Bob Hudson Posted September 30, 2016 Share #1 Posted September 30, 2016 This soldier served late in the war, racing through Germany knocking down the last resistance. He kept a very short diary. In it he talks about his taking of spoils of war and I posted those at http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/276103-diary-of-a-souvenir-hunter/ He kept an impressive amount of Uncle Sam's stuff as souvenirs too: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted September 30, 2016 Author Share #2 Posted September 30, 2016 The ike has serious moth damage, but when surrounded by eveything else, it all makes for an impressive display. I buy from a lot of families and it is so rare that anything survived the decades besides the Ike. His diary covers the end of the war, but I just found another document which shows him getting a GCM in March 1944, while serving as a small arms instructor at Fort Knox. The diary has been transcribed: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted September 30, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted September 30, 2016 This is an interesting couple of entries - he kills a German and his unit loots an SS school: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Devil Posted September 30, 2016 Share #4 Posted September 30, 2016 Fantastic and complete group! And neat souvenirs too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor996 Posted September 30, 2016 Share #5 Posted September 30, 2016 OUTSTANDING Bob! Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbolinger Posted September 30, 2016 Share #6 Posted September 30, 2016 Great Grouping! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share #7 Posted October 1, 2016 Sadly this folded up newspaper cracked at the fold, but you can still read his unit's story (and there's a photocopy.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share #8 Posted October 1, 2016 His diary mentions his quest for German souvenirs, but he also spent time finding some nice examples of early war field gear. They mostly have other soldiers laundry marks, many from the same GI. There are three musette bags. The canteen is a welded aluminum 1918 in a GLIDA 1942 cover. I'm not sure yet if his mark is on anything, but he still had great taste in OD#3 gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonm Posted October 1, 2016 Share #9 Posted October 1, 2016 Wonderful group Bob. I'd love to some more pics of the helmet. Congrats on the pick up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted October 1, 2016 Share #10 Posted October 1, 2016 Nice Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share #11 Posted October 1, 2016 He was awarded the GCM Jan. 1944. I love that his Good Conduct Medal approval had to be signed by four different people! The records say he enlisted Dec. 1943. How could he be GCM eligible in Jan. 44? I thought it took three years of service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share #12 Posted October 1, 2016 The original boxed, engraved Bronse Star is present and then there are engraved replacement Bronze Star and GCM medals: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share #13 Posted October 1, 2016 Patches and DUI's: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share #14 Posted October 1, 2016 Some notebooks he carried during the war, including one from basic training: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted October 2, 2016 Author Share #15 Posted October 2, 2016 Here's the completed transcribed text of the diary. The diary is only 12 small pages, but still an interesting read (when it was transcribed, the family typed in info from his dog tags): Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted October 2, 2016 Author Share #16 Posted October 2, 2016 Wasn't it against regulations to keep a diary in combat? I had wondered if this was maybe something he wrote after the war, but in the back of the diary I found what looked like a list of candy and personal items purchases by perhaps members of his squad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted October 2, 2016 Author Share #17 Posted October 2, 2016 And here's a better view of what the original pages look like: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob590ert Posted October 2, 2016 Share #18 Posted October 2, 2016 Fantastic grouping! What's the helmet look like? Thank you for sharing. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted October 2, 2016 Author Share #19 Posted October 2, 2016 Fantastic grouping! What's the helmet look like? Thank you for sharing. Robert The suspension in the liner is pretty shot. Turns out the field gear was not his issue: based on what I've learned, some of it may have belonged to an in-law. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted October 3, 2016 Share #20 Posted October 3, 2016 The goodies. US and German, are great but the diary really makes it. Terrific group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted October 3, 2016 Author Share #21 Posted October 3, 2016 The goodies. US and German, are great but the diary really makes it. Terrific group. Agreed - the other stuff is just war surplus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted October 3, 2016 Share #22 Posted October 3, 2016 What a great Hoosier group! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kai robert Posted October 3, 2016 Share #23 Posted October 3, 2016 Great group. I will post it on a 20th AD Facebook page that is very active, fans, relatives and vets from the 20th AD. Here are my 20th AD group, Walter C Martin, 20th Tank Batt, service comp. Everything are in great shape. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/104330-20th-armor-grouping/ Avy marking or decal on the helmet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kai robert Posted October 3, 2016 Share #24 Posted October 3, 2016 Turns out the field gear was not his issue: based on what I've learned, some of it may have belonged to an in-law. Well, at least some of it has his laundry number on it, the carrying strap at left of the gas mask bag. Here is a link to the 20th FB page, there is info of the attack on the SS barracks in the files section. https://www.facebook.com/groups/20thArmoredDivisionInWorldWarII/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmd62 Posted October 3, 2016 Share #25 Posted October 3, 2016 Wow, an amazing grouping!!! My Dad also fought in his Battalion so it's especially a treat for me to see everything you posted. Thanks!! James : ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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