2nd Armored Group

[cagedfalcon]

Small but well preserved grouping.

 

Sgt Ramond J. Robinson

38211623

17th Armored Engineer Battalion 

 

1 patched Shirt

2 khaki neck ties

2 overseas caps, 1 w/DI

2 trousers

1 patched Ike

1 GCM

2 extra DIs

Set dog tags

 

Muster Role shows him landing in Arzeu, Algeria 30 Jun 43.

I'm assuming he was in Operation Husky (Sicily), as his first engagement. 

 

 

[cagedfalcon]

I've never seen laundry mark on pocket flap before. 

[Kurt Barickman]

Great group! Been a big fan of Hell on Wheels ever since I read Mark Bando’s book, “Breakout.” Congrats!

 

Kurt

[cagedfalcon]

16 hours ago, Kurt Barickman said:

Great group! Been a big fan of Hell on Wheels ever since I read Mark Bando’s book, “Breakout.” Congrats!

 

Kurt

Thanks.

The GC medal, ties & extra cap were bonuses. Didn't notice them until I got home. Also came with 2 German dress bayonets.

Police with stag grips & portapee

and Fireman's version. No paperwork but from vets daughter to another collector years ago.

 

[manayunkman]

Actually the stag is most likely Luft but the whole group is to die for.

[manayunkman]

Here is a police bayonet.

[cagedfalcon]

7 hours ago, manayunkman said:

Actually the stag is most likely Luft but the whole group is to die for.

Thanks all for the kind comments. 

[manayunkman]

Are there any marks on the back of the brown frog?

[cagedfalcon]

41 minutes ago, manayunkman said:

Are there any marks on the back of the brown frog?

None, or on scabbard.  No RZM control on private purchase items.

[katieony]

A really great group!  Thank you for sharing it!

 

Mike

[T1gertank519]

Thank you for sharing! I love seeing great armored groups like this! 

[Backtheattack]

Great grouping, and nice bayonetts.

[Skip Pickett]

That man saw some stuff. 2 1/2 years overseas according to the bars. Very nice. 

[BelgianUScollector44]

Amazing grouping you have sir! 
If you might want to sell it one day, i'm very intrested in it.
Thanks

[CMT04]

Complete mannequin set up plus bring backs! That’s amazing.

[doyler]

very nice. Have the same uniform with DIs and some of the vets bring backs

[CMT04]

Are those DIs sterling by chance?

[rosieres64]

Any idea what company he was in?

[Unseeing]

Very nice grouping!

[cagedfalcon]

On 4/16/2023 at 12:33 AM, CMT04 said:

Are those DIs sterling by chance?

Definitely not.

Maybe German made? Feels heavy like zinc & the pin looks German in style. 

[BullyMaguire]

49 minutes ago, cagedfalcon said:

Definitely not.

Maybe German made? Feels heavy like zinc & the pin looks German in style. 

It does look like it’s German made, I also noticed the hell on wheels tab also looks like it might be German made maybe? I’m not an expert in patches. But it looks different. Also nice amazing grouping.

[cagedfalcon]

On 4/16/2023 at 11:26 AM, rosieres64 said:

Any idea what company he was in?

Sorry no

[Erica Swenson Elliott]

What a beautiful grouping you have preserved here.    I too am interested in 2AD, Hell On Wheels, as my Great Uncle Pete Snoich (in my thumbnail photo) served with them from 1942 until he was killed in 1944.  I've been researching his life for the last 18 months, and have reconstructed a lot of his footsteps.  However, Pete was in the 66th Armored Regiment, his Recon Co was in an LST alongside your guy's in the 17th. Very touching to me to see your whole soldier's gear.  We only have Pete's coffin flag, purple heart, PFC stripes.  But we have some of his letters too.

 

During my writer reconnaissance, I stumbled across the 17th's Battalion website:

 

17th Armored Engineer Battalion Website   

 

This is a GREAT researcher's website, including at the Hell On Wheels Division level.  It was interesting to see that you had a number of "We Pave The Way" pins from his Battalion.  I wonder if he was collecting his buddies' pins?  The picture below is from the their website.

 

They have a LOT of photos of identified soldiers from your 17th.  However, I did a quick word search for Robinson and did not find him.  I did a quick scan on Robinson's ASN in Fold3/Ancestry/Newspapers.com.  He did survive WW2, returned home to Benton Arkansas.  On Fold3 he had 2 injuries:    a crushed thumb in Jan 1944 and a truck accident in Oct 1944.  Discharged in 1945. 

 

I saw his LST 369 manifest too.  I know they were prepping for Sicily in Algeria practicing amphibious landings while there.  Per Pvt Don Evans personal memoir  "Odyssey of an Iron Knight"

 

Thank you for the visual inspiration! 

Onward, 

 

EE

 

 

[cagedfalcon]

On 5/25/2024 at 1:57 PM, Erica Swenson Elliott said:

What a beautiful grouping you have preserved here.    I too am interested in 2AD, Hell On Wheels, as my Great Uncle Pete Snoich (in my thumbnail photo) served with them from 1942 until he was killed in 1944.  I've been researching his life for the last 18 months, and have reconstructed a lot of his footsteps.  However, Pete was in the 66th Armored Regiment, his Recon Co was in an LST alongside your guy's in the 17th. Very touching to me to see your whole soldier's gear.  We only have Pete's coffin flag, purple heart, PFC stripes.  But we have some of his letters too.

 

During my writer reconnaissance, I stumbled across the 17th's Battalion website:

 

17th Armored Engineer Battalion Website   

 

This is a GREAT researcher's website, including at the Hell On Wheels Division level.  It was interesting to see that you had a number of "We Pave The Way" pins from his Battalion.  I wonder if he was collecting his buddies' pins?  The picture below is from the their website.

 

They have a LOT of photos of identified soldiers from your 17th.  However, I did a quick word search for Robinson and did not find him.  I did a quick scan on Robinson's ASN in Fold3/Ancestry/Newspapers.com.  He did survive WW2, returned home to Benton Arkansas.  On Fold3 he had 2 injuries:    a crushed thumb in Jan 1944 and a truck accident in Oct 1944.  Discharged in 1945. 

 

I saw his LST 369 manifest too.  I know they were prepping for Sicily in Algeria practicing amphibious landings while there.  Per Pvt Don Evans personal memoir  "Odyssey of an Iron Knight"

 

Thank you for the visual inspiration! 

Onward, 

 

EE

 

 

Great reference aid, thank you.

[EGA-DOG]

My Grandfather was in Co. E, 17th Armored Engineers.