I recently acquired this Mexican War Shield.   I have been wanting one of these for years.   This one is named in script on the reverse:   "Nicholas Schardin, Ord. Dept." (Ordnance Department)   This is the first time I have ever seen on named to this unit.   The unit had an interesting history in the Mexican War.   Some personnel served with the Seige/Baggage/Equipment Train.  Others served in the only combat unit the Ordnance Department ever fielded ... the Moutain Battery and Rocket Battery.  They operated 12 pdr. mountain howitzers and Hale Rockets.   I'm not sure which Schardin served with.   His story has proved fascinating.   He was born in Germany (Rheinland of Prussia) in 1825.  His family emigrated in 1845.  In 1847 he was in St. Louis and signed up for the Ordnance Department as an Artificer.   He served until 1851.   I have ordered his service papers from the NA (not arrived yet).   In 1851 he left St. Louis (presumably with a land grant) and moved to California.   He took part in the Gold Rush including using hydraulic mining.  He seems to have become quite wealthy.   He served in the California Militia throughout the Civil War in the San Francisco (Black) Hussars.   He married, became a citizen, acquired a large amount of land, joined the local Mexican War Veterans Organization and died in 1888.      There are several pictures of him on Ancestry including one from 1865 of him and another man in the uniforms of the Black Hussars.   The writing on the back is by his great grandson and says that "Nicholas Schardin served in the Mexican War and was probably decorated.   I personally saw his two Colt Dragoon pistols with (2) two notches on handle of one of them."   Any additional information would be appreciated.  

. Hi mikie,   Well you are not alone in trying to wind things down, I stopped my seriously wild buying days around 1989, and since then for 37 years continued to buy things I DON'T NEED , but find I want, Jerrycans lately.    Somethings such as I saw today I couldn't pass up, my last Willys ( Slat Grille ) I sold eighteen years ago, I have NO NEED for an old original Willys bumper but wanted it, for a wall hanger., there's even a touch of old original paint left on it.  I liked all of my vehicles with minimum markings, however this is how my Slat-Grille ended up being marked up by the new owner, sadly I never took enough photographs of my vehicles back in the day as we didn't carry or even have phone camera's then, back then camera's were an encumbrance. to carry around.         Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, 05 May  2O26.   ..

Last week I bought these winter pants because I want to make a Battle of the Bulge Tanker display. I noticed that they contain zippers from 3 different manufacturers; is this common? In your opinion, is this otherwise an original piece?    Thanks to my son, who was kind enough to put the pants on for the photos :-)

Oh thank you sir. Wouldn't have picked that up. 

Thank you all for the great feedback. I now have some ideas of what I can get for the pistol. Yes, I agree it is a sentimental piece from my dad but there is no one in my immediate orbit I can leave it to. My wife and son do not want to deal with the gun. So it will move on to a someone who appreciates and wants to preserve the pistol.

The bullion hat badge is Chinese Civil War era (1945 - 49).  The visor hat should have sunburst buttons.  

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

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