I nice read….just was in Bitche, France on Saturday..ate a super lunch drove by Maginot Line emplacements.

Very nice to hear. It seemed the veteran's information was correct wrt the award, it was the engraving that threw me. I suspect it is one of those things where a gut-check is in order. Without something from the family it simply becomes a matter of "I like it, don't mind the price and am happy to add it to the collection." As with a lot of what we collect, the story without the validation is what exists to a certain level in our collections.    For some of the things I enjoy adding to my collection, it is not the item itself, but the actual history of the original owner, alleged or not, that is fascinating.  Thanks for providing the citation above.

Signal Corps, Fort Shafter Signal Center, 1924      

That brought back some fun but now painful memories, whilst young and dumb I put three boxes of those through a the barrel at some figure 11s. Really wish I hadn't now and kept them... We live and learn 🤣

. Hey earlymb, at a flea market last week I thought of you it was almost hammered into my brain, I wonder why . . . . . . . .      Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, 19 April  2O26.   ..

> This one is from BBC actually, a remarkable PBS series titled "Foyle's War" (9 seasons). American troops made frequent appearances in a wide variety of roles throughout - most of them, from what little I could discern by scarce views of their SSI, were Big Red One. DCS Foyle (on the left) is engaged with one of our officers, behind both of whom follows a particularly rancorous NCO in 1945 England. I cannot read the officer's ribbons and insignia nor ascertain very much otherwise (Pinks and Greens?) as to their US military attire.

. From my Shoebox Collection.   A part carton of 1940 solid slug shotgun rounds, nicely broad-arrow marked.     Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, 19 April  2O26.   ..

The extreme prices are not surprising.  There is a fake being sold on eBay for $999.99. Many fakes are being sold between $300 -$600. Those exorbitant costs seem to be transfered to genuine lighters.

. A Jeep grille logo upgrade from a dear friend, Hassen, a London based designer    Hassen took my hand drawn logo and created this fabulous image for me, UK friends are already sending me messages of how great they thought it was, in fact several have suggested I fabricate one for my wall.    If you want a personalised image of your own cherished vehicle you can contact Hassen at the details below          Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, 19 April  2O26.   ..

Got a few new pieces in the collection lately, and this is a proper “holy grail” item: the 1872 valise pack. Issued with the 1872 brace and haversack, this valise was designed to carry extra ammunition in the small front pocket and extra clothes in the main compartment. This example is in overall great shape, though most of the leather closure straps are long gone. This example is a rubberized/painted version, and oddly the binding around the flap appears to be painted/rubberized webbing, and not leather like you see on the first iteration of the 1874 items. This is an item I never expected to have in my collection, but could not be happier that it made its way to me.