> As specifically and repeatedly articulated in the Declaration and Constitution, in this democratic republic it was and is the states to decide all non-federal matters. Slavery remained a state matter since federal authorities could not abolish it. The Virginian Lee family had long been prominently influential in establishing what became the Union. When Virginia decided to withdraw from it, so did Lee, who (btw) earlier on had been sent to Harper's Ferry by the federal government to lead their forces in successfully  putting down the John Brown insurrection. America still struggles with balancing what the Constitution actually says, versus what people want it to say. A General like Grant could not have lost our 2nd civil war, and one like Lee could not have won it. They both knew this all along.

Sorry for the possibly obvious question, but what is the keyhole about?   Carl

Well, I learned something new.  And that explains why the number stamping quality is so nice.  

mikie is the go too guy on Grant!  I've learned from your posts and they refreshed my recollection as to why I admired Grant.    Scott - you are very right - Lee was a product of his time.   A belief in the racial superiority of whites was prevalent in the north and south.   I believe Lee was a decent man who probably treated his slaves better than most, although I'm not sure what the historical record says on this.  I admire Lee.  As I've said in earlier post, probably in my view the greatest American general in history albeit in the cause of succession.     That said, slavery was based on the threat of horrific violence being done to slave who resisted and that sad fact pervaded the entire institution of slavery and the entire society north and south.   To not see this requires you to be completely away from it so as to make you oblivious or uncaring on the issue as most northerners were, or willfully turn a blind eye to it or embrace it as a positive good as many southerners did.   Yet, there were many abolitionists who did not look away and called out what was an open and obvious moral abomination.   They too were product of their time, but chose not to look away from something so ugly, open and obvious when doing so could be costly (e.g., William Lloyd Garrison. who a Boston crowd wanted to tar and feather)   For Lee to condemn courageous abolitionists who spoke with moral clarity about a great evil shows he really was a pro-slavery man at heart.     

Awesome! Thank you so much!

Subdued insignia was required in the field beginning in 1969 I believe. Your CIB is from a 1970 government contract. Here is the same badge as yours on the issue card, note the DSA #. You have a nice Vietnam-era gov't issue CIB. 

I got this in a collection. I am not sure if it is stamped repro, or a repurposed issue ?  any ideas ? thanks

. Damned if you don't and damned if you do . . .    I photographed this copy of a patch pocket ' tankers Jacket ' in a restaurant a few weeks ago, initially I didn't intend to make comment here,  but finally I couldn't let it pass by without sharing with forum readers.  It had NOTHING in common with a genuine wartime jacket, the entire thing was the wrong material, wrong shade and made of nylon with nylon cuffs and stripes.  I feel sorry for people spending perfectly good money to buy fashion items like this and possibly feeling that they have bought something of a WWII connection.    I am lost for words really to convey my sadness that this is what it has come down to now, cheap factories making a quick buck with copies of historical items with stuff like this, It probably had the same grade of thickness as toilet paper, hopefully for the purchaser it might last a little longer than toilet paper.     Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, 11 July  2O26.   ..

I am pleased to present this unique and historical map that once belonged to Major Gerald "Gerry" McFadden of the First Special Service Force (FSSF).   The map is dated April 1944 and covers the Grasse sector in southern France, where the FSSF was engaged during its advance toward the Var around 27 August 1944. It shows the positions of the Force's three regiments, with the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion protecting its southern flank, as indicated on the map. (The 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment was operating farther north and therefore does not appear on this map.) Various annotations in both red and blue mark the locations of different units.   The map is accompanied by a letter from "Gerry" himself, in which he explains that it was part of a group of twelve maps covering the Italian campaign and southern France. This is the only one bearing tactical markings, as he had been ordered to keep the maps unmarked in case they fell into enemy hands—an instruction that was evidently ignored for this particular example. The map was carried in the field, and the heavier wear and dirt visible on the right-hand side clearly indicate how it was folded and used during combat operations. In his letter, McFadden also mentions the Force's iconic V-42 fighting knives and their distinctive mountain uniforms.   Gerry took part in every campaign fought by the First Special Service Force before transferring to the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion following the Force's disbandment. He is shown here in both a portrait photograph and another taken in Nice, alongside two fellow servicemen.

Hi all, I took a still life photograph with the BRO helmet, a BRO liner and a barbed wire picket recovered on Omaha beach. Hope you will like it! Best,