This is a hard one to part with, but sadly I don't have enough space to keep everything. So, I'm offering it here.

The set includes the father's World War II Marine uniforms and the son's Vietnam period US Navy uniforms. Neither of these men every met each other, although dad knew about his wife being pregnant. I will explain each separately so that you will understand what you have here:

ALEXANDER RADISA (SR.)
Alexander Radisa (I put "sr." although technically not "senior" since "junior" was not yet born at the time of his death) was born to immigrant parents from Croatia (came via Austria) in Akron, Ohio in 1915. Considered very outgoing, he loved to play pranks to make people laugh and he is often remember as being a perpetual smiling person. No surprise the picture below of him shows him smiling. (Please note the original of that picture is still part of the Navy corpsman's photo album, so all I have is the digital version.)

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Prior to joining the Marines, Alex married a local woman. They lived at 954 Owen Ave, in Akron, Ohio.

Alex joined the Marines in 1943 and was placed with the 5th Marine Division. His service number: 866539. Cpl. Alexander Radisa (you will note the dress uniforms have the PFC rank, as he did not make Corporal until right before the Iwo Jima invasion). He trained with several engineering groups while in California but eventually was assigned to the 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division and within that unit was assigned to the half-track platoon. Just prior to leaving the US in late 1944, his wife came to visit him. They shared one night that would change their lives.... Just prior to the Iwo Jima invasion, Alex was notified by an officer that he was going to be a father. (I think he may have also had one daughter previously, although I've been told she may have been handicapped.)

Just days later, while walking beside his half-track on (I believe) the 2nd wave, the Japanese on Iwo opened fire, a shell ripping a hole in Alex's chest. A fellow Marine recalled they could see his heart beating. The platoon's corpsman reportedly walked straight up under fire to come to Alex's aid in stead of several nearby Marines (and friend's of Alex's). Alex's last words reportedly were pleas to the corpsman to go help other Marines. And so Alex died there on the beaches of Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945....

Alex's body was recovered later and placed in I believe the 2nd grave (or at least on the 1st row) in the American Cemetery on Iwo Jima. The platoon members spent some time making a headstone for him and carried the headstone up to the cemetery, only to find out that only military headstones would be allowed and no hand made ones. So, among the row of crafted headstones, his platoon members left their monument.

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Sadly Alex has the distinction of being one of only two members of the half-track platoon to die in the invasion (and it is also believed that he was sadly one of the first 5 Marines killed in the Iwo Jima invasion - perhaps number 2 or 3). He is listed on page 188 of the 5th Marine Division unit history as part of the battle casualties.

As many of you know, the Marines in the cemetery there were later returned home. Alex was returned to Ohio some time in the late 1940s and his widow (with Alex's new son in hand) received the burial flag, which is also included....

It is at this point I will begin telling you about the son...


ALEXANDER RADISA (JR.)
Several months after dad's death, on June 13, 1945, a young baby was born. In honor of his father, this son was named "Alexander Radisa." Like father, like son, despite the fact they never met. Alex was known as a practical joker and very popular. He too had a perpetual smile. In high school he was an officer of several social clubs and he ran cross country.

You can tell by the picture below that he favored his father greatly. (The below pic is a digital file that was emailed to me by Alex Jr.'s best friend in high school.)

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After graduating high school, Alex Jr. decided not to join the Marines, but rather the Navy. As a member in the US Navy, he served in Antarctica on the USS Glacier (yep!). After his cold weather service, Alex Jr. was sent to Vietnam was part of the Mobile Riverine Force (or "Brown Water Navy"). He served on PCF 19 and PCF 55. I think he was on PCF-55 from July 1967 to Feb. 1968 and PCF-19 from Feb. 1968 to May 1968. The Vietnamese flag that is included reportedly came from PCF-19, on which he was wounded in May 1968. The crew members supposedly sent the flag to him. A sad note is that when I tried to reach the crew members to confirm this story a fellow Swiftee told me, I found out that in June 1968 the crew (including interpreter) of PCF-19 were killed in action.

Alex Jr. got out of the Navy in the late 1960s or early 1970s. And, he sadly passed away on December 29, 1998. I've heard two accounts of what happened. One was that he died from cancers related to agent orange exposure. However, the second story I heard was that Alex Jr. was dying of cancer from agent orange exposure, was very depressed over the suffering, and actually committed suicide with a firearm. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how true either of these stories is and when I had called around to some of the public records in the town, people seemed to have known him, been saddened by it, but no one really knew.

It is my understanding that his wife (or perhaps long time girlfriend) was so angered over his death that she literally pitched both father and son's items out in the front yard. It was from there that a local fireman picked up the items, and then listed them on ebay where I picked them up.


This is a RARE set to two very brave men who both received the PURPLE HEART fighting for this country. It is large and so I will take many pictures. Many pieces are named and all are 100% original to these men.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Asking $1,500 or best offer. Shipping extra. Will ship worldwide. Paypal accepted.

Christina

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Here is a picture of the two burial flags. I didn't fold them properly because I had taken them all the way out to make sure they weren't torn. They are both full size government burial flags.

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Alex Sr's uniforms.

The blues are not named and don't have the EGAs (easy replacement). All buttons present. They were supposedly were only worn twice: once when Alex came home for a visit to his wife and parents and the second time when his wife came to Camp Pendleton to visit him before he went overseas. They have the PFC rank and the felt 5th Marine Division patch. Pants are a matched pair with the jacket and don't have a bloodstripe which is correct for the lower rank.

The dress green jacket has his name written in the sleeve and the pants have his name stamped in them. Has the PFC rank and the felt 5th Marine Division patch. Only one collar insignia present.

The pisscutter has the same name stamp "A. Radisa" in it as well. Has EGA on it.

Lastly, the visor cover for the greens clearly has his name written in it with his rank.

All items are in great shape. And no doubt these pieces belonged to this hero.

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More pics of Alex Sr's items...

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Last ones for now of Alex Sr's items. As you can tell, all of his items are in excellent shape, as he sadly didn't have much time to wear them.

If you need more pictures of Alex Sr's items, just let me know. Will add some of Jr's later tonight.

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Here are some pictures of the Vietnamese flag since someone just PM'd me about it. It is 15 inches high and about 20 inches long.

On the side there is an area where you would slide it on a pole or rod. It doesn't appear to be dirty.

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christina--- nice grouping and the story is sad like many others on the forum. with all the guys and gals here the history really comes out and gets to you. hope these items find a good home. thanks for posting.

Uniform #1 to Alex Jr.

Jumper is complete with the QM2 rank. Both the jumper top and the pants have all the buttons. Jumper jacket has original zipper at the side that works. Inside both have decorative stitching. My favorite part is the dragon patch on the back inside of the jumper.

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Uniform #2 to Alex Jr.

This one is named in the jumper top on the washing label and then near the bottom of the jumper. Jumper has the patch for QM3 on the left sleeve and the U.S.S. Glacier (which went to Antartica) [AGB-4]. Trousers are named on the label just like the jacket label plus it has his name stencil on the waist band with service number. Please note that the trousers are missing 6 of the black buttons on the front. I know it is an easy fix and it doesn't effect its ability to be displayed, but I just wanted to let the new owner know in advance.

Also pictured is the blue wool cold weather face mask.

Lastly is a picture of some sort of silk-like tie (same sort of material as the flag) and a red sash. Both are souvenirs from Vietnam but their significance is sadly unknown to me.

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Oops! Didn't all fit in one post... So here's the rest mentioned above...

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Next to last pictures... If you need more, just ask.

Uniform #3 is the work training uniform. As you can see it has the Seaman QM rate on it. Has some dirt on the one sleeve that can probably be cleaned, but I'll leave that up to the new owner. I've added a picture of that so you can see what I am talking about.

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Last pictures. Whew!

Another QM2 jumper with the USS GLACIER patch arc.

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To answer a question: yes, all the items described are included in the grouping price. And I am sorry but both vets' items will only be sold as a set - I will not break it up.

If you have any other questions or want to make an offer, just PM me or post here.

Still needs a new home...

Now asking $1400 or best offer.

Question answer: No, I do not have any of the medals. I would assume the family kept them but I have been contacted by a board member who said he had Alex Sr's Purple Heart that came out of an old medal collection. So, perhaps such items were parted with with the Alex Sr's widow passed away? Unfortunately I do not know. However, I don't have any medals. Sorry. All of what I have from these heroes is shown above.

I appreciate all the kind comments. Seems the economy is making it a bit hard for people to afford this item. I will consider reasonable payment plans if needed.

Reducing price to: $1250 or best offer.

Nice grouping. Bill

It is an amazing set. I think it tells a real patriotic American story. Very sad they never met each other.

I told one member I would take $1000 or best offer and since I haven't heard back I'll just list that price here. Please let me know if interested.

REDUCED $1000 or best offer.

Bravo to you ma'am! There are many people who would sit and try to break the grouping up to make it sell easier or whatever their reason, but you are respectful in keeping them together. For that ma'am, I applaud you and wish you the best in selling them.

Thanks for the kind comments. I wouldn't have it any other way. These two pieces should stay together IMO as they really tell a story of two heroes.



If anyone has an offer, feel free to make it. As you can see I reduced the price to $1000 or best offer. If no interest in about a week, I'll probably list it up on ebay (together as one lot still). But, I sure hope that someone here gets it.

On hold.

I'm glad this set sold. I've been trying to plan what items to sell off and what food to go without in order to "pony up" the asking price. A truly wonderful set.

My hat is off to buyer and seller for seeing this historical group remains intact!

Same here. I couldn't afford the going price at the moment but I'm glad to see that it all stayed together.