24th_infantry Posted December 10, 2019 Share #1 Posted December 10, 2019 It was roughly 10 years ago that I received a phone call from an elderly woman who read about my military displays in the local town newspaper. She said that she wanted to donate her late husband's footlocker and items to me. So I immediately went over to see her. He husband was a mechanic in the Caribbean during the war. In the footlocker was his dress uniform, a few shirts, pants, a number of Garrison caps and ties, a very nice gabardine visor, a bag of rank chevrons and AAF patches, dog tags, gas mask in the khaki kidney bag with his name, blankets, blue denim and khaki laundry bag, and a Red Cross turtleneck sweater and facemask with long flaps to cover chest and back. Here's the tear-jerker. A couple days ago I put on a Pearl Harbor day display and presentation. After my hour-long discussion one of the nurses at the senior living center told me how her father served in world War II in the Air Corps. She then told me that a long time ago her mother had given away all of her dad's military stuff to a guy. I asked what her dad's name was and she replied, Malcolm Spaar. With that I reached into my trunk and pulled out a uniform with dogtags. I asked the lady if this reminded her of her dad's uniform he wore. She held it and began to cry. I said I was that young guy who your mom donated it to. She was crying for 5 minutes straight and it was the sweetest thing I ever experienced. She was so happy and astonished that I had kept my promise to her mother and continue to cherish and protect her father's items. She then told me that she wants to donate his photo album from the war to me so that I can continue to preserve and honor his memory. Her mother had passed away two years ago and seeing these items brought back so many happy memories she even contacted her brothers and sister to tell them what had happened. Out of all the things I have seen and experienced this was the most touching because it really did show that I keep my word when it comes to items that are donated to me because it is important that we continue to keep those memories alive for the future to learn from. This is Lorraine Spaar and myself with her dad's uniform. Link to post Share on other sites
24th_infantry Posted December 10, 2019 Author Share #2 Posted December 10, 2019 Here is the grouping which was donated to me by Alice Spaar, the wife of Malcolm. Link to post Share on other sites
24th_infantry Posted December 10, 2019 Author Share #3 Posted December 10, 2019 Link to post Share on other sites
24th_infantry Posted December 10, 2019 Author Share #4 Posted December 10, 2019 Link to post Share on other sites
TBMflyer Posted December 11, 2019 Share #5 Posted December 11, 2019 Well done sir! Kudos to you. Mark "The Dude Abides" Link to post Share on other sites
awm Posted December 11, 2019 Share #6 Posted December 11, 2019 I wish I could hear of more stories like this. Fantastic. I hope more people read this. Link to post Share on other sites
USCapturephotos Posted December 11, 2019 Share #7 Posted December 11, 2019 Really enjoyed this story! Thanks for sharing. I do a big display with original artifacts for my students on or near the anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day. I get so much pleasure out of seeing the 16 year olds walking into the room that first time. Paul Link to post Share on other sites
JasonT Posted December 11, 2019 Share #8 Posted December 11, 2019 Thanks for sharing such a great story with a wonderful ending. A perfect example of a great ambassador to the hobby. Link to post Share on other sites
Scarecrow Posted December 11, 2019 Share #9 Posted December 11, 2019 Way to go 24th, way to go! Always looking for 4th Fighter Group and 490th Bomb Group items. Link to post Share on other sites
easterneagle87 Posted December 11, 2019 Share #10 Posted December 11, 2019 I love to see the lines connect. Really touching. I "primarily" collect Gulf War 1 patches. All branches (USA, USAF,USN, USMC & USCG) and ALL Countries..US - Op.'s Desert Shield / Storm / Provide Comfort /Some Southern Watch - F-4G's Wild WeaselsUK - Op.'s Granby / Sabre / WardenCanadian - Op. Desert Storm / Op. FrictionFrench - Daguet / AconitNetherlands, Belgium, Poland, South Korea, etc.Looking for the oddities, including unfinished & flawsI HAVE EXTRA's!! Will trade as well. Link to post Share on other sites
aznation Posted December 11, 2019 Share #11 Posted December 11, 2019 Excellent and very touching story. Thank you for being an honorable curator of this soldier's story and for bringing such joy to his family. It's just so wonderful! Specific areas of collecting and buying interest: WWI/WWII 40th (Sunshine) Division, Camp Kearny, Camp Harry Jones, WWI/WWII 158th Infantry, USS Oklahoma, Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Mexican Border (1916), Norman Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) Norman, OK, Tinker Field or AFB, Submariner Items, Knives, Bayonets, Sweetheart Jewelry, other unique or odd items with interesting stories. Link to post Share on other sites
1st Sgt CES Posted December 11, 2019 Share #12 Posted December 11, 2019 Great Stuff In Memory of Air Corps Technical Sergeant Carl F. Durfee. He died of wounds on 30 December 1944 while serving in the South Pacific. You are not forgotten.ASMIC memberAmerican Legion memberUS Air Force & Air National Guard TAC - MACJOHN N. DANIELS ---152nd COMPANY C New York State Infantry--- captured 1864 survivor of Andersonville ---- Great-Great-Great UncleCaptain Robert L. Hosler, 522nd Fighter/Bomber Sq. 12th Army Air Corp. World War Two P47 Pilot - 1 DFC- 5 Air Medal & 0ne Purple Heart---Uncle1st Sgt Ann Barry, US Army Air Corp WAC World War Two --ETO --- AuntSgt Willam M. Barry, USMC----Pacific World War Two--Father Link to post Share on other sites
bobgee Posted December 11, 2019 Share #13 Posted December 11, 2019 What a wondderful story. Congrats to you for being a great custodian of Sgt. Spaar's memorabilia. I loved reading this! Bobgee **PLEASE NOTE: THIS COMMUNITY MEMBER HAS SADLY PASSED AWAY** https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/343375-remembering-bobgee/ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/211496624/robert-brendan-gill Link to post Share on other sites
Hookemhorns88 Posted December 11, 2019 Share #14 Posted December 11, 2019 Well done. Great story. I am sure that you brought happiness and comfort to the family. Link to post Share on other sites
kyhistorian01 Posted December 11, 2019 Share #15 Posted December 11, 2019 Great story my friend. We have the same philosophy when it comes to donated items and I am glad you are getting out and setting up more displays. Keep it up! Bob Link to post Share on other sites
KASTAUFFER Posted December 12, 2019 Share #16 Posted December 12, 2019 This just shows you how small the world really is! Nice job! Kurt !!!! WANTED !!!! WWII Prisoner of War items : Medals, Mail, Diaries, Photos, Documents, Scrapbooks + More WWII Naval Aviation Groupings : Medals, Documents, Scrapbooks, Photos, Flight Logs, Flight Jackets + More Link to post Share on other sites
GIKyle Posted December 12, 2019 Share #17 Posted December 12, 2019 A wonderful story! Thanks so much for sharing. Link to post Share on other sites
MasonK Posted December 12, 2019 Share #18 Posted December 12, 2019 Wow, what are the odds?! Excellent story. Thanks for sharing, and keep it up! Eric ASMIC #5492 Are you a militaria collector in PA, NJ or DE? If so, please feel free to join my "Delaware Valley Militaria Collectors" page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MilitariaCollectorsOfDelawareValley#!/groups/DELVALMILITARIA/ Check me out on Instagram @philly_militaria_collector Link to post Share on other sites
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