KASTAUFFER Posted June 18, 2010 Share #1 Posted June 18, 2010 I recently picked this group up at a Militaria show in Tacoma a couple of months ago and did some interesting research. This is a grouping to a Chinese American who served as a Sgt, with the 58th Armored Field Artillery Bn. who was wounded and received a Silver Star for actions during the Battle of the Bulge. The 58th was also part of the initial landings at Normandy on D-Day attached to the 29th Division. I do not know if he was there, but he probably was. He was captured on December 20th, 1944 and spent the rest of the war in Stalag IIA. Sgt. Lum received an officially engraved Purple Heart (1st name mis-spelled) and an un-named Silver Star during WWII. He received a replacement set of named medals with new certificates in the 1980’s. He passed away in 1990. This is the first opportunity I have had to purchase a grouping to a Chinese-American who was a POW of the Germans during WWII. I am sure there is much more to tell about his story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted June 18, 2010 Author Share #2 Posted June 18, 2010 His offiicially machine engraved Purple Heart with the PQMD card. Mis-spelled, but that is how he got it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted June 18, 2010 Author Share #3 Posted June 18, 2010 His replacement medals that came with the 1989 dated certificates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dskjl Posted June 18, 2010 Share #4 Posted June 18, 2010 That is very cool indeed, the misspelling kind of adds something to it I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWalsh Posted June 18, 2010 Share #5 Posted June 18, 2010 Nice Kurt! That Silver Star citation is interesting... never seen one before on that type certificate. MW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted June 18, 2010 Author Share #6 Posted June 18, 2010 Nice Kurt! That Silver Star citation is interesting... never seen one before on that type certificate. MW Thanks Mike! I have seen them in the modern presentation folders with this citation document on one side and the medal certificate on the other. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJohn#3RD Posted June 18, 2010 Share #7 Posted June 18, 2010 Awesome and interesting grouping thanks for sharing. Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KurtA Posted June 19, 2010 Share #8 Posted June 19, 2010 Great grouping. No doubt this previously had been a "specific want list item" (i.e., Silver Star/misspelled PH group to a Chinese-American held captive by the Germans) in your otherwise complete POW collection. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted June 19, 2010 Share #9 Posted June 19, 2010 Great grouping. No doubt this previously had been a "specific want list item" (i.e., Silver Star/misspelled PH group to a Chinese-American held captive by the Germans) in your otherwise complete POW collection.Kurt A very unusual group Kurt. Congratulations!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted June 19, 2010 Author Share #10 Posted June 19, 2010 Great grouping. No doubt this previously had been a "specific want list item" (i.e., Silver Star/misspelled PH group to a Chinese-American held captive by the Germans) in your otherwise complete POW collection.Kurt When I bought it I didnt even realize he was Chinese! I still need one to a Japanese-American held by the Japanese, but those are far and few between. The only one I know is a fellow named Frank " Foo " Fujita who was a POW in Japan. Maybe his PH is mis-spelled too Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted May 15, 2011 Author Share #11 Posted May 15, 2011 Finally found 100% confirmation he was Chinese-American. I found him on the 1920 census from Oregon and it lists his mother and father as being born in China! Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww1collector Posted May 15, 2011 Share #12 Posted May 15, 2011 Great group Kurt! As KurtA said, it is very unusual, but I doubt that will fill all the holes in your collection! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted September 29, 2013 Author Share #13 Posted September 29, 2013 Looks like he was held at Stalag 10C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted September 29, 2013 Share #14 Posted September 29, 2013 Very interesting set! Missed this one the first time around. Thanks for sharing it! JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted September 29, 2013 Share #15 Posted September 29, 2013 Beautiful grouping to a brave soldier.Any idea if he ever received his POW medal and where it is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted November 23, 2014 Author Share #16 Posted November 23, 2014 I don't know if he ever applied for one. There wasn't one with the group when I bought it 10 years ago. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrei Posted November 24, 2014 Share #17 Posted November 24, 2014 When I bought it I didnt even realize he was Chinese! I still need one to a Japanese-American held by the Japanese, but those are far and few between. The only one I know is a fellow named Frank " Foo " Fujita who was a POW in Japan. Maybe his PH is mis-spelled too Kurt Japanese-American POW in Japan... Frank Fujita must have had some hard times while in captivity! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David D Posted November 11, 2016 Share #18 Posted November 11, 2016 Very nice group with an interesting history Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted April 6, 2019 Author Share #19 Posted April 6, 2019 His Citation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharfmaster Posted April 6, 2019 Share #20 Posted April 6, 2019 Nice group indeed ! Should have been awarded a DSC. Good example that engraving mistakes happened and nobody caught it. W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted December 13, 2020 Author Share #21 Posted December 13, 2020 Back up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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