57 replies to this topic

[KASTAUFFER]

Since it is still December I thought a good way to kick off my first contributing post to this forum would be to show a few US Navy Posthumus Pearl Harbor PH's!

Pearl Harbor PH's are special for a number of reasons. One of them is the unique way that many are engraved. Most WWII KIA USN PH's are engraved NAME/RANK/USN or USNR for enlisted men or RANK / NAME / USN or USNR for officers . USN PH's for Pearl Harbor often have RANK and USN on the same line instead of 2 lines .

This example was awarded to Chief Watertender William E. Tisdale Jr. He was KIA 12/7/41 on the USS Arizona. Note his rank and USN is on the same line. His medal was issued in 1943. The USN did not authorize the posthumous award of the Purple Heart medal to anyone until 1943, which means they are retroactive in the case of Pearl Harbor casualties .

Edited by KASTAUFFER, 25 January 2008 - 07:51 PM.

[KASTAUFFER]

Here is another Purple Heart which was awarded to Apprentice Seaman Thomas Hembree who was KIA 12/7/41 on the USS Curtiss . His remains , previously interned as " Unknown " at the Punchbowl in Hawaii were recently identifed. He was re-interned at the punchbowl with a new headstone.

This Purple Heart was issued to his NOK on 11/23/43.

Edited by KASTAUFFER, 02 April 2009 - 07:52 PM.

[KASTAUFFER]

This Purple Heart, was issued to the NOK of a veteran who was KIA 2/1/42 during the USS Enterprise's first action against Japanese held territory at the Marshall Islands. In addition, his plane was damaged by anti-aircraft fire in flight during the Pearl Harbor attack .

Even though this is not a Pearl Harbor PH, I wanted to illustrate it because of the similar engraving.

He was a Radioman with Scouting Squadron 6 . A ship was named for him, the USS Dennis DE-405 . His Purple Heart was issued to his NOK on 9/2/43 . Note his PH was issued earlier than the one above to AS Hembree.

All three of these were issued in 1943, and exhibit the earliest known engraving styles used by the USN. It is currently not known when the USN stopped engraving the rank and USN on the same line.

If there is interest in seeing WWII USN Navy Air medal engraving, I can do a thread on them as well.

Edited by KASTAUFFER, 13 January 2011 - 12:07 PM.

[Rattle]

These are amazing and beautiful examples of the PH. http://www.usmilitar...tyle_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif

Regards,
Stephan

[KASTAUFFER]

These are amazing and beautiful examples of the PH. http://www.usmilitar...tyle_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif

Regards,
Stephan

Thanks Stephan!

Here is a pic of another USS Arizona PH that I used to own that has the same engraving style,


Kurt

[KASTAUFFER]

As a comparison , here is another USN PH with engraving from the early 1945 time period. Notice " Rank " and " USN" are on different lines .

Kurt

Edited by KASTAUFFER, 02 January 2007 - 07:50 PM.

[Adam Townsend]

It's ironic that these beautiful medals are given for such a horrible thing. Those examples are amazing, and I'm glad they found good homes.

Adam

[KASTAUFFER]

It's ironic that these beautiful medals are given for such a horrible thing. Those examples are amazing, and I'm glad they found good homes.

Adam

Thanks Adam ,

The Tisdale and Hembree PH's were given to me by their families . I consider myself the temporary caretakers of the medals. The history behind them is what I consider important.

Kurt

Edited by KASTAUFFER, 02 January 2007 - 07:54 PM.

[USMCRaiderGirl]

Thanks for showing those! It is definitely a sad reminder of the price that was paid that day.

[GLM *Deceased*]

Hi Kurt,

I know you have seen this medal before, but thought I'd post it to this thread for those who haven't. This sailor's medal and paperwork grouping was acquired by me from his aunt, the sole surviving member of their family.

Harold Baker "Jack" Wood was KIA in USS Arizona on Dec. 7th, 1941.

Gary

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[GLM *Deceased*]

The entire grouping of medals his mother received from the Navy, a photo, newsclipping and a couple of "Remember Pearl Harbor" pins that were in with the medals.

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[GLM *Deceased*]

1st telegram to his mother received on Dec 20, 1941, listing him as MIA.

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[GLM *Deceased*]

2nd telegram received on Feb. 6, 1942, declaring him as KIA.

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[GLM *Deceased*]

Purple Heart Certificate and copy of the last entry in his service jacket.

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[KASTAUFFER]

Hi Gary

Thanks for posting Wood's PH . What I really like is the date of issue on the PH certificate. It helps date the issue of the medal to the same time period ( Feb 1944) .

If I remember right his GCM is name only with no date on the reverse.

Awesome set!

Kurt

Edited by KASTAUFFER, 21 January 2007 - 07:36 PM.

[GLM *Deceased*]

Hi Gary

Thanks for posting Wood's PH . What I really like is the date of issue on the PH certificate. It helps date the issue of the medal to the same time period ( Feb 1944) .

If I remember right his GCM is name only with no date on the reverse.

Awesome set!

Kurt

Kurt,

Yes, the GCM is only the name as you pointed out. What are your guesses on it? Post war, sent with the campaign medals to his mother or possibly sent in 1944 with the PH?

Gary

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[KASTAUFFER]

Kurt,

Yes, the GCM is only the name as you pointed out. What are your guesses on it? Post war, sent with the campaign medals to his mother or possibly sent in 1944 with the PH?

Gary

It was probably sent in 1946 with the WWII Victory and American Defence medals. The A-Pac and American Campaign were probably mailed in 1947.


Do you have the little brown envelopes they were mailed in?


Kurt

Edited by KASTAUFFER, 21 January 2007 - 07:59 PM.

[GLM *Deceased*]

It was probably sent in 1946 with the WWII Victory and American Defence medals. The A-Pac and American Campaign were probably mailed in 1947.
Do you have the little brown envelopes they were mailed in?
Kurt

Kurt,

No, when it was handed to me, she had the insert pulled out of the PH case and all of the medals stuffed into it. Fortunately, no damage to any of the medals, but the imitation pearl in the "Remember Pearl Harbor" pin was in the bottom of the "pile up" and got scrunched a little.

Gary

[GLM *Deceased*]

Kurt,

Yes, the GCM is only the name as you pointed out. What are your guesses on it? Post war, sent with the campaign medals to his mother or possibly sent in 1944 with the PH?

Gary

Kurt,

A question? It's stuck in my mind that named but undated USN GCM's are considered posthumous medals. Is this true?

I forgot that I had Jack's aunt sign the paperwork for the Congressional 50th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Medallion in 1992 to go with the grouping. As sole survivng kin, it was presented to her and then given to me to put with the rest of his medals. For those who don't know what it looks like, here it is.

Gary

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[KASTAUFFER]

Kurt,

A question? It's stuck in my mind that named but undated USN GCM's are considered posthumous medals. Is this true?

I forgot that I had Jack's aunt sign the paperwork for the Congressional 50th Anniversary Pearl Harbor Medallion in 1992 to go with the grouping. As sole survivng kin, it was presented to her and then given to me to put with the rest of his medals. For those who don't know what it looks like, here it is.

Gary

Undated GCM's are generally posthumous. They were issued to sailors who were MIA and later declared KIA. Technically a sailor who enlisted in 1941 and was MIA in 1942 ( and was really KIA in 1942 ) , but was not declared KIA until 1946 would have qualified for a GCM based on 4 years of service !

The Pearl Harbor medal you pictured above will always be scarce because the US Mint made them and they were never sold out the back door like other more recent medals ( including MOH's ) .


Kurt

Edited by KASTAUFFER, 22 January 2007 - 07:59 PM.