Josh B.

Very difficult to find a submarine war patrol pin awarded during Korea. Nice find.

WOW, nice find! I grew up in CT metal detecting colonial house sites in the neighborhood. The best finds were a pile of early coppers kept by one of the homeowners (a colonial tavern) per agreement. Never found any military.

I like it. I threw in an early bid but backed down; no more wool for awhile! If you're into sub stuff, picking up a Yeoman rating is tough. Typically only one per boat on WWII war patrol.

Is the accolade on the right for the Letter of Commendation ribbon? Who signed it?

Nice pickup Jay. You'll find those officer training accolades can be scarce on the market.

Just saw this Costa. Nice late 20s through 30s badge with pin carefully removed. It's a piece of sub force history, just not one destined for use. I have one just like it that came in a small lot of sub insignia that's even more defiled...

Back of ETO card

This trooper's ETO card is signed by none other than Capt. Adam Komosa. Capt. Komosa's Silver star citation reads: GENERAL ORDERS:Headquarters, 82d Airborne Division, General Orders No. 131 (November 3, 1945) CITATION:The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Infantry) Adam A. Komosa (ASN: 0-378898), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 30 January 1945, near ****, Belgium. Captain Komosa, his exhausted and decimated company pinned down by four machine guns as he led it across open and exposed terrain, dashed forward with his submachine gun and silenced one enemy gun. To perform this action which enabled the company to advance, Captain Komosa voluntarily exposed himself for five minutes to a raking stream of accurate and interlocked enemy automatic weapons fire. Having disposed of one enemy machine gun, he called forward his own and so skillfully directed their emplacement and operation that the three remaining enemy guns were destroyed. Captain Komosa then placed himself at the head of the company and led it forward in a smashing attack against well emplaced enemy infantry that yielded eighty prisoners and caused many enemy casualties. His personal example of determination, devotion to duty and forgetfulness of self safety, inspired the men of his company and was a major consideration in the success of the attack.

Eric, stunning archive and excellent presentation! One of the finest threads I've ever read on the forum.

I think your jumper with the oddball dolphins is likely Aussie- made. I have an theater CPO coat, but easy to tell from the Perth tailor label. The crow embrodery is also "interesting". How do the buttons on the cuffs compare?

Thanks Kyle. I have to look at the paperwork again, but I believe the box with service schools is either blank or says "none". This trooper's son had an original "Devils in baggy pants" unit history, but sold it before I found the group. Would this have listed names and jump training? If not, did the 504th have wartime yearbooks that might? Best, Josh

Any other news on Rev War era surviving uniforms? I know of a documented French and Indian uniform coat in private hands in New Hampshire. The sewing is exquisite and must have taken forever to construct.

Ok, just dug this group out again. Any reason this man's records lack indication of a parachute badge or service school? Given his campaigns and service records, there's no indication he was ever attached to another unit. Sorry, I mostly specialize in USN these days, and not a 504th expert.

Thanks for following up. That's a new style for me, and if it weren't part of a solid group I'd have been tempted to write them off. Any tags or marks inside the jumper? I'd love to know where they originated from.

Gary, I think this citation could be seen as an equivalent to the "Letter of Commendation", for which a ribbon was authorized in 1943. I have a similar letter commending a submariner for saving someone from drowning (no idea why he didnt get a Treasury Life Saving Medal instead) in the late 20's (date from memory, could be early 30's). Mine is printed on onionskin. Pre '43, I don't know what impact they had on a career (you didn't get a ribbon), but they were certainly part of the man's official record. Someone else may know more. Given the obvious Pearl Harbor connection, I'm sure it has value. It looks like it's part of a scrap book. Anything else in there that gives this document more context? Best, Josh