chron Posted September 12, 2011 Share #1 Posted September 12, 2011 The other day I was at a gun show and these walked in the door. These jackets are practically pristine and was very excited to see them. I may have jumped the gun because I paid $60 for the pair. Did I do okay? My dad was pretty worried that I paid top dollar and ever had to sell them I was screwed, so if I did sell what do you think I could get? Also If anyone could ID the on the first jacket I would really appreciate it. First Jacket. The tag was missing on this one Second jacket. What are the 4 bars above the service stripe? The tag to this jacket From what I can make out his name was "Hiers". Is the other thing the luandry mark I think its says "H-347A". THANKS FOR LOOKING Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
36-tex Posted September 12, 2011 Share #2 Posted September 12, 2011 IMO you paid alittle to much, but by not means an excessive amount. Plain WWII jackets run about $15 to $20 each and then start adding dollars for insignia on them. Also, the bigger the size the better as well (anything over a size 40). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunbarrel Posted September 12, 2011 Share #3 Posted September 12, 2011 IMHO you should not buy something and then ask "Did I pay too much?" I have seen that time and time again, usually with new collectors. Did you buy them for your enjoyment, or as part of your Dad's investment portfolio? By the time you listened to him and to the folks here (yes, you paid too much), it will be hard to get any enjoyment out of them. Every time you see them you are not going to remember how excited you were to add them to your collection; all you are going to remember is that "I paid too much for these." My advice is that if you are going to wonder each time you make a purchase, you need to start collecting money instead. You should collect militaria for the love of history; not as an investment. Return on investment is just icing on the cake. Buy books before you buy collectibles and educate yourself on their value so that you can use your money more wisely to buy more militaria. But every once in a while you are going to come across something hard to find that you thought it was very cool, or you've been wanting for a long time. Maybe most people would never pay what you are willing to pay, but within reason, do not hold back or you are going to kick yourself for years to come for not paying a little extra for it. Think about these uniforms that you bought. How much did you over-pay? $20? So what!? Enjoy them and ask your Dad the next time you all go shopping that you don't know if you over-paid $20 or not, but you sure are glad to have them in your collection. Hopefully he will understand and let you enjoy the latest addition to your collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted September 12, 2011 Share #4 Posted September 12, 2011 Can they be researched? I'm looking at these on my iPhone, and by the patches, these guys could have an interesting history. The 5th Service Command was a stateside unit, but your coat has overseas hash marks. It could be interesting to find out what he did "over there." Did you pay too much? It depends why you bought them. As an investment? Then, yea, probably. Did you buy them to learn more about history? If so, then no. You can do so some good research on these and maybe learn a thing or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted September 12, 2011 Share #5 Posted September 12, 2011 a true collector enjoyes what he finds and buys, the value of it will increase in time. in the meantime admire it, be proud of it, take pleasure in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted September 12, 2011 Share #6 Posted September 12, 2011 doesnt that tunic also have the 30th division patch on the right shoulder? that division did combat in france, belgium and germany! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easterneagle87 Posted September 12, 2011 Share #7 Posted September 12, 2011 I agree with Gunbarrell. The minute you ask yourself "did I pay too much" is the minute you did. So what? How many WW2 jackets will there be in 10 years? And at reasonable prices? 1972 I'm 8 years old, in an antique shop is a double decal German helmet and a brown fur Luft winter flap cap at $25 ea. Did my Mom give me the $50 to buy two very cool items?? Hell no! she thought I was crazy. Amazing I knew what I was looking at, even at a young age. What would those items go for now? Right...more than YOU want to spend! Everyone loves a nugget! Get them while you can, but occassionally you got to pay the piper. Everybody wants the high dollar item, but doesn't want to pay for them. Enjoy collecting! My 2 cents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason G Posted September 12, 2011 Share #8 Posted September 12, 2011 And there you have it! Well said 'eastern and Gunbarrel. Agree 100 percent! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BND173D Posted September 12, 2011 Share #9 Posted September 12, 2011 NARA Archives.gov Home Contact Us Access to Archival Databases (AAD) HomeAADFree-text ResultsPartial RecordsFull Records AAD TOOLS FILE UNIT INFORMATION Print Bookmark/Share Help Display Full Records File Unit: Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records) in the Series: World War II Army Enlistment Records, created 6/1/2002 - 9/30/2002, documenting the period ca. 1938 - 1946. - Record Group 64(info) Brief Scope: This series contains records of approximately nine million men and women who enlisted in the United States Army, including the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. You may wish to View the FAQs for this series. < Previous Record | Next Record > Field Title Value Meaning ARMY SERIAL NUMBER 15043474 15043474 NAME HIERS#HERBER##D######### HIERS#HERBER##D######### RESIDENCE: STATE 51 INDIANA RESIDENCE: COUNTY 103 MIAMI PLACE OF ENLISTMENT 5124 FT BENJAMIN HARRISON INDIANA DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY 28 28 DATE OF ENLISTMENT MONTH 08 08 DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR 40 40 GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION PVT# Private GRADE: CODE 8 Private BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION CE# Corps of Engineers BRANCH: CODE 83 Undefined Code FIELD USE AS DESIRED # # TERM OF ENLISTMENT 7 Enlistment for the Philippine Department LONGEVITY ### ### SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL 0 Civil Life NATIVITY 51 INDIANA YEAR OF BIRTH 15 15 RACE AND CITIZENSHIP 1 White, citizen EDUCATION 2 2 years of high school CIVILIAN OCCUPATION 833 Unskilled general woodworking occupations, n.e.c. MARITAL STATUS 6 Single, without dependents COMPONENT OF THE ARMY 1 Regular Army (including Officers, Nurses, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Men) CARD NUMBER # # BOX NUMBER 0176 0176 FILM REEL NUMBER 2.33# 2.33# < Previous Record | Next Record > Archives.gov Home Contact Us Privacy Policy Accessibility Freedom of Information Act Top of Page The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001 Telephone: 1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272 The National Archives Experience Our Documents Regulations.gov USA.gov POSSIBLY YOUR GUY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st Sgt CES Posted September 12, 2011 Share #10 Posted September 12, 2011 Hello--Two really nice World War Two enlisted uniforms. On the price, they don't make these anymore & there are new collectors every year. If you like them I believe that you did not get hurt at all. Someone kept these unifoms in a spot where the moths did not get them all these years so it meant something to someone. I still have my first World War Two uniform & would not give it up for the world. I got this with my Dad over 50 years ago. I still remember him tell me what everything thing meant on the uniform. It was a day to remember. No price on memories ---Blue Skies 1st Sgt CES Ps kid send me an address & I will send you some original ribbons to put on the uniforms for free Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul70 Posted September 12, 2011 Share #11 Posted September 12, 2011 If you look at ebay, prices have been going up. I use to rutinely pick up ww2 tunics like these for $20-25 including shipping. Now they are harder to get at that price. Shipping use to be $5, now it is $10.00. The items that have $15-20 Shipping I do not bid. The tunic with the 30th div patch is the keeper, the AAF one is more common. If you can get names and histories, then it was a bargain. Also, on ebay you have to be careful of are you buying "fantasy" or real. Picking it up from an individual or garage sale is more thrilling to me. I see nothing wrong with your purchase. To me the excitement or thrill of the hunt is worth the price. Think of it as you were entertained for $60 and tomorrow you still have the items. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chron Posted September 12, 2011 Author Share #12 Posted September 12, 2011 First of all, a big thanks to everyone who has posted in this thread I appreciate that all of you took the time to leave comments and help me out. Secondly "BND173D" thanks for looking up the name Im going to have to check that site out. Thanks for your time!!! Also I did buy the jackets for my enjoyment, not to sell and try to make a quick buck. I was just curious as to how much I over paid, even if I did pay $20 to much or not I will enjoy these jackets and the history that goes with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SA1794 Posted September 12, 2011 Share #13 Posted September 12, 2011 Here is a link to Herber Hiers' grave: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?p...amp;df=all& PS look in the pocket of the inside lining for the tag on the first jacket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chron Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share #14 Posted September 13, 2011 Here is a link to Herber Hiers' grave: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?p...amp;df=all& PS look in the pocket of the inside lining for the tag on the first jacket. Wow thanks for posting that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Posted September 14, 2011 Share #15 Posted September 14, 2011 It is hard to top what the other members have already said. I collect US stuff and German Stuff I think that I have maybe 10 - 15 WW2/Korean War uniforms, but I have over 100 books on the vast subject of WW2 and Korea. I love the thrill of research and discovering little secrets that my friends didnt know. Learn the research tricks and get good at them, such as learning how to read laundry marks and partial NSA numbers. These are just a couple tricks to make it more fun. Lets face it,,,money is tight. So dont buy that $100 uniform this month buy the $10 picture. You'll get the same amount of enjoyment researching the picture as you would the uniform. The main thing is have fun! :thumbsup: As far as your uniforms go, I like them both. I am really into AAF stuff lately. So, good luck with your research now that you got a name to go with the jacket you can find out as much as you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1sg Posted September 15, 2011 Share #16 Posted September 15, 2011 The price paid seems OK to me. A good deal is one you're happy with regardless of price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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