I have been looking through the morning reports. Interestingly enough, it looks like Gerhart was a member of the 603rd Camouflage Engineer Battalion before transferring to the 1118th Engineer Combat Group.    It seems he made it to Guam with the 1118th, but was evacuated on October 26, 1944 and sent to the 76th Station Hospital. He was sent to the 54th General Hospital and eventually made his was to the 27th Replacement Company on December 27, 1944.   It seems that the US Archives has not officially uploaded the morning reports for 1945 so the trail has run a bit cold for now. It'll be interesting to see where he ended up once he made his way back from the hospital.     I assume that the 1943 date on the bag means that this was issued to him after his hospital stay.  

Common re-strike most likely  from "he who cannot be named" ( in my opinion)

It's probably this contract:   International Shoe Co, Kirksville, MO N-1 Field Shoes NXSX 83646 Start date November 1944 End Date March 1945

Try the sister forum. https://www.worldmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php

Very cool!  Can you get a clearer shot of the wing markings?

A red flag is displayed on merchant vessels and warships during the transfer of dangerous cargo, fuel/ammo.     W

That's RDF. ERDL has a lighter color. And generally Vietnam era uniforms have slanted pockets rather than vertical.   Wade

You have a pre-war Government Model in good shape.  At least one of the magazines is military and the holster looks like a private purchase of European origin.  The checkering on the trigger is not original.  If your father carried that gun in WWII it was not US issue but one he purchased with his own money.  If the barrel is original to the gun the pistol is worth $3,000+. 

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Tianna Wilson, with the Georgia National Guard, and Staff Sgt. Brianna Rodriguez-Munns, with the Arkansas National Guard, and another public affairs noncommissioned officer assigned to Joint Task Force-District of Columbia (JTF-DC) in support of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, provided immediate medical aid to a minor involved in a vehicle-versus-scooter accident in Washington, March 31, 2026. *About 2,500 National Guard members are supporting the mission, providing critical assistance to the Metropolitan Police Department to help ensure the safety of residents, commuters, and visitors throughout the District. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Katlynn Pickle)   Note: SSG Wilson wears the Georgia National Guard Joint Force Headquarters–Army Element Shoulder Sleeve Insignia. Not sure when this echelon was considered in "combat". 

Oh the joy of that mandatory class………..