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Merrill's Marauders officer's uniform


Bob Hudson
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An estate sale seven minutes from home was worth a peek this morning even if their ad said nothing about militaria.

 

Turned out that scattered throughout the house, in closets and boxes, there was what turned out to be artifacts of a member of Merrill's Marauders, who apparently enlisted and was later commissioned. I only found out about the Merrill's Marauders

connection when I decided to checkout some of the books on the shelves - they sometimes have documents stuck between the pages. This one had an inscription from the author.

 

The officer's name was written on a couple of uniform pieces including his infantry garrison cap, the trousers and a money belt. I found some info about him online including the photo of his head stone and his Pennsylvania veteran's compensation application. That says he was overseas 23 April 1944 to 8 June 1945.

 

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Docs found online:

 

ENLIST.jpg

 

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pa-comp-2.jpg

 

The book was signed by author Jerome T. Hagen, Brigadier General, USMC ( Retired)

 

BOOK.jpg

 

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Since he went overseas in April 1944, he must have been part of this replacement group:

 

"June 1, the Marauders were severely depleted by disease, wounds, and malnutrition, and an influx of over 2000 men supplementing the original 3000 arrived."

 

The replacements departed for the CBI on April 23 and arrived Bombay in late May.

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Great save Bob!

 

After I saw that shirt hanging in a downstairs room I started looking all over the house for more OD stuff. I bought everything I could find find except for two shirts that has small moth holes on the back. I even got a musette bag strap which will come in handy next time I find a bag with no strap.

 

The rest, as shown here, makes a nice little grouping. It'd look great with insignia on the uniform and cap. I assume he would have had BRONZE STAR, ASIA PACIFIC campaign and WWII Victory medals. Would have been eligible for Army GCM for his enlisted service?

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Awesome find as I have always wanted a marauder group because of my gramps. I wonder if my grandfather or family knew him as my grandfather was also from Philly

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