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4th MarDiv PFC B.L. Coon - Regiment?


kklinejr
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Hello, folks. I picked this set up (cap and trousers not shown) a little while back and have finally gotten around to researching it. The coat is a marked 5-L 1943-1944 model. The ribbons are the wide Wolf-Brown style in impeccable condition. Now, onto my question. I have learned that like the 5th and 6th Marines who were authorized to wear the French fourragere, other units were sometimes given permission to wear shoulder cords. Would anyone know if this is true, and if so, what regiment would this man have belonged to having a period yellow cord- 14, 23, 24, or 25th?

 

Thank you!

 

Ken

 

PS- yes, I know the ribbons are out of order, but I am not about to chnage them as they were sealed that way.

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Ken

The only USMC units authorized to wear the unit French green & red Fouragere are the 5th and 6th Marines. (If you were in the 5th, 6th or 6th MG Bn when the honor was bestowed in 1918 you could wear it all the time in any unit-none of those guys left now of course!) I have no clue what the yellow cord is........never saw or heard of anything like it in my USMC travels. I would take it off and put it in the pocket wit a big Question Mark ? Tag on it.

Re: the ribbons, the lower bar needs to be reversed is all; the Victory ribbon should be on the other, left, end.

Semper Fi.....Bob

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The closest thing to that cord would be the rervice aiguillettes of round gold wire and scarlet cord worn by military to aides to the White House. The Dress aiguillettes "are of round gold cord ¼ inch in diameter, with a core of yellow cotton covered with gold or gilt thread. It consists of two cords made in three plaits, with a pencil attachment on the end of each plaited cord, and of two loops of single cord."

 

It doesn't look like the cord in the photos fits either of those (altbhough they are current regulations and may not reflect the regs of the 1940's), but I could see where someone who had worn one of those on the job could have hung it on a uniform they kept for display after leaving the service, but even then would a Private have served with the military liaison in the White House? During WWII it may well have been possible.

 

Here's the only photo I could find of a Marine presidential aide:

 

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That aiguillette definitely does not belong on that uniform. It is a post war 1950's Army item.

I am always a little afraid of those Wolf Brown bars in new condition as loads of them have been available over the past several years and unknown quantities of uniforms have been "dressed up" with them. This is not to say that those on this uniform are not original to it however.

He has a good conduct and I would normally expect to see service hash marks on the lower sleeves with this as both came with 4 years of service, but I have seen other uniforms with GC and no hash marks as well.

Nice coat!

 

CB

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Thanks for the information, guys...off goes the cord and into an envelope that will be placed next to the uniform.

 

Ken

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Hi Ken,

 

In my opinion this is not one aiguillettes, but a Fourragères of the French "Médaille Militaire" (yellow with green stripes - colors of the médaille militaire - haved green?).

 

During WWII only the 16th, 18th and 26th US Infantry Regiments, the 5th and 7th US Field Artillery Battalions, the 1st US Engineer Battalion and the 1st US Signal Company were awarded the fourragère aux couleurs du ruban de la Médaille Militaire.

 

Best regards,

 

Ricardo.

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and don't switch the ribbons, leave them as found, as commonly they were merely put on in WWII as they were awarded in that order!

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and don't switch the ribbons, leave them as found, as commonly they were merely put on in WWII as they were awarded in that order!

 

I have learned to never, ever switch the ribbons around...even if totally scattered. Also, these bars have clutchback mechanisms unlike any I have seen before (see below). The center is pushed and the outer rim is pulled to release the clutch- they have a patent on them, but it is difficult to read. These are 1/2 inch in diameter...odd ones.

 

Thanks again for the information on this item.

 

Ken

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I looked in my 4th Marine Division unit history and there are only KIA listings so I cannot help you with what regiment he was in. Most of the 4th Marine Division won the Presidential Unit Citation and the Navy Unit Commendation for the assault on Iwo Jima. I do not like the WW2 discharges for Marines they do not list the division the veteran was assigned to, only where discharged from and engagements, with personal information.

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Thanks for looking! I have the 4th MarDiv's history as well and wish it was as detailed as the 5th MarDiv's history which gives a roster for every regiment ( and is about 95% complete). I've found four possibilities for a B.L. Coon in the SSDI and will now start tracking that to see if I can get to a serial number along the way.

 

Thanks again,

 

Ken

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