Note: the DM .50 had been jacked with, projectile pulled, cat litter filled, reseated and the primer messed with, but yo7 can still see the staking.

Hi gents   Wanted to introduce myself and come out as a patch collector 😄 Have long felt the attraction of collecting US WWII SSI but managed to resist until last month's visit to Normandy when I finally succumbed. Next to medals and paper I now officially also collect patches. Hope you don't mind showing off my very first purchase. I also wanted to jump in prepared, next to trying to read and soak up as much information as possible from the internet I also bought what I think is a pretty good reference work to help me find a bit of a direction in the collection. Hope to learn a lot here in the USMF and perhaps one day contribute myself.   Best regards

You are correct. Shake them to see if any powder is present….but that doesn’t confirm, I have examples that the projectile was pulled, filled with cat litter, then projectile pressed back in. They do appear to have been pulled and reseated.   Weight of my original unmolested, 120 grams, you can also check the TM for overall length. Another one ( DM) has staked primers, commonly seen with .50 for aircraft MG’s.

Thanks for sharing this wonderful story. I had the chance to have a Pearl Harbor survivor over for dinner with my wife, daughter and I. Even in his 90’s he was sharp as a tack, still driving, etc. We lost contact soon after and I am certain he has passed but we will never forget that evening and all the details he shared with us of that fateful Sunday morning. I am glad you and your kids had this opportunity. I can count on one hand the opportunities I have had meeting a vet from WWII. On one occasion, I purchased his grouping (a Navigator in the CBI) and these items are my most treasured. For me anyway, the opportunity just didn't come around much. This is what our hobby is all about. 

welcome to the Forum Norm   pay attention to the examples that the long time collectors post, take notes.   read as much as possible about the different views and the antidotes that are presented here on all the subjects.     semper fi

Hello. You won't be able to identify when it was done, or the person it was issued to, where it served or any details like that. The most you may learn is what country stamped it on there, and that it wasn't the US government.

This is very interesting indeed!  Seeing cemeteries like this makes for a rather melancholy experience. Quiet and peaceful yet sad because of the look of being forgotten.

I realize a very old thread, but for those that are researching items: Yale Suspender Belt Co. NY, NY had contracts for Made pistol belts, Leather belts, Belt kits, Straps, Liner bands, Helmet Liner Bands   I have no idea if they also made shirts, but they did make other items like slings      

A few more including a few Vietnam era which I believe may be primarily Japanese made.