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USN Early Shooting Medals


cutiger83
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Here are a few examples of the badges being worn. (Unfortunately I don't own any of the medals shown in these photos.)

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  • 1 year later...

And here's the "Mother of All Shooting Badges". If I hadn't seen it in person I wouldn't have believed it!

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  • 1 year later...
MMcollector

This Navy Sharpshooter Medal was posted here before by Joe, I purchased it and researched the recipient. Thanks for looking.

 

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MMcollector

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United States Marine Corps Sharpshooter Private William Kundert was born Nov. 22nd in Green, Wisconsin.

 

William enlisted as a Private in Company D, at the recruiting district of the Pacific Coast December 17th 1912, Marine Barracks, Mare Island, CA. Where he served until April 1913.

 

Pvt. Kundert sailed for Manila, Philippines aboard the U.S.A.T. Logan. He was transferred to Company C., 2nd Marine Regiment, Olongapo, Philippines where he served until October 13th 1913 when he was transferred to Company D., 2nd Marine Regiment. Pvt. Kundert remained in Olongapo until February 1914.

 

Pvt. Kundert was transferred to the Armored Cruiser U.S.S. Saratoga in February 1914 as it sailed for philippine waters.

 

Pvt. Kundert was an excellent shot, He was awarded this Navy Sharpshooters Badge in April 1914.

 

From July 7th - July 17th 1914 Pvt. Kundert was part of the U.S.S. Saratogas Marine Detachment Kentucky Island, Chefoo China.

 

In Dec. 1914 Pvt. Kundert was back where he felt comfortable on the Rifle Range, in Maquinaya, Philippines, & he qualified & was awarded the Marksman Badge in March 1915. He disembarked the U.S.S. Saratoga & was temporarily Station at the Marine Barracks Cavite, Philippines until April 15th 1915 when sailed aboard the U.S.A.T. SHERIDAN from Cavite, PI to Mare Island, CA.

 

Pvt Kundert arrived in Mare Island, CA in May 1915 where he remained stationed until June when he was Honorable Discharged from the Marines with character excellent.

 

On June 5th 1917 William Kundert signed the World War I Draft, stating his occupation as a self employees farmer living in Stephenson, Illinois

 

William signed his name for the World War II draft April 27th 1942. Declaring Self employment with R.F.D. #1 in Stephenson, Illinois.

 

United States Marine Corps Private William Kundert Died July 28th 1964, & he is buried at the Greenwood Cemetery, in Monroe Greenwood County, Wisconsin.

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MMcollector

I also picked his one up from Joe last year. I have not been able to locate anything on the recipient, unfortunately. Thanks for looking!

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  • 1 month later...

Here is my small little family of USN United States Navy Marksmanship badge

 

The one in the Left, has been identified as Commander Frank Rorschach. Frank entered into service on November 27, 1896. Upon doing research, I discovered that Frank had a son who also served in the Navy. Frank Junior, died in a car accident on July 4, 1934 in the Philippines. Sr passed away in November of the same year.

 

The one in the middle, is engraved but I unfortunately have not been identified yet.

Jan 1, 1918 JJ Gary USN to Frank pollock

 

Finally the one on the right, unfortunately it’s engraving has been mostly filed off. All that remains is D. C???? and USMC on the bar. I know it’s not much to go off of. But I am currently going through the entire year of 1914 USMC rolls on ancestry. Definitely not an easy task with 6000 and some pages to look at.

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Posted Image

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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  • 8 months later...

Just received this one in the mail.

Captain Preston B Haines Sr.

1886-1966

Im still researching but he served from 1912-1943 about.

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  • 1 month later...
JCBrownABNPFDR

This is my Navy Marksmanship Badge. As you can tell, there is something quite different from this badge then all the others. This badge has a chain soldered to the top of the Sharpshooter bar. The only explanation that I can come up with is that this badge was made to be worn as a watch fob. Watch fobs were a fad of the time so maybe the sailor was about to be discharged and wanted to wear his badge with his civilian clothes. I believe this was done in the factory because there is no evidence that a pin attachment had ever been soldered to this bar as can be seen in the picture. What you see as a line in this picture is "The Hayes Bros. Co."

 

I haven't been able to find out anything about this sailor. In fact, I can't really be sure how to spell this name. I've tried several variations of what I think his name is but I come up empty handed. If you want to help me, I've made his name as large as I can to help you decipher the writing.

 

I'm also trying to find another top bar with the pin attachment to make it appear as all the others. I'll be posting that in the WANT category as soon as I have enough posts.

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This is my Navy Marksmanship Badge.  As you can tell, there is something quite different from this badge then all the others.  This badge has a chain soldered to the top of the Sharpshooter bar.  The only explanation that I can come up with is that this badge was made to be worn as a watch fob.  Watch fobs were a fad of the time so maybe the sailor was about to be discharged and wanted to wear his badge with his civilian clothes.  I believe this was done in the factory because there is no evidence that a pin attachment had ever been soldered to this bar as can be seen in the picture. What you see as a line in this picture is "The Hayes Bros. Co."

 

I haven't been able to find out anything about this sailor.  In fact, I can't really be sure how to spell this name.  I've tried several variations of what I think his name is but I come up empty handed.  If you want to help me, I've made his name as large as I can to help you decipher the writing.

 

I'm also trying to find another top bar with the pin attachment to make it appear as all the others.  I'll be posting that in the WANT category as soon as I have enough posts.

Although it is yours to do what you want with, I would personally leave it alone. Thank you for sharing.

 

 

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  • 1 month later...

I'm late to the party, pulled out some of my Naval Shooting Badges to add to this thread. I've been collecting the early USN shooting badges for many years. Long ago George Harris would list the more common ones on his list (pre internet, delivered by the USPS) for about $90. I would buy every one I could. Here are some that would be considered scarce and probably rare. Thanks to Jacob for making me dig these out.

 

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Kalbfus was a USNA graduate and was elevated to the rank of Admiral. At that time you held that higher rank as long as you were in that particular command, you later reverted to the lower rank held.

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Next are a pair of shooting badges to Marines. The first with a Distinguished Badge and the next with the USN and USMC sharpshooter badges.

 

 

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Next is a trio of the gold Marksman badge awarded to USNA, The US Trophy Match medal and the Dogs of War badge to Vossler.

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This next piece, IMNSHO, is one of the rarest examples of the early USN shooting badge. It is the top bar for Expert Pistol Shot. I have only seen examples of pistol shot bars being an attachment to existing Sharpshooters badges. I have never seen a separate pistol shot badge. The only reason I have this example is due to an engraving mistake on spelling the last name. This named bar was to go to a classmate of Richard Byrd class of 1912. If you look at a 1912 Lucky Bag you will see the extensive art work done by the person that this bar was intended for.

 

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Finally, the best shooting badge in my collection. As Kurt said in an early post, this is the badge awarded to Richard Byrd.

 

Thanks for your interest.

 

G2

 

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  • 2 years later...

Two additions today, and it is a interesting pair. Both are from the same Estate and bear the same last name of Wheelock.

The first one, belong to Charles Myron Wheelock, who is born in Wisconsin in 1889. He served in the Navy from 1906 to 1914 that I know of. Charles passed away in 1977 in Washington state. 
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This second one, is still kind of a mystery.
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One suggestion for it not having a date plug, is possibly that they were out of stock and they sent it to him later to add. Another person had suggested that possibly they miss engraved middle initial. Which kind of made me think that if it did happen it would likely be the first. As I do get a hit for the correct time frame with G. F. Wheelock(his results does seem promising). I personally can see a C & G getting mixed up versus an F & M. Unfortunately with current circumstances and the archives it may take a while to confirm. If it was miss engraved or maybe he just didn’t serve very long. 

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  • 4 months later...
On 6/1/2019 at 7:35 PM, gunnertwo said:

Next are a pair of shooting badges to Marines. The first with a Distinguished Badge and the next with the USN and USMC sharpshooter badges.

 

 

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What does the distinguished medal look like on the the other side? 

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  • 5 months later...

Just received this in the mail today 

1890 Naval Academy Gold Marksman 

Gregory Caldwell Davison

(August 12, 1871 – May 7, 1935)
1892-1907

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  • 6 months later...
collectsmedals

Not as spectacular as the other ones being posted, but here is a U.S. Navy sharpshooter medal from my collection, named to F. F. Branthoover.

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