Alonzo Posted June 7, 2010 Share #1 Posted June 7, 2010 Just picked this up. Very nice group. 2nd Division, 2nd Engineers, 1st battalion. There is a faint name on the back of the gas mask carrier...appears to be Caldwell, with a 6 digit number. Interesting in that the gas mask carrier is painted on the back not on the front, plus there are two fellows listed by the name of Caldwell on the 2nd Engineers website. I think one is listed as being killed, yet both are listed as from the first battalion The Group Helmet and Gas Mask Carrier Back of Gas Mask Carrier Helmet Detail Patch detail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAW Posted June 8, 2010 Share #2 Posted June 8, 2010 FWIW.....the gas mask is painted the correct way for wearing it. You wear the box respirator in the "ready" position, which is just as you have it; with flap open and folded down, so the mask is easy to grab. You pull the canvas strap down to the middle of your back and lay it flat so it makes a V shape, put the string through it, and tie it securely to the D-ring on the other side of the bag. This makes it snug against your body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croix de Guerre Posted June 8, 2010 Share #3 Posted June 8, 2010 Just picked this up.Very nice group. 2nd Division, 2nd Engineers, 1st battalion. There is a faint name on the back of the gas mask carrier...appears to be Caldwell, with a 6 digit number. Interesting in that the gas mask carrier is painted on the back not on the front, plus there are two fellows listed by the name of Caldwell on the 2nd Engineers website. I think one is listed as being killed, yet both are listed as from the first battalion The Group Helmet and Gas Mask Carrier Back of Gas Mask Carrier Helmet Detail Patch detail Very, very nice group! That 2nd Div stuff is always cool! :thumbsup: Thanks for sharing it with us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdamaso111 Posted October 27, 2010 Share #4 Posted October 27, 2010 always so jealous of these groupings! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue88s Posted November 4, 2010 Share #5 Posted November 4, 2010 nice group, great shape also Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted November 4, 2010 Share #6 Posted November 4, 2010 Outstanding second div grouping.Never get tired of seeing the variations of the Indian. RD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Military Engineer Posted November 10, 2010 Share #7 Posted November 10, 2010 THe 2nd Engineers is a really cool unit. Check out the article about the 2nd Engineers in Army History Magazine at this link http://www.history.army.mil/armyhistory/AH58newOCR.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Military Engineer Posted November 11, 2010 Share #8 Posted November 11, 2010 Alonzo, The unit history for the 2nd Engineers lists a Private James E Caldwell as being KIA. Later it lists a Bulger Verne V. Caldwell as bing awarded the Croix-de-Guerre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alonzo Posted November 15, 2010 Author Share #9 Posted November 15, 2010 Alonzo, The unit history for the 2nd Engineers lists a Private James E Caldwell as being KIA. Later it lists a Bulger Verne V. Caldwell as bing awarded the Croix-de-Guerre. I am leaning towards Verne as the lettering lends itself more to the "V" rather then a "J" or "E". The group has been posted on the 2nd Engineer website as well. Thanks for your input!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2ndEngineers Posted October 13, 2011 Share #10 Posted October 13, 2011 Just picked this up.Very nice group. 2nd Division, 2nd Engineers, 1st battalion. There is a faint name on the back of the gas mask carrier...appears to be Caldwell, with a 6 digit number. Interesting in that the gas mask carrier is painted on the back not on the front, plus there are two fellows listed by the name of Caldwell on the 2nd Engineers website. I think one is listed as being killed, yet both are listed as from the first battalion The Group Helmet and Gas Mask Carrier Back of Gas Mask Carrier Helmet Detail Patch detail From "The Official History of The 2nd Engineers" CROIX DE GUERRE (With Silver Star) ORDER OF THE DIVISION Bugler VERNE V. CALDWELL, No. 156678, Company "C," 2nd Engineers: On October 8th and 9th, 1918, while acting as runner, he carried messages continually through a heavy barrage of artillery, between the Company P. C. and Battalion P. C. and between units on the right and left of the company. (Order No. 13,372 "D"—Division—). CROIX DE GUERRE (With Bronze Star) ORDER OF THE BRIGADE Bugler VERNE V. CALDWELL, Company "C," 2nd Engineers: On July 19, 1918, near VIERZY, he showed great bravery and devotion to duty in carrying wounded under heavy shellfire. (Order No. 15,253 "D"—Brigade—). Very nice grouping! Regards, Mitch Ryder 2nd Engineers web site Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted October 13, 2011 Share #11 Posted October 13, 2011 Great to see these old threads come up again. That is one awesome shoulder patch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavdoc83 Posted October 14, 2011 Share #12 Posted October 14, 2011 I am leaning towards Verne as the lettering lends itself more to the "V" rather then a "J" or "E".The group has been posted on the 2nd Engineer website as well. Thanks for your input!!! Verne is probably the best bet since all of the insignia was added post war or perhaps very late. (He would have had to have been alive to wear it!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agate hunter Posted November 28, 2013 Share #13 Posted November 28, 2013 Outstanding grouping. My great great grandmother's brother, Henry Pearsall, was in Company C of the 2nd Engineers. He was gassed near Belleau Wood I believe and died from illness as a result of being gassed in 1936. I have a photo and post cards, would love to have something like a uniform. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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