mvmhm Posted May 28, 2014 Share #1 Posted May 28, 2014 First is a Medal of Merit I got this morning....although after I got it I realized the enamel wreath is missing or has been removed...still, I got it for a good price. Mark sends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share #2 Posted May 28, 2014 I got a call from a friend who is the head of hospice here. One of her vets died last month, and the family contacted her to ask if she knew what they could do with his uniform - and she put them in touch with me. I made the 1.5 hour drive to Indiana this afternoon and picked up his uniform, pics, and some doco. He was a Purple Heart recipient, but they haven't found any of his medals yet. Hopefully they'll turn up sometime soon as they clean out the house. He enlisted in 1943 and served with the 247th Combat Engineer Battalion. They landed in Normandy on 22 June, fought with XIX Corps and 30th Infantry Division through the Battle of the Bulge. At one point they fought as infantry attacking the Siegfried Line. During the Bulge, they were in the Hurtgenwald preparing roads and bridges for demolition - that's where he was wounded. After his 2nd wife died, he became very active in the American Legion, where he was a Post Commander and the District 10 Commander. Here's Corporal Wallace "Wally" L. Cheesman: Mark sends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share #3 Posted May 28, 2014 His uniform consists of the pants, shirt (with gas flap) and tie, all in very good (albeit musty) condition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share #4 Posted May 28, 2014 I was glad to see his Ike jacket (dated 1944) still had all the original insignia. The ribbon bars are both pin backed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share #5 Posted May 28, 2014 Ribbon bar with 5 campaign stars..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share #6 Posted May 28, 2014 This is the neat part..his 7 Steps To Hell patch with Engineer piping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share #7 Posted May 28, 2014 His cap is an Engineer piped officer's quality hat. The dog tags and unused XIX Corps patch were in the pocket. There's no evidence inside the sleeve of the Ike of there ever being an SSI on his right shoulder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share #8 Posted May 28, 2014 ..here's his Legion hat bag with his hat...the bag has several pieces of Legion and VFW docos, as well as several cornvention badgers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share #9 Posted May 28, 2014 There's also a large envelope with reunion materials inside..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share #10 Posted May 28, 2014 There's several original pictures too....here's his unit picture...roughly 10 inches by 24 inches... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share #11 Posted May 28, 2014 Enlargement showing the Battalion guide-on and Cpl Cheesman I've identified with a white "X". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share #12 Posted May 28, 2014 Some pictures taken in the States and one of his buddies (unidentified). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share #13 Posted May 28, 2014 These were taken in France..the fountain photo says "Reims, France" on the reverse. In the other photo, Wally is on the left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share #14 Posted May 28, 2014 I think this is the best picture...taken by a flag pole on Memorial Day 1947 wearing the same uniform. Mark sends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easterneagle87 Posted May 29, 2014 Share #15 Posted May 29, 2014 Nice addition of the Engineers piping on the 7th Army patch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted May 29, 2014 Author Share #16 Posted May 29, 2014 I was pretty happy to see that...after driving an hour and half, I was hoping it wasn't going to be a trip for a stripped uniform...sure hope they find his medals though. Mark sends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got da Penny Posted May 29, 2014 Share #17 Posted May 29, 2014 Nice medal too bad about wreath Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted May 29, 2014 Share #18 Posted May 29, 2014 Very cool grouping. I definitely love that picture taken in 47. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jguy1986 Posted May 29, 2014 Share #19 Posted May 29, 2014 Mark, I'm glad to see that Cpl. Wally's uniform has a home where it will be honored. Those combat engineers quite often faced just as much danger as any other combat units, but aren't as appreciated as they should be, in my opinion. And you've got everything you need for another torso form, too (display space permitting). I look forward to seeing all the new additions the next time I'm out in Ohio for a visit. -- Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted May 29, 2014 Author Share #20 Posted May 29, 2014 Oh, I've already got it on a dummy and added double buckle boots to it..I want to find a full size mannequin for it because it's just a neat looking jacket. Mark sends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timberwolf Posted May 29, 2014 Share #21 Posted May 29, 2014 Nice find! Where at in IN was he from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted May 29, 2014 Author Share #22 Posted May 29, 2014 Winchester, which is a little north of Richmond. He was buried in Union City, OH though. Mark sends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovmilinsig Posted June 2, 2014 Share #23 Posted June 2, 2014 Great grouping !!! Love the 7th Army patch . Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvmhm Posted August 14, 2014 Author Share #24 Posted August 14, 2014 We had a visit yesterday - Wally's step-son. He wanted to see the uniform and told me that they had found his Purple Heart medal AND a German Luger - they had both been put into the things that were being auctioned off. They pulled the medal and gun out of the estate sale, but Wally's nephew laid claim to them. He did find some more pictures and paperwork that he's bringing back, and possible some military items from earlier relatives (circa WWI) and some of his own from Vietnam. Sure would like to have seen that P08 though! Mark sends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris J LaBoda Posted May 4, 2021 Share #25 Posted May 4, 2021 On 5/28/2014 at 7:12 PM, mvmhm said: Enlargement showing the Battalion guide-on and Cpl Cheesman I've identified with a white "X". Any chance of getting a scanned copy of the full 247th group photo? My father John A LaBoda was in the 247th. Thanks, Chris J LaBoda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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