 Posted February 3, 2018 Very nice group bill....mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Michael Posted February 3, 2018 Share #12 Posted February 3, 2018 Bill, I have an album to a fellow that was either in the 188th or the 187th, have yet to determine. If you want contact me by PM with a photo of your dad and may get lucky and he is in the album. Mike i remember asking my dad why he didn't make his jumps, he told me they started asking at the end of hostilities but he declined. His friend Tony voluntered but my dad was scheduled to go home so he said no way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted February 3, 2018 Author Share #13 Posted February 3, 2018 I scored this group of eBay because of the 188th connection. It's named to a Byron j hicks ser# 14030151. There are lots of hicks on Nara finally found him on page 70. From North Carolina enlisted 1940. Born 1917. Not sure if he was in the gliders first then went airborne. 188th went airborne I think right at the tail end of the war or immediately post. Has a really nice para cap patch emb on silk I'm assuming Japanese made. The Abn wing is marked gemsco, Sterling. It attached to a 188th oval and it's been there for a long time. Nice px pocket patch. And a matching set of 188th DUIs. I'm not sure when the DUIs and oval came about or ate they unauthorized. But definitely post war, being he enlisted in 1940 did he reup? The seller stated he got this info off a photo album that the relatives we're not willing to sell. I asked to give them my contact info hoping they might make copies of some pictures. He never got back to me. I did send for his records via golden arrow. Hopefully something pans out. If anyone can find any info on this trooper I would appreciate it. {style_image_url}/attachicon.gif rps20180201_185545_209.jpg Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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