wartimecollectables.com Posted July 28, 2020 #1 Posted July 28, 2020 This is the first attributed Wake Island group I've had. The story of their sacrifice is incredible. Gifford L. Haley lost his life on 8 December 1941 as a Marine airman serving in the defense of Wake Island. Included are original photo’s, his USMC Expeditionary medal MNo.9572 with as issued WAKE ISLAND bar and rarer than the medal, his FDR death accolade noting loss on Wake Island.
Kurt Barickman Posted July 28, 2020 #3 Posted July 28, 2020 Wow, very nice group; those early campaigns are so interesting because a handful tried to fend off the masses and often sacrificed everything to stem the tide. Kurt
Allan H. Posted July 28, 2020 #5 Posted July 28, 2020 Andrew, You are KILLING it with these posts of great items from your collection. PLEASE keep posting them! Was there a Purple Heart with the grouping? Allan
wartimecollectables.com Posted July 28, 2020 Author #7 Posted July 28, 2020 Thanks all! Knowing what is in some of your collections, that is high praise! Proud to be his caretaker.
skypilot6670 Posted July 28, 2020 #8 Posted July 28, 2020 That is a very , very nice group. Thanks Andrew for posting. Fraternally Yours Mike
patrick_usmc Posted July 28, 2020 #10 Posted July 28, 2020 Incredible grouping! Thank you for sharing! What an incredible thing those Marines did. Patrick
manayunkman Posted July 28, 2020 #12 Posted July 28, 2020 I would say that you have an identified group and an historic one as well. First one I’ve ever seen. Was he air crew?
Ivydiv Posted July 28, 2020 #14 Posted July 28, 2020 Andrew, what a great grouping!!! You are very blessed to have it. I really enjoy your posts. Keep them coming. Dave
katieony Posted July 28, 2020 #15 Posted July 28, 2020 Andrew, A very historic and poignant group...thank you for sharing the images and this Marine's story! Mike
wartimecollectables.com Posted July 29, 2020 Author #16 Posted July 29, 2020 He was Aircrew, a Staff Sgt. in VMSB231, MAG21, 2nd MAW.
Hermanus Posted July 29, 2020 #17 Posted July 29, 2020 17 hours ago, Allan H. said: Was there a Purple Heart with the grouping? I am curious about that too! Or perhaps other items? Regards Herman
wartimecollectables.com Posted July 29, 2020 Author #18 Posted July 29, 2020 I showed all I have. I know a small paper relating to his unit receiving a Unit Commendation sold on eBay a while back, I haven't seen anything to indicate that the Heart is in private hands and the family apparently doesn't have it.
Brian Dentino Posted July 29, 2020 #20 Posted July 29, 2020 Wow, Andrew this is a jaw dropping-ly rare and historic grouping to a brave Marine who was killed so early on in what at the time must have felt like (to them at least) a hopeless and futile resistance to a far superior IJN force. This is the stuff of legend and it is such a delight to be able to see a real, and attributed group to one of the brave men who sacrificed their life in such a famous battle so early in the conflict! Simply outstanding and a real pleasure to view.
Hermanus Posted July 29, 2020 #21 Posted July 29, 2020 9 hours ago, wartimecollectables.com said: I showed all I have. I know a small paper relating to his unit receiving a Unit Commendation sold on eBay a while back, I haven't seen anything to indicate that the Heart is in private hands and the family apparently doesn't have it. Okay, thanks for the reply. A one in a million find. Great medal. Regards Herman
Allan H. Posted July 31, 2020 #22 Posted July 31, 2020 If I were a betting man, I would bet that his wife received his KIA Purple Heart. Once she remarried, the Next of Kin moved to his mother. The Expeditionary and Wake Island bar would have been forwarded to her. I think that is why the medals aren't together. Thanks again for sharing the grouping Andrew! Allan
Rakkasan187 Posted July 31, 2020 #23 Posted July 31, 2020 Andrew, This is an absolutely stunning group.. You are the right caretaker for this grouping.. Thank you for sharing this with us. Best regards and stay safe Leigh
Kurt Barickman Posted July 31, 2020 #24 Posted July 31, 2020 I think what Allan stated makes sense; didn't the Purple Heart certificate and the FDR accolade usually come in the same mailing tube? I am sure someone on this forum can't tell us when both documents began to be sent to the KIA families? Kurt
Dave Posted July 31, 2020 #25 Posted July 31, 2020 48 minutes ago, Kurt Barickman said: I think what Allan stated makes sense; didn't the Purple Heart certificate and the FDR accolade usually come in the same mailing tube? I am sure someone on this forum can't tell us when both documents began to be sent to the KIA families? Kurt Some dude on the forum wrote a book about this stuff... Anyway, on page 495 and 496 of the book, it has the tube for the accolade and the large mailing envelope for the Purple Heart certificate, sent at different times through the war by the Navy Department.
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