Upon joining the Massachusetts National Guard in 1912, Lesise served with B Troop, 1st Squadron of the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry, known as the “National Lancers”. The Lancers were founded in 1836 as a state militia and would later campaign as companies C and D of the 1st Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry during the Civil War. In June 1916, Leslie and the National Lancers were called up and deployed to the Texas-Mexico border as part of General Pershing’s Punitive Expedition to capture Pancho Villa and put an end to Mexican rebel activity, especially raids on American towns in Texas and New Mexico. In July 1917, the unit was federalized and redesignated the 102nd Machine Gun Battalion, and fought in France under the 26th Division. Leslie fought with the Battalion through six campaigns, including the Meuse-Argonne Offesive, St. Mihiel, 2nd Battle of the Marne, and would eventually return home from occupation duty in April 1919. 

Necroposting again, but I have a modified MARPAT in my collection ID'd to a guy from Counterintelligence/Human Intelligence Company, 1st Intelligence Battalion with removable tapes and added Velcro squares on the arm pockets.

Yikes. I take it you don’t restore lots of vintage garments (?) That would absolutely destroy this tunic. It’s 80 year-old Palm Beach (linen-like) material. A wash cycle (with bleach on top of it!) would absolutely shred this thing.   When it comes to garments this old, unless they’re of extremely durable cotton and you don’t mind color fade (like say with a khaki service shirt), you always use soak methods, maybe dry cleaning, and never a washing machine.

Every month I treat myself to some quality reading material too, finally got a copy of 782 gear

Just a few small pick ups for me but pretty pleased. The cap is a modern Bancroft, I was curious about the construction of the piece and will be a place holder until I get a decent sized ww2 period cap. A thank you to a few forum members with the assistance with the bird and wings is in order too. I believe the boards are late 40s possibly 50s, same with the boxed shirt bars. 

If the badge has been on the hat for 80 years it should leave an impression on the hat.   Many people call this ghosting.   It looks like there might be some oxidation on the badge, if so that would leave a mark on the hat.   Any oxidation left unabated leaves a green mark and these marks happen over a long period of time.

The only way you will know for sure if the badge is original is if you have a Time Machine, it is the right style for the hat and that is the best anyone can do. As for the semi-crusher, either it is or it isn't and this one isn't, that is like saying you are semi-pregnant.   

There are so many amphibious units that used the red square, and is not purely limited to usmc. Honestly you might see more army using them than any. My examples here can help shed a little insight to the possibilities. The far left was used by a man in the 96th ID wounded at okinawa. The middle has regimental insignia tracing to the 592nd EBSR of the 2nd engineers. The one on the right bears the earlier double horizontal bars of the 2nd marine engineers seen at tarawa. Repainted with a camo and later seen red square. A friend of mine also has a red square helmet identified to a seabee in the 133rd ncb at iwo. So much more has been found out about these in recent times. But they still leave questions to be asked at the same time.

I would just throw it in the washing machine with a good amount of bleach, it will be dry before it has a chance to rust. That is the way the navy did it and it worked for them. 

Very nice jacket.