Hello all, I stumbled on to this site while trying to get info on the following topic. Any help or information would be appreciated. Thank you!!

When I was growing up, I was always told that he had a wall of a building fall on him while fighting in France during WWI. He was said to have been trapped under the rubble for two days before being rescued. He had numerous broken bones and some abdominal wounds. I am still trying to substantiate this info through a couple of websites. I will update as I find out.

His Disharge/Enlistment papers state he was in Company I or J (can't make it out) and was in the 342nd Infantry. He was 23 when he enlisted in 1917 and was Honorably discharged in 1919. They state he was in the "Argonne-Meuse Offensive Sept 26th 1918, the Bois de Chaume Offensive Oct 9th 1918, the Chine Offensive Oct 11th-20th 1918" and was part of the "Army of Occupation". He recieved $103.88 on May 30th 1919 from Camp Grant in Rockford, Illinois upon discharge.

I recently acquired my Great Grandfathers Purple Heart. Unfortunatly, the purple back ground behind George Washington has good size piece missing from it. Would you have it repaired or not? Thanks

I would not mess with it. It just is what it is.
My 2 cents

If it was my family piece I would but I would have it profesionally done and would not Monkey with it your self!
how would it be done ???? is it cracked or is it heat damage ??? it looks almost melted ?
It is a nice heart

Did you write the St louis records??

I agree with PF505.
On the other side this could be an intresting post.I wonder if there are restoration methods.I see people who do porcelin and china repairs.Wonder if there is an epoxy,plastic or similiar material.

Good luck and thanks for posting

RON

Good point Ron
I also wonder what kind of restoration services are out there. I sure would not atttempt it myself especially since it was family.
Robert

There are a couple of people I have sound, one in the States and another in England that will replace the Coisonne. They estemated it at around $500 to fix...gulp

Great Purple Heart and what a piece of history! I would not do anything to it. Leave it as is would be my recommendation.

If not too much trouble, could you advise the location of the serial number? While looking at the front of the medal is the serial number stamped on the left or right side rim? Thanks in advance .....

You have wonderful documentation so the PH does not need to stand on its own in a display: it all makes for a very impressive grouping as is, and presumably this will stay in the family so it's not like you need to worry about increasing value for resale purposes (and would such a repair actually increase value?????).

It is stamped on the left.

"His Disharge/Enlistment papers state he was in Company I or J (can't make it out) and was in the 342nd Infantry."

It would have to be Company I. There was and still is no Company J in US Army units. The 342nd Infantry was in the 86th Division in WW1.

Awesome, thank you for the info!!

$500???

Get in touch with Bluehawk on the forum.He has a wealth of information and backround in conservation and preservation.He may know of some restoration services.

As stated I like it the way it is.Just good to have the information on restoration.

RON

Here's his WWI and WWII draft cards:

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

How did you do that....INCREDIBLE!!!!....

ancestry.com

Thank you!!

What is "St. Louis records?"

http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-...ce-records.html

I will have to get that done for my him, my Grandfather and my Dad.

What if you did this.......

Display the engraved side out (I love the engraving on this one), then buy an undamaged one and display the heart side out putting them side by side (or a photo of one). You could include a brief write up in honor of his service. I think it would look good. You would have a nice display and wouldn't have to mess with grandpa's original.

I think Imperial Quest did something like this if you can find his post.

I like Jims Idea ! And like otheers said the total package is super so I would display it like Jims says!!!

As Jim suggested you could photograph the front.Then possibly photo shop the damage and display the picture with the medal.Sometimes a medal planchet will show up on the forum for salewith out the ribbon.This would display well also.

RD

That is an excellent idea, I will do this. Thanks

Is the SF-180 the same as a Form 214?

Hi Rollin Hot,
You have a family treasure, that's for sure. I wonder if I might cut in here briefly to ask a personal question: The draft registration notes that Mike was born in Chicago; do you know if he was of Italian ancestry? I am researching Italian Americans in WWI, and, if he was of Italian ancestry, I wonder if I might ask you a few questions privately. Thanks very much,
Pete
The men listed below are some of my relatives, close and distant, who served during WWI.

Yes to being Italian and yes to contacting me ...Thanks

Ok, I just filled out my DD214 and attatched my Great Grandfathers obite with it. Do I need to send anything else?

I just recieved a letter from the Archives stating my Great Granfathers information was probably lost in the fire they had there.....

Wait a few months and try again. More than a few folks have had luck on 2nd and 3rd tries.

Also try the County Recorder's office for the County he lived in upon discharge. Up through WWII nearly every veteran filed papers with their county recorder upon discharge.

Great idea!

Write the VA and ask for his military health records. Sometimes a military career can rebuilt from those.

Going back to the original topic of repair ...
I see no problems in having your PH PROFESSIONALLY repaired - as long as any potential purchasor is notified of the repair.
As far as costs - I can put you in touch with a professional enameler here in Iowa. I have seen his work, and it is indistinguishable from originals. I believe he has a base cost of $100 for medals.
You can PM me if interessted in his contact info.0