Named Groupings, 17th Abn, 29th ID, etc.

[Waffentag]

I just joined the forum and thought that posting here would be a good place to start?

 

Here is a named grouping that I can vouch for as 100% authentic. This was my Dads Uniform.

SGT Francis C. Cassidy Jr. (Frank)
SN 11050770
U.S. Paratrooper Uniform
Born 25 Feb 1916, entered service on 14 Feb 1942. Graduated Jump School on 5 Feb 1944. Assigned to 139th Airborne Engineers, 17th Airborne Division. Participated in Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns. Also participated in operation Varsity and was the first American soldier in the German City of Essen. (See Unit the 139th History) Complete Uniform as issued to him includes, M42 Jump Jacket, Wings, Pants, Cap, undershirt, dog tags, camouflage parachute scarf . (Note the captured flag and other items that he brought back) To think that we used to wear this stuff around and play with it. However, I did save everything. I had his sterling issue wings pinned on me when I graduated Jump School in 1981. One of the coolest things that he had were JR Gaunt Brit made wings. He thought that they were junk! Now, look at what a real set brings! Note his Jump School Graduation Certificate on the wall.

[Waffentag]

Here is my Dads uniform before he joined the Paratroops!


SGT Francis C. Cassidy Jr. (Frank)
SN 11050770
Artic Uniform

Born 25 Feb 1916, entered the service on 14 Feb 1942. 20 August 1942 to 20 Dec 1943 served with the 331st Engineers in Canada/Alaska working construction of runways and other construction associated with the Alaskan Highway effort. The arctic jacket, the fur cap, M43 goggles, the arctic Socks and mukluk boots were issued to him at the time. The Sheath knife was presented by one of his men and is made out of a broken bulldozer blade and Caribou antler. From Alaska he volunteered for Paratroops.

[Waffentag]

SSG Albert H Thomas D-Day WIA 29th ID 116th Inf Regt

Now for another U.S. Soldier with an interesting story.

A while back, My wife called me at work and asks if I wanted a WW2 Uniform. She was with her German friend and noticed a uniform hanging in the garage. (My wife is also German).

She explains that it a short jacket, She says that it belongs to her friends husband and he was going to throw it out if no one wanted it.

Well, I figured that this was a typical size 36 Ike jacket with all the insignia removed.

Boy, was I wrong! The Jacket was just the way that he wore it home, except that the right collar disk was missing. I found it in the packet and put it back on.

Here is the uniform that belonged to SSG Albert H Thomas SN 33493387 D-Day WIA 29th ID 116th Infantry Regiment who passed away last year.

So, I asked if I could buy the jacket. They would not take any money. They also mentioned that they had some other stuff. I told them that any photos, dog tags or paper work would be great. Here is what I was given a few days later.

[Waffentag]

SSG Albert H Thomas D-Day WIA 29th ID 116th Inf Regt

It gets better. I was told that he was wounded on the beach on D-Day. I tried to research this via the internet and come up with nothing.

Then they found his discharge papers which clearly state that he was wounded twice.

Wounded once on 6 June 1944 and again on 17 November 1944.

Harry said that his Dad never talked about the war. He did know that he was wounded on D-Day.

I can only imagine what he experienced on 6 June 1944. I would still like to do some research.

Here is a photo of the Thomas brothers, It seems that all the brothers served and made it home.

You can clearly see the exact same uniform that I was given. It is always great to have a period photo of a uniform.

 

[GIKyle]

Wow! Both great groups and even better stories behind them. Definitely something to be proud of. Did you ever get a chance to talk with either your Dad or the 29th vet about their experiences at length?

 

Kyle

[Waffentag]

Dad, passed in 1980, the year before I went to jump school. I made my jumps with his wings in my left shirt pocket and had them pinned on me. He told only the funny stories. I never met my friends dad, Harry said that he did not talk much at all anout it.

 

Pat

[268th C.A.]

Its kind of funny what our dads thought, My dad never got his medals. In the early 70's I filled out the foum, he signed it. They sent them too him. Back when good WW2 medals were still in stock. When we got them, Dad let me open them. He said there nice you can have them. They dont mean anything to me. He was my hero. To him he was just another GI. He did tell me many storys, funny ones and combat related. He is still my hero. He passed away in 2007. That is a wonderful display in honor of your dad! Congratulations! Thanks to our dads. Regards, David

[Junior45]

WOW, this is just amazing...

 

great set for your father's bits! What a lovely way to remember him, well done! the 29th is lovely set as well, very kind gift from your friends. Sadly we don't have much family sets like these in Europe, but we have other beauties of our own

 

Thank you for sharing

 

regards

 

JEB

[sundance]

Great groupings and a dad to be proud of. My dad also preferred telling of the more lighthearted wartime experiences. He trained for a period in the desert near Needles, California and always told the story of a group playing cards at night in a tent when a prankster threw a rattlesnake in and cleared the tent out in a flash.

[sundance]

I forgot - I also wanted to ask what that bullet was with one of the groups.

[Kadet]

Very nice items! Thanks for posting them.

[Eric Queen]

Very cool that you were able to preserve your fathers items in such a way. Great display and love the "souvenir hound" element of the mannequin.

[Waffentag]

Thanks all, Eric, I am not sure if you remember me, But, You may remember this grouping,

 

It is next to my Dads,

Captain Theodore A. Wilson
17th Airborne Division, 681 GFAB
ARMY SERIAL NUMBER 20908763 (Enlisted)

Here is a copy of his Death Notice and a photo of the Jump Jacket worn by Captain Wilson. Same Division as my Dad, I wonder if they ever met?

He was born December 16, 1917. Grass Range Montana. Enlisted on 3 March 1941 in Yuba City California. Originally from Grass Range Montana. Deceased 6 March 2006, Commissioned as a U.S. Army Artillery Officer. His obituary notice states that he first served in the Pacific as an Anti-Submarine and Anti-Air Craft Gunner on a Merchant Marine Vessel. He was a Battle of the Bulge Veteran and served with the 17th Airborne Division. His name is listed in the 17th Airborne History. His photo is in the earlier produced 17ht Airborne photo album.

I need to get to NARA to do more research. There is evidently more info on him in NARA BOX NUMBER , 0366 , FILM REEL NUMBER 3.87#

P.S. Unfortunately, the 17th ABN is under-rated. Operation Varsity had a press black out. I suspect that Market Garden may have contributed to this? It was also eclipsed due to the Remagen Bridge head.

Pat

[manayunkman]

It's not often you see such a wonderful group still in the family.

 

The D-Day group and how you came into it is interesting as well.

 

Are you from Carlisle, Pa. ?

 

I used to run an international fruit business from my office on the second floor of the Farmers Trust building.

[Waffentag]

more CPT Wilson

[Waffentag]

I forgot - I also wanted to ask what that bullet was with one of the groups.

 

Yes, I got it with the SGT Thomas D Day Grouping

[David D]

Amazing groupings! Two of my collecting interests, D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge. Amazing stuff.

[sundance]

Waffentag - I was wondering what the caliber of the bullet is. The head stamp might show it. It looks like some kind of "wildcat" round - a lot of powder and a small bullet. Also, is that a Liberator pistol in the CPT Wilson group? Yama Hama.

[doyler]

Thanks for posting.A real treat to see these.

[Eric Queen]

Sure, I remember the Wilson items very well. Happy you still have them. I still have the star off his glider from Varsity hanging on my wall.

[Waffentag]

A good friend of mine who passed away recently, We met at the thrift shop on post. He used come to my local collector meetings, he had great stories.


Lieutenant William H. Lentz Jr. (Bill)
WW2 Army Forward Observer (Air) L4 Piper Cub

Born 23 June 1920, Commissioned as a U.S. Army Officer from Duquesne University ROTC on 3 June 1942.
Assigned to Company B, 261st Artillery Battalion, later attached to the 202nd with Artillery Group under XIII Corps, 9th Army. Participated in Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns. First air observation mission was flying under low cloud cover to Bastogne in December 1944. LT Lentz also supported operation Varsity. (LT Lentz had 76 Combat Air Observation Missions and was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.

He wrote a complete history of his vast combat experience in the ETO in “Remembrances of World War II”, Bill Lentz. Unfortunately it is only in hard copy.

When I have time I will try to transcribe some of the amazing stories. On one occasion he protected his unit during an ambush. He had his pilot fly the observation airplane over the German positions so that he could fire his Thompson out the open window and drop grenades. One German soldier fired a Panzerfaust from his foxhole at Bills plane just missing the wing.

Below is a period photo of Bill. Next there is a recent photo of Bill standing next to a mannequin sporting his WW2 flight suit and Officers Cap. How often are you able to get the original owner next to his mannequin?

Bill retired as an LTC.

[Waffentag]

Lieutenant William H. Lentz Jr. (Bill) Cont

[Waffentag]

Lieutenant William H. Lentz Jr. (Bill)

[everforward]

Very nice 116th grouping....thanks for posting..!

[David D]

This thread keeps getting better! Wonderful stuff.