KASTAUFFER Posted July 31, 2011 Share #1 Posted July 31, 2011 This is a group to Platoon Sgt. Jay Nevenzel . He enlisted on 11/2/1939 in the USMC, the beginning of a long journey which would end with his liberation at Hakodate Japan in 1945. He joined the 1st Defense Battalion in January 1940 as a Pvt. and would serve with them until his capture as a Cpl. on Wake island in December 1941. His journey would take him first to POW camps in China and a transfer to Japan. Liberation in Japan let to his return to the USA where he stayed in the USMC until his discharge as a Platoon Sgt. in 1947. There is a lot more research to do! I basically acquired the uniforms he was issued after he was liberated in Japan and the duffel bag that held it all. You can see inside the sleeve of the unform that it once had Cpl Stripes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted July 31, 2011 Author Share #2 Posted July 31, 2011 When he was liberated he was issued a set of US Navy whites until a proper set of USMC gear could be issued to him. He kept the whites as a souvenir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted July 31, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted July 31, 2011 Various uniform pieces. Overcoat, shirts ( named ) , hat covers , belt ETC. The 1944 dated US Navy duffel bag with his name stencilled on it that held everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted July 31, 2011 Author Share #4 Posted July 31, 2011 This thread is dedicated to the defenders of Wake Island. Jay passed away in December 1997 , 56 years after the fall of the Island. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EGA-DOG Posted July 31, 2011 Share #5 Posted July 31, 2011 Awesome story and uniform. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norton Posted July 31, 2011 Share #6 Posted July 31, 2011 Great story and thanks for posting real tangible pieces of history. The story of Wake Island's defence fills you with a sense of awe. Marines, Marine Avation, armed sailors, tiny Army Signal Corps detachment, Pan Am employees and civilian construction workers replused a well equipped Japanes landing force without help. They could not stop the second landing. It is worth noting captured Japanese documents pointed out that the Japanese were impressed with the Detachment's defense of the Island. For some reason I found the Naval Whites issued to Sgt Nevenzel touching. I have read liberated POWs want to get out of enemy prison garb as soon as possible. So as the USMC is part of the Naval branch these Whites would do lacking USMC clothing, him keeping them all these years is amazing. We should not forget what happened at Wake, Guam and the P.I.s in Dec 41 early 42 Again Great Post! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1944 Posted July 31, 2011 Share #7 Posted July 31, 2011 Thats a Fantastic USMC Grouping you have got there belonging to this SGT and also thanks for sharing this information with us on his Service.. Amazing :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLeo Posted July 31, 2011 Share #8 Posted July 31, 2011 Great addition to your collection! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vicjoy1945 Posted July 31, 2011 Share #9 Posted July 31, 2011 :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Nice uniform and fantastic history !! You need to lay off the Wake grouping and allow some of us peons an opportunity !! Thanks for showing !! Vic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt Barickman Posted July 31, 2011 Share #10 Posted July 31, 2011 Kurt, That is a really cool group :thumbsup: You have some really great POW items and groups. Kurt Barickman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted August 1, 2011 Author Share #11 Posted August 1, 2011 Thanks Guys! I will post any research updates I can find. I would really like to get a photo of this guy. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
History Man Posted August 1, 2011 Share #12 Posted August 1, 2011 thats a great grouping with a lot of history :thumbsup: great find!! Philip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted March 21, 2012 Author Share #13 Posted March 21, 2012 Just got his service record back from St. Louis! Here are a few select documents Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted March 21, 2012 Author Share #14 Posted March 21, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted March 21, 2012 Author Share #15 Posted March 21, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted March 21, 2012 Author Share #16 Posted March 21, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriscoHare Posted March 21, 2012 Share #17 Posted March 21, 2012 Kurt, congrats! And you got a picture of him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pathfinder505 Posted March 21, 2012 Share #18 Posted March 21, 2012 Great Grouping!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt Barickman Posted March 21, 2012 Share #19 Posted March 21, 2012 When asked what they needed on Wake, the commanding officer replied, "send more Japs!" Great group to a real bunch of Pacific heroes. Kurt Barickman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted March 21, 2012 Share #20 Posted March 21, 2012 Kurt, Your POW collection continues to amaze me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fstop61 Posted March 21, 2012 Share #21 Posted March 21, 2012 Very impressive grouping-I've always had a soft spot for those awesome defenders of Wake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted March 21, 2012 Share #22 Posted March 21, 2012 Great stuff, Kurt! :thumbsup: Love seeing the Japanese POW card. Semper Fi......Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
combat-helmets Posted March 21, 2012 Share #23 Posted March 21, 2012 This thread is dedicated to the defenders of Wake Island. Jay passed away in December 1997 , 56 years after the fall of the Island. Awesome grouping and dedication! The marines had plenty of fight in them before the Army Commander told them to lay down their arms and surrender... :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted March 21, 2012 Author Share #24 Posted March 21, 2012 Awesome grouping and dedication!The marines had plenty of fight in them before the Army Commander told them to lay down their arms and surrender... :thumbsup: Glad you like the group ! Commander Winfield S. Cunningham USN , surrendered the island after he decided that further resistance would only lead to what he felt were unneccesary casualties amoung the military and civilian defenders . There were more civilians than anyone on the island at that time. The civilians were building the airfields when the war started. The presence of so many civilians played into his decision. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leatherneck72 Posted April 13, 2012 Share #25 Posted April 13, 2012 Glad you like the group ! Commander Winfield S. Cunningham USN , surrendered the island after he decided that further resistance would only lead to what he felt were unneccesary casualties amoung the military and civilian defenders . There were more civilians than anyone on the island at that time. The civilians were building the airfields when the war started. The presence of so many civilians played into his decision. Kurt It's nice to see this group again. I love seeing it in such caring hands! Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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