Well done maniquin, what was more common? The .38 Victory, or the 1911A1 or was it split early war and late war? Love the display!

Thanks a lot! I always like all kinds of small details. For me, it is the most important aspect in the Naval Aviation WW2 display. All tiny details make a difference!  Ha ha ha ;) The rest guys are for sure in a better position, especially near the summer...  I added another one, "items" for him:     Cheers, Jerry

Today his son pointed out that he's wearing his Purple Heart ribbon in the pic. He was badly wounded in the St Lô breakthrough, July 1944, and sent back to the US, so it's definitely after that. 

Great collection - thanks for sharing!  Something bigger, a bit, but still in the subject area ;)

I wore the ACH in Iraq 2005-2006.  Turned it in, always wanted one for the bookshelf.  Joined in 1985 and my first helmet was an M1 steel helmet.  I’ll look up the IHPS.

Getting Gassed may have been something, which though happened did not raise to the level (at the time of getting gassed) to receiving medical treatment. Unless someone was incapacitated during the event and received treatment, often, there was no official record of getting gassed. As such, years later when the effects of being gassed (however minor at the time) took their toll on the individual's respiratory system, there would have been nothing mentioned in their records, but the veteran themselves would likely know the cause. Kinda like early Traumatic Brain Injuries during the WoT, where there was no physical (in appearance) injury and the individuals were initially viewed as uninjured. Only later, much later in some cases, did it become obvious to the medical treatment personnel that there were large numbers of undiagnosed brain injuries due to exposure to IEDs.    Best,   V/r Lance 

This is a note of thanks for the detailed posting I found regarding my latest military knife found at an antique sale.  This was the only information I could find on my knife, feel lucky to add such a historical piece to my collection.

Thank you for your response. I will have to ask family members if he lived in Pa. Before NY. I’m wondering why nothing was mentioned about him being gassed in France.

Greetings,     Any chance he lived in Philadelphia before the war and then, moved to NY? Note location of birth. If this was him he was a Waggoneer in C Company, 4th Ammunition Train, 4th Division, A.E.F.    Best,   V/r Lance

Sounds VERY plausible.  I took the liberty of checking the Iowa National Guard Pictorial from 1938, on the remote possibility that he may have done a stint prior to WW2, (Iowa City did have a Troop in the 24th Cav Div.) but he wasn't listed.  Often during WW1, you see several obsolete rifles, peculiar uniforms and incorrect insignia, as a result of "studio props". Doughboys would head off to have some photos taken, use the items and then 108 year later, historians are trying to figure out why Great-Grandpa is wearing a British medal when he was stationed in Delaware. I don't think that applies here, as the one ribbon DOES look like an ETO and has the correct number of battle stars for the 4th Cav. Rgt.