Welcome to the forum from a fellow Minnesotan!

Hi,    Anyone know of a roster for the 6th Illinois infantry? I could not find one online. The paper with lock of hair states that he was a Lt. Smith with the 6th Illinois infantry. It was behind the image and within the case. I believe he was in the  6th Illinois cavalry.  The jacket looks cavalry to me, but I’m no expert in CW uniforms. Very faintly with the lock of hair is written.. “Please remember me”   Thanks

Bump  

First Sergeant Carlos Juan Alvarez served in Vietnam from January 1970 to October 1970 as a member of K Co, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in Brooklyn, NY. At the age of 17 he joined the US Navy and shortly thereafter transferred to the US Marine Corp. Carlos dedicated 23 years of his life with honor and courage to defending his country. He served two tours during the Vietnam War and was awarded 2 Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star with Valor and several other meritorious accolades throughout his military career. He brought home the BYF43 P38. It appears to have sustained battle damage on the right lower portion of the frame. The original magazine must of been damaged too and was missing from the group. It has what I believe to be an original unmarked WWII holster and leather belt with a Russian Naval Buckle.

Appreciate the question @ThepracticeThe original concept for the project started out as a book "Dog of Spades" and overtime morphed into a rough screen play outline of the same title.   Early on it came apparent that character selection would be a problem for me as the further I progressed into my Grandfathers story - the more I came to the realization that every interaction he had, every mission he flew, every pilot he flew with, and every airman he called his brother were vital to the big picture, to his legacy and the story itself.   So in my early 30's I decided to put "writing" the story on hold, and instead began "Finding" the story.   This was the birth of what is now the "Dog of Spades Project".   Even though I have not yet completed my own book, I have been fortunate enough to be cited as a source in both Flight Path Magazine via Michael Claringbould as well as The Navigation Case by John E. Happ.

Yes, and actually issued, see that these were very uncommon late war.

That scarf is insane. I wonder if it's a one-off or if there are more out there?

Definitely an N-4 judging by the color. Interesting it doesn't have the USN stamp.

Very nice hard to find M1918 tunic.

Or just keep them in your own museum 🤷‍♂️👍   Kurt