Hello All, I finally finished the figures. Unlike the clean ones, these guys are in the field doing their thing and donning the Vietnam dirt. Normally the Marines in Nam would still be wearing their flak jackets, bit it's a hot one in the ol' firebase today. I hope you like them. Now for the howitzer. Enjoy, and as always all comments and critiques are greatly appreciated.   Semper Fi.   Manny

Photo information: 1/25, 93rd ID, Bougainville, 15 April 1944    

Well, I went back to the dealer. Unfortunately nothing else came with this DSC.   I asked how he came across it. Interestingly enough, this dealer’s father was a building custodian in the Bronx and was cleaning out some boxes left in the basement . In one of those boxes he found the medal. That was back in the mid 1970s. This dealer has been holding this medal for 50 years until he offered it to me a few weeks ago. 

A typical pre-centralization situation from before more professional standards and procedures were put in place.  

Thanks for the advice, I'll try running some ads for Vietnam militaria to see if there are any vets or families in my area willing to offload their old stuff. I actually know a vet who was a Huey pilot during the war, maybe I'll ask him as well. Do you have any thoughts on the helmet I just purchased? I think this will scratch my Vietnam M1 helmet "itch" until I can find an in-country steel pot.

From whom located where?

From early in the 1900's until the early 1920's, the Coast Artillery Corps was organized in separate numbered companies. World War 1 saw some of the companies becoming lettered batteries in new Coast Artillery regiments. Coast Artillery companies had their designating numbers placed below crossed cannons. Google the research done by the Coast Artillery Study Group for much more information than I can provide.

Very cool, I'll keep that in mind! I'm guessing the soldiers in this photo are marines? I read somewhere that the USMC was the branch typically receiving old surplus WWII M1's.

Pictures please. 

I couldn't agree more Kurt...   Leigh