VMI88 Posted January 30, 2016 Share #1 Posted January 30, 2016 I found these two medals named to the same Marine this morning. Unfortunately the enamel on the Purple Heart is damaged but otherwise it's in decent shape. I almost passed on it until I saw the name matched the Good Conduct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMI88 Posted January 30, 2016 Author Share #2 Posted January 30, 2016 Here's a better view of the Good Conduct Medal: From what I understand these engraved medals were issued to career Marines. There is no rim number. Unfortunately the name is so common I haven't had any luck researching him to date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMI88 Posted January 30, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted January 30, 2016 The Purple Heart is a little bit of a mystery. It's a split brooch medal with a rim number in the mid 58,000 range. According to purplehearts.net Marine Corps Purple Hearts were unnumbered and should also be engraved with rank and branch. Is this correct? If so, could this be an early World War 2 award to a son with the same name who served in the Army? Any information would be appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted January 30, 2016 Share #4 Posted January 30, 2016 The Purple Heart is a 1930s contract medal awarded for WWI service. Very nice pair even with the damage, Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warguy Posted January 30, 2016 Share #5 Posted January 30, 2016 Yes the 1930's PH was awarded for earlier wounds and the Marine would have petitioned for the medal when they came out. Your heart is correct for that time period. Would be interesting to see where he was wounded. France 1918 perhaps or a Banana war engagement later? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mes Posted January 30, 2016 Share #6 Posted January 30, 2016 James C. Wilson enlisted 26 Feb 1918 18th company 5th regiment Wia 1918 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devildog34 Posted January 30, 2016 Share #7 Posted January 30, 2016 It's likely James C. Wilson who was 18th Company 2nd Battalion 5th Marines WIA July 18, 1918 near Vierzy at Soissons. He suffered a gunshot wound to the foot. It's James Clayton Wilson Born Sept. 21, 1899. Service number is 109579 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMI88 Posted January 30, 2016 Author Share #8 Posted January 30, 2016 Thanks to all for the information! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Linz Posted January 30, 2016 Share #9 Posted January 30, 2016 Is the Second Enlistment Bar engraved on the back? I believe this guy got commissioned and served in WWII and is buried in Arlington. Nice medals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMI88 Posted January 31, 2016 Author Share #10 Posted January 31, 2016 Is the Second Enlistment Bar engraved on the back? I believe this guy got commissioned and served in WWII and is buried in Arlington. Nice medals. Yes, it is - I missed that earlier. It repeats the medal number and includes the dates 1923-1926. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warguy Posted January 31, 2016 Share #11 Posted January 31, 2016 Very nice little group, good thing you didn't pass on it. Congrats. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMI88 Posted January 31, 2016 Author Share #12 Posted January 31, 2016 Is the Second Enlistment Bar engraved on the back? I believe this guy got commissioned and served in WWII and is buried in Arlington. Nice medals. I think there's a strong possibility you're correct. The Major Wilson buried in Arlington died in Triangle, Virginia (just outside of Quantico), about 60 miles from where I purchased the medals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted January 31, 2016 Share #13 Posted January 31, 2016 Nice scarce set in any condition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted January 31, 2016 Share #14 Posted January 31, 2016 Great find. Congrats.....Semper Fi......Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grovb Posted January 31, 2016 Share #15 Posted January 31, 2016 nice set you do not find everyday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieony Posted January 31, 2016 Share #16 Posted January 31, 2016 Very nice and hard to find group of medals...congratulations and thanks for posting! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raidercollector Posted January 31, 2016 Share #17 Posted January 31, 2016 Nice find, They are hard to find like that together named. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMI88 Posted February 6, 2016 Author Share #18 Posted February 6, 2016 I was able to pick up some more medals from the same estate, probably belonging to the same Marine. These new additions fit well with the theory that the Major Wilson mentioned above is indeed the original owner. It looks like he remained in the service through World War 2, though without serving overseas (assuming there were no campaign medals missing). There was no World War I Victory Medal, though "Aisne" and "Defensive Sector" bars from a Victory Medal have been slipped over some loose red. white, & blue ribbon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMI88 Posted February 6, 2016 Author Share #19 Posted February 6, 2016 Unfortunately, these medals are of much more recent vintage. He must have acquired them later in life, or possibly his family even requested them after his death. Still, they weren't much money and I thought it would be good to keep them all together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Collector .45 Posted February 6, 2016 Share #20 Posted February 6, 2016 Thats a great looking set of medals! - Henry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hermanus Posted February 7, 2016 Share #21 Posted February 7, 2016 There must have been a WW1 Victory medal issued to him. It is gone but soms bars remained. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMI88 Posted December 20, 2022 Author Share #22 Posted December 20, 2022 This is an older thread, but I was going through my collection and ran across some historical documentation I was able to find with the generous help of several forum members. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMI88 Posted December 20, 2022 Author Share #23 Posted December 20, 2022 Here's a translation as best I can figure: Casualty #619; Wilson, James C. 18th Company: Field Hospital #15 jd (?) from Battalion Aid Station 5th Marine Regiment. Gunshot wound foot. Field Hospital #1 7/21/18 jd (?) gunshot wound right foot. Cas (?) #2 9/5/18 jd (?) from Headquarters 1st Depot Division St. Aignan 10/4/18 transferred to Brest. 12/26/18 USS NORTH CAROLINA arrived 1/6/19. Casual Company #202 Unfortunately the casualty file is difficult to read in places, and not all the abbreviations are defined. If anyone knows what some of the notations mean (especially "jd") please let me know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
French Sam Posted December 23, 2022 Share #24 Posted December 23, 2022 Great set ! Thanks for sharing ! ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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