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There is no formal restriction for MOH recipients returning to combat. 2nd Lt. Joseph Marm, who received the MOH in Viet Nam for his actions at the battle of Ia Drang in 1965, returned to Viet Nam as a company commander and saw extensive combat on his second tour. Current regulations allow for only a single MOH per recipient. He was my Battalion Commander when I attended basic training at Fort Benning in 1985. He was later the assistant Brigade Commander of the 157th Infantry Brigade of which I was also a member back in the early 90's. He is a true hero in every sense of the word.

Meaning if by the very outside chance someone is awarded a second MoH, an Oak leaf Cluster (in the Army) is worn to represent the second award. The bit about the issue of only one decoration is common to all of them-- you've already got one from the first award.

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Kurt Barickman
Thought I would add some of my favorite ww2 uniforms/groupings.

A named PT Boat group and Sub grouping.

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This is my only Petty officer uniform with the rate of avaition pilot. I think these are rare to find.

The uniform is not name, but the name is known. The dealer bought it from the family and also have his plaque and flight helmet from the 60's. He was in photo reconn. He was commission in Jan 1945.

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Jason

 

 

The PT Boat group looks familiar ;) What is the story on the sub group? Thanks for posting,

 

Kurt

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I'm surprised I never added my favorites to this thread!

 

Here's my first...the uniform group to Rear Admiral Copeland, who earned the Navy Cross during the Battle of Leyte Gulf as Commanding Officer of the USS SAMUEL B ROBERTS. He is now the subject of an upcoming movie, entitled Small Boys: http://www.smallboysthemovie.com/

 

A bio I wrote about him:

 

Rear Admiral Robert Witcher Copeland was born in 1910 in Tacoma, Washington. He was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Washington on 18 May 1935, at the same time receiving two bachelor degrees, one in Business Administration, the other in Law.

 

Serving as a reservist, he maintained his “normal” civilian life, being admitted to the Washington State Bar, and practicing law in Tacoma until being called onto active duty in 1940.

 

Over the next four years, he advanced rapidly, first serving as the Commanding Officer of the USS PAWTUCKET (YT-7), followed by the USS BLACK DOUGLASS (PYC-45) and the USS WYMAN (DE-38). In April 1944, he assumed command of a brand new destroyer, the USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (DE-413). On 08 July 1944, they completed their shake down cruise, and started their trek to the Pacific.

 

Having only been on active duty for four years, Commander Copeland was still learning his trade when he took command of the ROBERTS, his first operational warship. His personality was earmarked by his fairness and easy-going demeanor, coupled with his desire to be the best ship possible, not for his “ego”, but in order to instill pride in his men. He placed his men first, and taught these same values to his offices and chiefs. He made certain that each of his men had every opportunity to further themselves onboard ROBERTS, even if it meant leaving men behind for schooling as the ship went to war.

 

He was also determined to have the best crew possible. Shortly after their shake down cruise, he noticed that a small portion of his men were not “pulling their own weight”. During a port visit in Boston, he worked with his command chief, and earmarked each of the substandard performers for “medical evaluation”. In his report to the Bureau of Personnel, he noted that a considerable amount of his crewmembers required medical evaluation, and requested replacements for each of these men. Much to his surprise, his request was filled! In doing this, he made certain that his crew could be the best it could be, which he knew was the key to high morale on a fighting ship.

 

During his transit to the Pacific, he drilled his men frequently. He knew, however, the delicate balance between overworking his men and raising proficiency, and strived towards the latter goal. By the time the ROBERTS entered the war zone, very few ships could compare to her in the quality, training and morale of her men.

 

After serving as a convoy escort from Pearl Harbor to Eniwetok, they, along with three destroyers (DD) and three other Destroyer Escorts (DE) received orders in October 1944 to escort six escort carriers under the command of Rear Admiral Clifton Sprague to assist with the invasion of Leyte.

 

During the night of 24 October 1944, the main Japanese battle force was routed by a superior US battle group on the opposite side of the Philippines from the position of the ROBERTS, who was about fifty miles from the coast of Leyte, and about thirty miles from the coast of Samar.

 

The Japanese fleet was set into confusion, and most Commanders thought that the battle had come to an end. They were mistaken. The Japanese fleet had been routed, but had turned and was heading directly to the escort carrier task force.

 

By 0655 on the rainy morning of 25 October 1944, the two forces had spotted each other. Drawing close, the Japanese let go their first salvo of seventeen-inch rounds, which landed directly between the ROBERTS, the destroyer JOHNSTON, and the escort carrier FANSHAW BAY.

 

Taking the fight to the Japanese, at 0800 the ROBERTS dashed in to 4000 yards, and let loose three torpedoes at the nearest cruiser. Two missed, but the third hit her stern. This daring act brought the vengeance of the Japanese ships on them.

 

Both the wounded Japanese cruiser and her companion opened fire on the ROBERTS, raising fountains of water around the little ship. The ROBERTS barked back with continual salvos of her five-inch guns, causing more harassment than damage to the giant Japanese ships.

 

At 0850, Commander Copeland noticed waterspouts from the seventeen inch guns following his stern. Within a minute, the first death blow, caused by a giant Japanese round, fell on the ROBERTS. Commander Copeland continued to pound back at the Japanese ships in defiance, his two five-inch guns blazing with every conceivable type of round onboard, from armor piercing and high explosive and eventually to practice and flare rounds. The ranges shifted between 7500 and 6000 yards, as Commander Copeland supervised an intensive zigzag pattern to avoid the Japanese bombardment.

 

For fifty minutes, the fusillade continued, with the ROBERTS entering so close to the Japanese cruiser that the Japanese guns could not depress their guns to a sufficient elevation to fire at the destroyer. One round struck the forward gun, leaving only their aft mount usable. This mount, crewed by Gunners Mate Paul Henry Carr, who would receive a posthumous Navy Cross for his actions this day expended in excess of three hundred rounds at the Japanese cruisers in less than one hour.

 

Despite the erratic movements of the destroyer to avoid the fall of enemy shot, they were able to destroy one gun mount, the bridge, and started fires fore and aft on one of their antagonists, a Japanese heavy cruiser.

 

At this point, the luck of the ROBERTS ran out. Round after round from the Japanese cruiser pounded into the little ship. The destroyer’s aft gun mount, without power, hydraulics and power continued to load and fire on the cruiser. After firing six rounds in this precarious position, the gun exploded, killing all of the gun crew with the exception of Gunners Mate Carr, who was found by the rescue party, disemboweled, but still attempting to load the last fifty-four pound projectile into the wreckage of his beloved gun.

 

No longer able to fire on the enemy, and with propulsion no longer operable from the enemy hits, Commander Copeland, not willing to retreat, braced himself and his crew for the inevitable. Within minutes, rounds from the Japanese cruisers began to gut the brave ship. By 0907, a mere two hours after the start of the battle, some twenty seventeen-inch Japanese rounds had penetrated the ROBERTS. Commander Copland surveyed the wreckage of his proud little ship, and at 0935, gave the order to “Abandon Ship”.

 

All of those men who could make it over the side did. Out of the crew of 139, only fifty men, including Commander Copeland, made it to the water, many badly wounded and burned. Of those men, seven subsequently died. The valiant SAMUEL B. ROBERTS, whose heroism saved the day, slipped under the waves at 1005.

 

Rounding up the survivors, their next ordeal began- the task of living until they were rescued. For the next fifty hours, the survivors clung to their rafts, fighting physical and mental exhaustion, until they were rescued off the coast of Samar. During all this time, Commander Copeland rallied his troops, even to the detriment of his physical strength, always looking out for his men and ensuring that they received everything they needed before serving his own needs.

 

Returning to the States for medical care, Commander Copeland recovered sufficiently to report into the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, on 01 January 1945.

 

While here, he was awarded the Navy Cross, for his actions on 25 October 1944. The citation reads as follows:

“For distinguishing himself by extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of a warship, the USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS, (DE-413), in a surface action with a large task force of the Japanese Fleet, off Samar, in Philippine waters, October 25, 1944. Against an enemy force vastly superior in numbers, armament and armor, with cool deliberation he closed to deliver a torpedo attack on heavy ships of the rapidly advancing enemy who has taken him under fire from their large caliber guns. By his heroic action, he thus directed enemy fire to himself from the almost defenseless vessels which he was protecting. Although his ship was lost in this engagement, his heroic actions were instrumental in turning back, sorely crippled, a vastly superior enemy force. His extraordinary courage and magnificent fighting spirit in the face of terrific odds will live forever in the memory of the officers and men who served with him that day. His conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States”

 

After the completion of his tour at the Naval War College, he was assigned duty at the Headquarters, Fifth Naval District, Norfolk, Virginia. On 25 January 1946, he was released from active duty. Returning to Tacoma, he returned to his law practice. Remaining active in the Naval Reserve, he attained the rank of Rear Admiral before his death on 25 August 1973.

 

Admiral Copeland is still remembered by the surviving crew of the ROBERTS as one of the finest men they ever served with. He treated everyone with dignity and respect, valuing each sailor and officer as a person; someone he worked with, not above.

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Next up...the uniform to Father Jake Laboon.

 

Here's a bio I wrote on him:

 

In the words of Cardinal John O'Conner, Father Jake was "a man who treated a seaman as respectfully as he treated an admiral." He constantly worked to improve living conditions, and address the needs of officers, enlisted personnel, and their families. "Everyone was sacred in his eyes - a person of priceless worth." Born in Pittsburgh on 11 April 1921, Father Jake attended Carnegie Technical Institute for one year after high school. In 1949, he entered the Naval Academy, where he excelled in both athletics and academics. In 1942, he was a member of the All-East Football Team, and in 1943, "jumped ship" to Lacrosse, where he was selected for the Intercollegiate National Championship Navy Lacrosse Team, defenseman on the All-American Lacrosse Squad, and participated in the North-South All-Star game. He also served as President of the Newman Club, a Catholic support group.

 

After accelerated graduation in 1943, he trained as a submarine officer in New London, Connecticut, and upon completion, was assigned to USS PETO (SS 267). During his tour, Father Laboon served as Communications Officer, Gunnery and Torpedo Officer, and Executive Officer. Surviving numerous war patrols in the Western Pacific, Lieutenant Junior Grade Laboon was awarded the Silver Star for his heroic actions on Peto's tenth war patrol. The actions for which Father Jake was awarded the Silver Star, are indeed extraordinary. Following pick-up of a downed American pilot near the Island on Honshu, the crew was searching for his "wingman". The second aviator was soon spotted, but the water was shallow and most certainly mined, preventing the PETO from maneuvering closer. To make matters worse, they were under intense enemy fire from a Japanese shore battery. The Commander called for a volunteer, and without hesitation, LTJG Laboon dove off the submarine. Swimming throughout the mined waters, he rescued the pilot. This unselfish act underscored Father Jake's character, and set the tone for how he lived his life.....an inspiration, a true hero.

 

Lieutenant Laboon resigned from naval service shortly after the end of World War II, and entered the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) on 31 October 1946. On 17 July 1956, Father Jake was ordained a Jesuit Priest at Woodstock, Maryland. Father Jake then applied for a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve Chaplain Corps in February 1957, and in December 1958 was recalled to active duty. Over the course of the next 22 years, Father Jake served in various duty stations around the world, including Alaska, Hawaii, Japan, and Vietnam.

 

While in Vietnam, he was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" for his fearless actions as battlefield Chaplain with the 3rd Marine Division in April 1969. Other notable milestones in a truly distinguished career, include the honor of nomination for promotion to the rank of Admiral and services as Chief of Chaplains. The Polaris Submarine Program was also blessed with having Father Jake as its first chaplain. The U.S. Naval Academy was likewise honored with his services a Senior Catholic Chaplain. On 31 October 1980, Captain Laboon retired as Fleet Chaplain, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

 

After retirement from the Navy, Father Laboon returned to Annapolis to oversee the construction of the Jesuit-retreat facility, Manresa-on-Severn, which was within view of the U.S. Naval Academy he so loved. His final assignment was pastor of St. Alphonsus Rodriquez Church in Woodstock, Maryland. He served faithfully until his death on 1 August 1988, exactly 28 years after his beloved PETO was struck from the Navy list of commissioned ships.

 

The USS LABOON (DDG 58), was named in his honor. I was proud to serve on LABOON from 2001 to 2003.

LaboonUniform.jpg

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The PT Boat group looks familiar ;) What is the story on the sub group? Thanks for posting,

 

Kurt

 

Kurt,

Here's the link to that sub group. I did post this last year under groupings. It is the most complete ww2 sub group that I have.

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...114629&st=0

 

Also this 1920's sub group that I have. It probably is consider rare or scarce. I post this one a while ago.

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...mp;hl=sub+group

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Jason

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This is my favorite. The uniform is dated 1935. The SSI is wool, in like-new condition, and the DUI ribbon was in the pocket along with a named, 1937 receipt from the base tailor for the patch job The guy allegedly died on Bataan but I don't have any real substantiation.

 

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carbinephalen
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WOW! Your Gramps was a SSM recipient?! What a guy! I didn't know that . Do you know what his actions were to be awarded the medal?

 

Very very cool piece of military history you have there Ben. Treasure that one always!

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Dave,

 

The Copeland was the first ship I set foot aboard after I graduated bootcamp. A good friend of mine was an OS aboard her...I was fascinated with the history of that ship and the artifacts they had on display on the mess decks (back in the early 80s). I am from Copeland's hometown and would love to see this uniform make its way back here at some point (once you tire of having to look at it, growing bored with all that history :lol: ).

 

You need to keep me in mind should that day ever arise...I have a classic car (I've owned for 26 years) that people are always asking to buy and I can easily liquidate to bring this uniform home. :thumbsup:

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Dave,

 

The Copeland was the first ship I set foot aboard after I graduated bootcamp. A good friend of mine was an OS aboard her...I was fascinated with the history of that ship and the artifacts they had on display on the mess decks (back in the early 80s). I am from Copeland's hometown and would love to see this uniform make its way back here at some point (once you tire of having to look at it, growing bored with all that history :lol: ).

 

You need to keep me in mind should that day ever arise...I have a classic car (I've owned for 26 years) that people are always asking to buy and I can easily liquidate to bring this uniform home. :thumbsup:

 

 

I'm flattered, but it would probably go back to the family if it went anywhere. I've become friends with his grandson since buying the group (he actually saw it on my website!) and I've had a chance to see the other items of Copeland's that I don't have (like his medals, his wallet he left behind before getting underway and untouched since 1944 and so on...) But, this is one of my "keepers"...same with Laboon's uniform and Gary's medals (topic for another thread). I like ship namesake uniforms...especially when I served on their ship! :thumbsup:

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I'm flattered, but it would probably go back to the family if it went anywhere. I've become friends with his grandson since buying the group (he actually saw it on my website!) and I've had a chance to see the other items of Copeland's that I don't have (like his medals, his wallet he left behind before getting underway and untouched since 1944 and so on...) But, this is one of my "keepers"...same with Laboon's uniform and Gary's medals (topic for another thread). I like ship namesake uniforms...especially when I served on their ship! :thumbsup:

 

 

I completely understand returning them to the family and would never want to stand in the way of that.

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Spathologist
Another that I am rather fond of is a uniform group that was worn by Sgt W.W.Connor who served with the Massachusetts NG during the Spanish American War. His group was complete with hat, tunic, pants, shoes, leggins, canteen, haver sack, ammo belt with Mass buckle and his diary. He served in several battles and contracted malaria which resulted in his being shipped home towards the end of the war.

 

Looks like some nice early sabers on the wall there...

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Here is one of my favorites. "Skoshi Tiger" OG 107 shirt from the Vietnam war. There were only 15 aircraft assigned to this unit and they were not around very long before all the planes were turned over to the South Vietnamese Airforce. Believe they were F105 jets.dlg4xv.jpg

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ludwigh1980

Tunic & hat of Lt. Ralph O'Neill WW1 U.S. Ace with insignia of Mexican General of the Air Force, as well as his WW1 U.S. wings. The tunic was the one he wore in France and bears a 1918 dated Paris Tailors label with his name is on it. Photographs of O'Neill in France, as provided by a very helpful forum member, confirmed he wore this tunic and these wings. Evidence of his U.S. collar insignia as well as his cuff rank are there. Even the faint shadow of overseas chevrons on the left cuff. In ww1, he had 5 confirmed downed enemy aircraft and recieved the Distinguished Service Cross with two oak leave clusters for his actions. From 1920 to 1925 he was hired by Mexico to modernize their Airforce. He flew several sorties during Adolfo de la Huerta's rebellion and only left because the current head of state began to eye him suspesiously as a threat to his power. Unfortunately it is missing two gilt brass 1920's Mexican Airforce buttons. I think I would run the wheels of my Trabant find another two.

The cap is of the British Royal Air Corp pattern with R.F.C. buttons. I found a photo on ancestry of O'neill wearing the cap with the R.F.C. buttons in late 1918, early 1919. He would wear this cap as his flying cap during his adventures in Mexico and there are several photo's online of him in Mexico wearing it. The belt is just provided for display.

One of my favorite pieces and I have next to nothing in it. Thanks for looking!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Ambrose_O'Neill

http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/oneill.php

 

Terry in Colorado

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Ralph O'Neill

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ludwigh1980

Here is another one I just got off of ebay. This model has been eluding me for a while. This is 1903-04 dated U.S.M.C. Blues coat and trousers (both dated the same with full quatermaster marking) I have only seen one or two of these come across ebay. Sargeants Stripes are sewn into seam. Sadly I can't make out the name. This differs from the 1912 pattern in that it has a softer collar and no red piping on the top of collar. This was the winter uniform of the Marines until the Green wool 1912 Coat. I think this style was worn during the boxer rebellion in China.

 

Terry in Colorado

 

1903 Marine Coat

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teufelhunde.ret
Tough choices but here are likely my two favorites since they are from the same 3rd Bn 9th Marines....fisrt one to a Pearl Harbor survivor as CO of Marine Detachment on USS Nevada that morning and went on to command 3 Bn. 9th Marines, 3rd Division at Bougainville where he was awarded his Bronze Star and then Guam where he earned his Silver Star and Purple Heart for serious wounds which left him out of the remainder of the war.

The second uniform is to a Para Marine as enlisted man, commisioned and later became the XO to the above Colonel with 3/9 who was later wounded himself at Guam but returned in time for Iwo Jima. This second one is also special since he went to high school here in town where I live.

Both are superb! :twothumbup:

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Next up...the uniform to Father Jake Laboon.

 

The USS LABOON (DDG 58), was named in his honor. I was proud to serve on LABOON from 2001 to 2003.

 

 

 

I served on Laboon, I was part of the failed sea swap program.. onboard 2005 2007

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I served on Laboon, I was part of the failed sea swap program.. onboard 2005 2007

 

 

Man, I'm sorry to hear about that...it was truly a mess and the GONZALEZ never was the same afterwards... :pinch:

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In referenence to quote from Allen below--Vernon Nicholson, from out hometown who served as a medic in E/F 506th and who did not arrive in the ETO until spr 45. He attended jump school in Jan. There are three white tongues, one of which with dark green threads and must haver been on his M43.

 

Jake makes a great point here and one that I would have to echo. I don't think I have ever encountered a white tongue 101st patch in the hands of a 506th veteran.

If you want to find white tongue 101st patches among vets, you'll invariably find them among 327th GIR and 502nd PIR troopers. I have often asserted that the white tongue patches were the earliest of the 101st patches issued out. The original 101st patch had the OD border and no airborne tab- from the time prior to the 101st being an airborne division. The next patches to come out were other white tongues. When researching the history of the patch at the Institute of Heraldry, it looked to me like the original drawing for the 101st patch was made without reference to a red tongue. As the patch manufacturers folled the drawings, the corresponding patches also exhibited the white tongue. At some point, somebody managing hearldry must have decided that the tongue should be red. So, As Mark Bando has done a fantastic job of classifying these patches based on respective rarity (Type 1 is the most common and type 9 being the least common) and then putting numbers to later types of patches and more recent finds until he is up hovering near 20, the system does not lend itself to identifying the types of eagle patches from a timeline of when they would have been first encountered. That OD bordered 101st is classified by Bando as a type 9, but would be the oldest. Follow that up by the type 6 and type 5 eagles.

As the 506th and 501st were later additions to the division, withthe 501st being "attached" rather than assigned for the majority of the war, you can see that the earlier patches would have been issued well before the later examples came out.

My two cents,

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  • 3 weeks later...

My favorite of my WW1 USA Uniforms. Totally complete from Dog Tags to Boots. All his field gear right down to his whistle. Direct from the grand son.

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  • 1 month later...

This is one of my favorites just because it is unassuming and not very flashy. This was a gift given to me by a dear friend who is an antiquer. Everything you see came as one group. The kicker of it...not a single name anywhere. However, it is a legit 5th Marine Regiment Corpsman who was awarded the Purple Heart and tackled three campaigns. It just has that "silent warrior" look about it.

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  • 2 weeks later...

This is by far my favorite uniform in my collection. It is the uniform of 1st Lt. George Studor who was with Anti Tank Company of the 329th Infantry Regiment, 83rd Division and Anti Tank Company of the 393rd Infantry Regiment, 99th Division. It was given to me by his son George Studor at the 65th Reunion of the 83rd Infantry and has pretty much everything except for boots.

 

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1st Lt. George Studor in June 45

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This would have to be mine at the moment. A recently acquired ID'd WW2 USMC Raider uniform. He served in Company "E" Third Raider Battalion later transferring to the 2nd MarDiv.

 

Philip

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