I found the C catch system and its history interesting and studied it many decades ago. The design was actually part of a patent that included the brass belt end keepers and the sheet brass adjuster or keeper slides on each side of the catch. The US Army adopted the new Mills belt with c-catch system in 1895 at the time they began receiving the new Krag rifles & carbines. The former arsenal cast H-plate system used with 45/70 belts (and the open buckle for the mounted service 45/70  belts) was then discarded.   When the Spanish American war arrived contractors for cartridge belts to supply the 200,000+ troops  adopted the same fastening system. which If I recall right was licensed through Mills-Orndorff. The one exception being the Spalding outfit which made the cheapest belt of all with its distinct plain belt ends and heavy round wire catch and adjusters.      The biggest issue or problem with the C-catch system, as far as history is concerned, came about much later via the military surplus and modern era collecting period. A lot of surplus C-Catch belts got married to a variety of belt plates in order to sexy their appearance up. The authentic but boring c-catches were converted to more exciting belt plates with their neat designs and/or US on it. Then, to really muck up history a number of reference books were put together. And the misinformation flows to this day. Poor c-catch system. Plain and boring as it is, its still an interesting step in belt fastening history before the newer systems came into being scarcely a decade later.  One of these days I hope to make a basic guide for their use. 

TBH is in my collection together with the complete uniform of him. BTW I love the set on this post GREAT find! Is there any date?

Found the Post after all these years, forgot who posted it   My error, it was in fact an 82nd Abn Div Subdued Kalka with the Black background variant, it is a shirt worn between 1968-1974 as it was worn by a member of the 40th Armored Brigade (Sep) of the California National Guard, this unit is activated January 1968, inactivated January 1974,   Striking patch no!

Here is some background info on Troop H 2nd CAV in the early 1900s: https://history.2dcavalryassociation.com/2008/06/26/cuba-pacification/

This Kenneth D Goodrich (Pvt) served as a machinist in an ordnance unit during WWI: Sources: FOLD3/ancestrydotcom   Though he did register for the draft during WWII, it does not appear he served.

I posted it preliminarily, but now I got it in my hands. USN / USS Caddo Parish LST-515. No manufacturer (originally blank bottom). Apparently the Vietnam War (designated as Caddo Parish in 1955, decommissioned in 1969). Engraving on the obverse side (USS Caddo Parish) looks fine and I believe it's authentic. The bottom was faked: "Zippo" and the rest are engraved relatively well (although worse than the masterful engraving on the obverse side), but this is engraving, not stamping. Finally, the reverse side bears a typical ugly fake engraving "Viet Nam" etc. In sum, three engravers of varying skill level contributed to this lighter.

Resurrecting this thread as I recently obtained another item from one of the Koss brothers. My friend Frank who, connected me with John's son who had all this stuff, found an A-2 jacket and donated it to me. He wasn't sure who it belonged to but it was pretty clear it was Joe's. The jacket is rather beat but it was his so it has an honored place in the collection. There was a name of a Lt. whom I researched and found was shot down on his first mission with the 464th, also another laundry number, so possibly Joe was the third owner of the jacket. It had been hung on a hanger, (ugh!!) and the patches (squadrons, flag and shoulders) are missing but I'm happy to have it. See the pics below.  Always nice to add to a group I have had since 2009!!  Enjoy,  Mark

Yes, H&H not Meyer, my bad. At any rate, for some reason, I was under the impression that applied continents were a post WW1 feature?

I might add: Command Decision (1948) Eagle Squadron (1942) Gettysburg (1993) Flying Tigers (1942)  (Just had to add a John Wayne movie)

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