Does anybody know what to do because I want to return this

[BullyMaguire]

Hi my name is Ben and I bought this for $25 at my local army surplus store the canteen cover is dated 1918 and has the name on the back Lester Lemaster there’s also a number on the back 35003972 I tried doing research but I couldn’t find anything

thanks
ben

[BullyMaguire]

Hi my name is Ben and I bought this for $25 at my local army surplus store the canteen cover is dated 1918 and has the name on the back Lester Lemaster there’s also a number on the back 35003972 I tried doing research but I couldn’t find anything

thanks
ben

[Cobra 6 Actual]

I’m not sure I understand the issue: So, why specifically did you want to return it?

[Salvage Sailor]

WWII Army Veteran, Deceased

U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
Draft, Enlistment and Service

 

Name:    Lester P Lemaster
Race:    White
Marital Status:    Single, without dependents (Single)
Rank:    Private
Birth Year:    1914
Nativity State or Country:    Ohio
Citizenship:    Citizen
Residence:    Clark, Ohio
Education:    4 years of high school
Civil Occupation:    Policemen and detectives, except in public service
Enlistment Date:    5 Mar 1941
Enlistment Place:    Fort Hayes Columbus, Ohio
Service Number:    35003972
Branch:    Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Component:    Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Source:    Civil Life
Height:    73
Weight:    185

 

Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File

Name:    Lester P Lemaster
Gender:    Male
Birth Date:    12 Dec 1914
Death Date:    3 Feb 2003
SSN:    (Deleted as per Forum Rules - MEMBERS PLEASE DO NOT POST SSN's)
Enlistment Branch:    ARMY
Enlistment Date:    5 Mar 1941
Discharge Date:    6 Jul 1945
Page number:    1

 

Draft Card 1940

Name:Lester Pardell Lemaster

Race:White

Age:25

Birth Date:12 Dec 1914

Birth Place:Woodsfield, Ohio

Residence Place:Springfield, Clark, Ohio

Registration Date:16 Oct 1940

Registration Place:Springfield, Ohio

Employer:Frigidaire Division of G M

Height:6ft 2

Weight:190

Complexion:Dark

Hair Color:Brown

Eye Color:Brown

Next of Kin:Mr Eugene Lemaster

Household MembersRelationship

Lester Pardell Lemaster

Eugene LemasterFather

 

 

 

[BEAST]

He passes away in 2003, you can find his info on findagrave.

[Salvage Sailor]

MODERATORS NOTE - Duplicate posts by OP, merged replies

[BullyMaguire]

Thank you so much everybody for the help

[BullyMaguire]

also sorry for duplicating it was a complete accident I won’t do that again sorry

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Not a problem, glad to help and welcome to the forum

[Signal_QM_NCO]

@BullyMaguire

 

Taking it one step further, a query within ancestry.com and the 1950 census shows he was married to his bride (Hazel G. Rust LeMaster) however as of April 4, 1950 they had not had any children.  I dug a little deeper and he/they seemingly had no children based on Lester's obituary:

 

LESTER P. LEMASTER 88, of Springfield passed away at 11:00 p.m. Monday, February 3, 2003 in Eaglewood Care Center. He was born December 12, 1914 in Monroe County, Ohio, the son of Eugene and Margaret (Hoskinson) Lemaster. Mr. Lemaster was a member of Grace United Methodist Church and was a Veteran of the United States Army serving in the Quarter Master Corp during World War II. He was retired from Harrison Radiator in Dayton.

 

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Hazel (Rust) Lemaster; two brothers, John (Mary) Lemaster and Roger (Eileen) Lemaster; two sisters, Hazel Webb and Ruth Kearfott, all of Springfield; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by is parents. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the JONES-KENNEY-ZECHMAN FUNERAL HOME with Pastor Robert Scott officiating. Friends may call for one hour prior to the services.

 

Burial will follow in Ferncliff Cemetery. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, 1401 West Main Street, Springfield, Ohio 45504.

 

Source: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/827488792/ | February 6, 2003 edition Springfield News-Sun from Springfield, Ohio

 

Cheers!

Chris P.

[Marshallj]

Looks like no kids or grandkids.who do you think will want it? 

[BullyMaguire]

On 8/7/2024 at 9:08 AM, Marshallj said:

Looks like no kids or grandkids.who do you think will want it? 

Idk at this point. Will probably just keep it. 

[atb]

It was undoubtedly turned in at the end of the soldier's service, may have remained in the supply system for years and reissued several times, and was finally surveyed out as surplus or unserviceable. Soldiers did and do not generally get to keep issued equipment. Though, in WW1 each soldier got a souvenir gas mask and helmet to take home.

[Bones163]

Another possibility/probability is that it was sold off or given away by his estate when he died.  Any WWI kit has (probably) been long since purged from govt warehouses and isn't likely to pop up in an Army Navy store's bins from that source.

 

Which is why I never understood the "returning it" vibe for govt issued equipment.  Regardless, wanting to know the history of a specific piece of militaria is a totally natural thing.