wartimecollectables.com Posted July 28, 2020 Share #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. Wartime Collectables Military AntiquesAndrew H. Lippsemail wartime@wartimecollectables.comOn the web at http://www.wartimecollectables.com Link to post Share on other sites
LuftStalg1 Posted July 28, 2020 Share #2 Posted July 28, 2020 WOW! WANT TO BUY: Titled case set "U.S. Typhus Commission"; Titled case "Medal for Merit"; ASMIC: 1677 OMSA: 6045 Link to post Share on other sites
Kurt Barickman Posted July 28, 2020 Share #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 My hobby is my job and my job is my hobby. High School and University History Instructor Link to post Share on other sites
KASTAUFFER Posted July 28, 2020 Share #4 Posted July 28, 2020 WOW !!!! 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
Allan H. Posted July 28, 2020 Share #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 Never under-estimate the power of prayer. Link to post Share on other sites
BigJohn#3RD Posted July 28, 2020 Share #6 Posted July 28, 2020 RIP Marine! Link to post Share on other sites
wartimecollectables.com Posted July 28, 2020 Author Share #7 Posted July 28, 2020 Thanks all! Knowing what is in some of your collections, that is high praise! Proud to be his caretaker. Wartime Collectables Military AntiquesAndrew H. Lippsemail wartime@wartimecollectables.comOn the web at http://www.wartimecollectables.com Link to post Share on other sites
skypilot6670 Posted July 28, 2020 Share #8 Posted July 28, 2020 That is a very , very nice group. Thanks Andrew for posting. Fraternally Yours Mike Link to post Share on other sites
kanemono Posted July 28, 2020 Share #9 Posted July 28, 2020 Incredible group! Thanks for sharing. Link to post Share on other sites
patrick_usmc Posted July 28, 2020 Share #10 Posted July 28, 2020 Incredible grouping! Thank you for sharing! What an incredible thing those Marines did. Patrick Always looking for items from these men (family members): Even if they're not for sale, knowing where they are would be great. Cornelius Doherty - 108th Field Artillery, Pennsylvania NG, WWI Joseph A. Doherty - 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd ID. KIA March 3, 1944. Harry Riley - 62nd Armored Field Artillery Bn., Died of Wounds August 13, 1944. Thomas R. Riley - USAAF Robert Lester Mahler - I/3/24, 4th Marine Div. WIA March 8, 1945. Joshua L. Doherty - With a Seabee Unit, I believe. Ens. Alex A. Gorski, USNR - Died as a POW, January 28, 1945. Capt. Henry Gorski, USN (ret.) Chester A. Sendrowski - 74th Naval Construction Battalion (my profile picture). Remembering their service and sacrifice. Link to post Share on other sites
m1903 Posted July 28, 2020 Share #11 Posted July 28, 2020 Outstanding Link to post Share on other sites
manayunkman Posted July 28, 2020 Share #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? Link to post Share on other sites
wartimecollectables.com Posted July 28, 2020 Author Share #13 Posted July 28, 2020 Thanks all! Wartime Collectables Military AntiquesAndrew H. Lippsemail wartime@wartimecollectables.comOn the web at http://www.wartimecollectables.com Link to post Share on other sites
Ivydiv Posted July 28, 2020 Share #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 Link to post Share on other sites
katieony Posted July 28, 2020 Share #15 Posted July 28, 2020 Andrew, A very historic and poignant group...thank you for sharing the images and this Marine's story! Mike Link to post Share on other sites
wartimecollectables.com Posted July 29, 2020 Author Share #16 Posted July 29, 2020 He was Aircrew, a Staff Sgt. in VMSB231, MAG21, 2nd MAW. Wartime Collectables Military AntiquesAndrew H. Lippsemail wartime@wartimecollectables.comOn the web at http://www.wartimecollectables.com Link to post Share on other sites
Hermanus Posted July 29, 2020 Share #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 Link to post Share on other sites
wartimecollectables.com Posted July 29, 2020 Author Share #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. Wartime Collectables Military AntiquesAndrew H. Lippsemail wartime@wartimecollectables.comOn the web at http://www.wartimecollectables.com Link to post Share on other sites
scottplen Posted July 29, 2020 Share #19 Posted July 29, 2020 Unreal ! Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Dentino Posted July 29, 2020 Share #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. Always looking for 325th G.I.R. and WWII USMC items! Link to post Share on other sites
Hermanus Posted July 29, 2020 Share #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 Link to post Share on other sites
Allan H. Posted July 31, 2020 Share #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 Never under-estimate the power of prayer. Link to post Share on other sites
Rakkasan187 Posted July 31, 2020 Share #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 "Pain is only Weakness Leaving the Body" MSG Leigh E Smith Jr - US Army (Retired) Link to post Share on other sites
Kurt Barickman Posted July 31, 2020 Share #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 My hobby is my job and my job is my hobby. High School and University History Instructor Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Posted July 31, 2020 Share #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. Only a weak society needs government protection or intervention before it pursues its resolve to preserve the truth. Truth needs neither handcuffs nor a badge for its vindication. -Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy Peace is not the absence of war, but the defense of hard-won freedom. -Anton LaGuardia Link to post Share on other sites
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