Dave Posted June 4, 2019 Share #1 Posted June 4, 2019 All: I'm doing a data call of "Swooping R" style engraving on WW2 Marine Corps Purple Hearts. I've done a screenshot of the one from the thread started a couple weeks ago by Austin Militaria in this thread: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/327511-named-wwii-usmc-purple-heart/ So far, what I've seen is that these have been awarded to casualties in May/June 1945 - and so far, all for Okinawa that I can tell. Before making generalizations, I'd love to find out if any of them were awarded prior to May 1945 or not. I have a feeling that's the case, but no data to back it up. Does anyone have any other "Swooping R" style Purple Hearts? If so, can you post when they were earned? Thanks!Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted June 4, 2019 Share #2 Posted June 4, 2019 As you know, the Navy and Marine Corps hired a very limited number of engravers and you can usually lump medals into a hand who engraved them. For awhile I was keeping a folder of the different engravers, and over a 20 year period pre-dating WWII it was somewhere between 6 and 10 I noticed. Have you been able to find employment records through the archives? If you see a newer engraver around that period, it may help answer your question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted June 4, 2019 Author Share #3 Posted June 4, 2019 As you know, the Navy and Marine Corps hired a very limited number of engravers and you can usually lump medals into a hand who engraved them. For awhile I was keeping a folder of the different engravers, and over a 20 year period pre-dating WWII it was somewhere between 6 and 10 I noticed. Have you been able to find employment records through the archives? If you see a newer engraver around that period, it may help answer your question. Man...I wish I had that info! I do have the research that a fellow collector did over the span of about thirty years, but he was never able to find any employment documentation either retained by the Navy or at the National Archives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmo Posted June 4, 2019 Share #4 Posted June 4, 2019 Dave, Here is a "Swooping R and K". KIA 14 May 1945 on Okinawa during the assault on Dakeshi Ridge. He was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Sorry I couldn't get the pic to stay rotated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schofield1943 Posted June 4, 2019 Share #5 Posted June 4, 2019 Not USMC but swooping R nonetheless. KIA 27 December 1944 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted June 5, 2019 Share #6 Posted June 5, 2019 Different hand. The USMC hearts with swooping R's have the top of the letter kind of dipping Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildcat123 Posted June 5, 2019 Share #7 Posted June 5, 2019 May 14, 1945 casualty on Okinawa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary B Posted June 5, 2019 Share #8 Posted June 5, 2019 Here is mine. C.O.NROY, Robert Albert, 549165, CoA, 1stBn, 9thMar, 3rdMarDiv, FMF, KIA: February 27, 1945 Don't have my records with me at the office.... Gary B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary B Posted June 5, 2019 Share #9 Posted June 5, 2019 He was KIA on Iwo Jima Gary B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete-o MSU Posted June 6, 2019 Share #10 Posted June 6, 2019 I know of a swooping R for Iwo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbirming Posted July 1, 2021 Share #11 Posted July 1, 2021 Private Bobby Ray Holman. Corpus Christi, Texas Co. I , 3rd Battalion, 22nd Marines, 6th Marine Division Killed in action, 20 May, 1945, Sugar Loaf Hill, Okinawa Shima Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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