Kadet Posted July 6, 2019 Share #1 Posted July 6, 2019 Over time, my hobby has really become researching the stories behind these artifacts. I will sometimes buy an item purely for the challenge of figuring out who the owner was. I've grown fairly adept at research and can usually "find my man" so to speak. This jacket has defied my best efforts though. In my estimate it is completely original and represents someone who served in combat with the 82nd Airborne Division, then was transferred to the 17th Airborne Division for the ride home in September 1945. I believe the bullion wings are theater made (German?) and represent the 508th PIR. The jacket is named in an unusual way: Tom. Ronald...or perhaps Tom. Ronala. I have searched all combinations of this name and come up with a goose egg. I know there are many possible scenarios with naming in a uniform, but It is a beautiful Ike jacket and it deserves to have its history recovered if possible. Thoughts appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadet Posted July 6, 2019 Author Share #2 Posted July 6, 2019 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadet Posted July 6, 2019 Author Share #3 Posted July 6, 2019 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinO Posted July 6, 2019 Share #4 Posted July 6, 2019 This guy? https://obittree.com/obituary/us/tennessee/johnson-city/morris-baker-funeral-home-and-cremation-services/dr-thomas-ronald-jr/143202/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadet Posted July 6, 2019 Author Share #5 Posted July 6, 2019 Thanks!...and that is why I posted it!!! I had gone back and forth on this man, and had him in my "maybe" folder. The NARA database has his race listed as "negro". Unlikely for a WWII paratrooper, but the entries in this field of the database are sometimes erroneous. That is the case here. I had also never found that particular version of his obit with the 82nd reference. His residence also tracks with where the jacket was found. I'll bet he is a match. Many thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinO Posted July 6, 2019 Share #6 Posted July 6, 2019 Not finding much else on him but at least a connection to the 82nd... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadet Posted July 6, 2019 Author Share #7 Posted July 6, 2019 Not finding much else on him but at least a connection to the 82nd... Nor did I when I looked at him the first time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1canpara Posted July 6, 2019 Share #8 Posted July 6, 2019 Nice work! Awesome jacket Andy! I love that jump wing oval, beautiful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinO Posted July 6, 2019 Share #9 Posted July 6, 2019 I'm really crunched for time this morning, but would suggest flipping through the MRs for the 508th, possible he was WIA and is mentioned. It's not searchable so you have to flip page by page. I went through all of May 1944 with nothing, and the first half of Jan 1945 also. Plenty of other pages to check though. I'm sure there are others on the site besides those I've listed here. Here's a start: http://fultonhistory.com/My%20Photo%20Albums/US%20Military%20Morning%20Reports%201940-1960/Roll%20602%20Items%2019640-19665%201944-07-01/508th%20PIR%20Morning%20Reports%201944-07-01/index.html http://fultonhistory.com/My%20Photo%20Albums/US%20Military%20Morning%20Reports%201940-1960/Roll%20601a%20Item%2017068-17126%201945-06-01-30/508th%20Prcht%20Inf%20MR%201945-06-01-30%20(17068)/index.html http://fultonhistory.com/My%20Photo%20Albums/US%20Military%20Morning%20Reports%201940-1960/Roll%20582%20Items%2017266-17272%201945-01-01/508th%20PIR%20Morning%20Reports%201945-01-01/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadet Posted July 7, 2019 Author Share #10 Posted July 7, 2019 Austin, thanks. I also have access to those files and have been sorting through them. Always very tedious. I plan to request his record and will post what I find about him... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadet Posted July 7, 2019 Author Share #11 Posted July 7, 2019 Here is his full NARA entry. I found it in the Reserve/National Guard section. A couple interesting nuggets. His race is correct in this version, and it also states his education as 1 year of college vice 1 year of HS. This aligns more closely with his obituary. His branch is listed as Signal Corps. If he was in the Signal Corps as a paratrooper that may narrow the search immensely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadet Posted July 7, 2019 Author Share #12 Posted July 7, 2019 oops, wrong guy. Here it is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
101STCOLLECTOR Posted November 18, 2020 Share #13 Posted November 18, 2020 Take a look on this auction. https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/93433484 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadet Posted November 18, 2020 Author Share #14 Posted November 18, 2020 Good catch! I sold this jacket on Ebay some time ago just as you see it in my thread, along with the research I had done. The buyer (or perhaps someone else) apparently saw fit to remove the rare wing patch and replace it with a standard artillery oval. Just goes to show how careful you need to be with airborne uniforms. Unfortunately this isn't the first time something I've sold in good faith reappeared on the market in a different form. Buyer beware Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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