Former WWII NC training camp dug relic finds

[arclight]

I cleaned u the shaving razor a little...

 

[arclight]

Wasn't able to clean too much off of these mess hall utensils, but you can make out the "US" (or part of it) on the spoon and fork.

 

[arclight]

This open face buckle is pretty much in useable condition. The other one is not in nearly as good a shape.

 

[arclight]

Went back out to dig at Camp Butner this past Friday. Here's a look at what I brought back. Several dog tags. About half of the tags were bent in half, which leads me to believe that is was done purposely, most likely due to errors when stamping them. Found another mess kit spoon, a US marked mess hall fork, and a silver-plated spoon; a beautiful green glass marble;a small bottle which perhaps held cologne or perfume (?); several meatl buttons from HBT's' a '43 dated caliber fifty casing, a disc (missing the branch insignia and backing); and a small pointy thing that looks like a spent slug, but feels too light for that. Also there is what looks to be the fin portion to a mortar round (?). Anyway, here are some pics:

 

[arclight]

The silver plated spoon handle is top, and is not "US" marked, but is marked "silver plated" on the back. The middle one seems rather thick and heavy, and is "US" marked (perhaps officer's mess?). Bottom one is a mess kit spoon.

 

[arclight]

Metal HBT buttons. One has the wreath around the outer rim, and the others are the star-type variety.

 

[arclight]

Forgot to mention, but in the last pic above, in the lower right, is the collar disc.

 

Some of the dog tags...

 

[arclight]

These are the tags that were bent in half. Fortunately, they didn't break when I bent them back.

 

[arclight]

This looks to be the fin section from a mortar. Definitely not from a 2.5" rocket, so mortar sounds right to me. Thoughts? And any suggestions on what to do to preserve this particular piece to prevent further deterioration?

 

[mmerc20]

I'm glad you posted pics. I think it is an 81mm. You can do what I did with all our digs from there or I can take care of it for you. Clean really well with a steel brush and coat with a spray clear lacquer. I have one I got from the auto parts store that supposedly has ceramic in it and is good for high temp. I have used it on all our relics from Butner.

[Sabrejet]

Recently dug up in the vicinity of St Mere Eglise, Normandy.

[Jack's Son]

G,

We're these items also dug at Ft. Butler?

[arclight]

G,

We're these items also dug at Ft. Butler?

Yep, same area as before at Camp Butner (also notable is that this town is where the federal prison that that scumbag Madoff is serving time).

G

[chris3bs]

Years ago the National Guard use to put on deer hunts and would drive the hunters to and from the areas being hunted. Use to see signs posted all over warning people of possibly finding unexploded mumitions on the land.

[arclight]

Years ago the National Guard use to put on deer hunts and would drive the hunters to and from the areas being hunted. Use to see signs posted all over warning people of possibly finding unexploded mumitions on the land.

 

 

Don't know if they still do those, but there were ranges all over that place, so there is a possibility of UXO's.

[arclight]

Went back out yesterday. Found a few things before the wife starting calling, saying I needed to come home. Well, this was the first thing I found, just sitting there waiting for me to pick it up...

 

 

[arclight]

Here's a look at what I found yesterday:

 

[arclight]

Cuff size button and "Gem Blade" razor (which is still quite sharp!)

 

[arclight]

Key with stamped room number "511." Bawdy House room?

 

[arclight]

Practice grenade (hollow). My heart skipped a beat as I was digging under a dirt ledge and this thing plops out with a thud, and rolls towards me!

 

[arclight]

Some glass bottles. Nothing overly special. Ink wells?

 

 

 

Well, that's it for now.

[jgawne]

If you have found a trash or burn pit, it may be useful to screen the dirt from it. Run it through a wire mesh with 1/4" or so openings. You might be surprised what non-metallic items you are missing.

[mmerc20]

The only thing is it is not just a trash or burn pit, it is the dump for one of the three incinerators that operated here and there are thousands of cubic feet of dirt just at this one location. It would be great if we had a big crew to work it, but thats just not possible.

 

Mike

[willysmb44]

Neat stuff!

There's a small museum for a amphib training base near where I grew up (Camp Gordon Johnston, in Florida) and they've dug up God knows how many hundreds of pounds of stuff like that. They have so many dog tags you have to wonder how many soldiers went overseas without them or had to have had several pairs of them (they were actually selling extras in the museum gift shop).

[arclight]

Went back out yesterday. With the help of mmerc20, I found one of the grenade ranges. It looks like the locals are using that area as an ATV/4-wheeler fun park.

 

 

 

There are three of these left out there. There is also supposed to be a flame thrower range nearby this one, but I couldn't find anything discernable.