Calvin Hall Posted May 28, 2016 Share #1 Posted May 28, 2016 Well, I decided to change the oil in my car this morning, so I drove it around the neighborhood to warm-up the oil. Saw a garage sale, and I (reluctantly) decided to stop and check it out. I love going to garage sales, but I always leave frustrated having wasted my time. I never seem to find anything that interests me. The guy running the sale mentions that he retired from the Air Force. I mention that I collect WWII and Vietnam era 'stuff'. He mentions that his relative was in USMC in WWII and Korea. I ask if he has anything from the relative that he would consider seling. He runs inside and returns with a small box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Hall Posted May 28, 2016 Author Share #2 Posted May 28, 2016 Well, I examine the contents of the box and realize that they are significant. The seller mentions that the vet was at Saipan, Iwo and Okinawa. Also at inchon in Korea. So, I ask him if he is really interested in selling the box, and he just says, 'sure.' All this has happened within about five minutes of me arriving at the garage sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Hall Posted May 28, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted May 28, 2016 So, I'm in a mild state of shock, but I ask hime if he has anything else. He says not much, but he again runs into the house and returns with two scrapbooks and a group photo. The scrapbooks are mainly newspaper clippings about the Pacific campaigns especially Saipan. The photo is of a class of First Sargeants. The Domain of the Golden Dragon certificate was in one of the scrapbooks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Hall Posted May 28, 2016 Author Share #4 Posted May 28, 2016 We agreed on a price, and I paid him. The whole transaction took about 10 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted May 28, 2016 Share #5 Posted May 28, 2016 Well, you just won the day. You have won Saturday. Great finds!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mes Posted May 28, 2016 Share #6 Posted May 28, 2016 Congratualtions! Fantastic find. I almost never if anything at garage sales anymore. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doinworkinvans Posted May 28, 2016 Share #7 Posted May 28, 2016 Yep - you win this Saturday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted May 28, 2016 Share #8 Posted May 28, 2016 Good dig and pick up...Congrats... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jguy1986 Posted May 28, 2016 Share #9 Posted May 28, 2016 Looks like he was with HQ/2/23 4th MarDiv, and WIA on July 6, 1944. Great finds for a surprise garage sale stop! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USdog Posted May 28, 2016 Share #10 Posted May 28, 2016 Nice find. Here's some info. Name HOLLAND Flagged Yes First Name ERNEST Middle Name WARREN Service Number 281090 Date of Casualty 6-JUL-44 Unit HQ. CO. 2NDBN, 23RDMAR, 4THMARDIV, FMF, MARIANAS ISLANDS Type of Casualty WIA Location TAB HOL-HOLLE Created By1 Allana Sarmiento Created1 1/24/2014 14:00 Item Type1 Item Path1 sites/USMC_History_Division/Lists/WWII Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted May 28, 2016 Share #11 Posted May 28, 2016 And the winner is, YOU!! congrats Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted May 28, 2016 Share #12 Posted May 28, 2016 A Big OooooRAH! Congrats.......Right time - Right place......usually what gets 'er done! Semper Fi.....Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted May 28, 2016 Share #13 Posted May 28, 2016 Very nice group! Always pays to ask at garage sales! Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hirsca Posted May 29, 2016 Share #14 Posted May 29, 2016 Amen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt Barickman Posted May 29, 2016 Share #15 Posted May 29, 2016 Very nice deal and congrats! When you have the time, would like to see more details. Thanks for sharing, Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted May 29, 2016 Share #16 Posted May 29, 2016 Awesome find. Looks like another family member served in Desert Storm, could have been the seller. Those could be his medals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMariner Posted May 29, 2016 Share #17 Posted May 29, 2016 If only i could find things like this at yard sales! Congrats on an excellent score! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Hall Posted May 29, 2016 Author Share #18 Posted May 29, 2016 I'm still in shock that I was able to purchase this grouping. From my experience when I ask about militaria at a garage sale it get one of the following responses: A. No, I don't have any. B. Yes, I used to have a bunch of lugers, knights crosses, my uncles stuff from WWII, etc., but... 1. I can't find. It's somewhere in the attic. 2. It was stolen by my __________ (insert family member, neighbor, etc.) 3. Previously sold 4. My sister now has it. At any rate, here are a few more photos of the medals and ribbons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted May 29, 2016 Share #19 Posted May 29, 2016 Phenomenal. I've had very little luck the garage sales in the past...and none in the past decade. Problem with a military town is the resident turnover, few lifetime residents, and the military stuff they do have is typical current surplus Always a big fan of earlier mounted medal bars...few Marines seemed to bother unless their billet required it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted May 29, 2016 Share #20 Posted May 29, 2016 Again beautiful grouping to a Marine that was part of some historic battles.Did he happen to say where he was wounded? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jguy1986 Posted May 29, 2016 Share #21 Posted May 29, 2016 Again beautiful grouping to a Marine that was part of some historic battles.Did he happen to say where he was wounded? Based on the date, it would have been on Saipan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Hall Posted May 29, 2016 Author Share #22 Posted May 29, 2016 Based on the date, it would have been on Saipan. I was told that he was wounded on Saipan. I am glad that the dates confirm this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David D Posted May 29, 2016 Share #23 Posted May 29, 2016 Incredible grouping! Wish I was this lucky at garage sales! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CINCPOA Posted December 11, 2016 Share #24 Posted December 11, 2016 Very nice to see Holland's stuff. I happen to be unit historian for Fox Co, 2/23 -- and I guess of 2/23 by default. There were only two First Sergeants in the battalion during the Saipan operation. Ernie Holland was 1stSgt. of Hq Company; the other was our 1stSgt. Jim Hutson of Fox Company. Holland was wounded on 6 July when atop Prudential Hill, when the rifle company patrols were searching for a way down the cliff to Tanapag Plain. Since LtCol. Dillon was wounded in the neck by shrapnel that day, I would expect that Holland's wound was related...simply because of proximity to Dillon. As 1stSgt. his job was largely an administrative one at or near Dillon's CP, and not down the hill with the line. Gene Davis was promoted to 1stSgt. to replace Holland on the 18th, a few days before they moved on to make the Tinian landing, then he himself was wounded the first day on Tinian.The book manuscript is with the publishing editor at the moment so we'll see what happens. I don't mention Holland in it, but the setting for the battalion is memorable and covered pretty well. Holland worked literally side-by-side with our 1stLt. Charlie Ahern, whom LtCol. Dillon had called up from Fox Co to be his Battalion Liaison Officer after Roi-Namur -- a job that was hell on earth for him until 2 July, when he convinced the colonel that things would probably be much better if he were back up with Fox Company running his platoon again. Dillon told him to go up there and then keep going a little further.Holland put up with this same stuff.Cheers!Btw: In the photo, might there be: Hutson, Townsley, Benavage, or Galiher? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squad leader Posted December 11, 2016 Share #25 Posted December 11, 2016 Awesome find! Congrats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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