Sergeant Major Cassell was a three-war veteran, including fighting on Iwo Jima.    

I did some quick Ancestry.com work to see what I could find about this guy, but I did find this "John E. Bowen was stationed or training at the Twentynine Palms Auxiliary Field, which served as a critical glider and primary pilot training base during the war."   He may have been a glider pilot instructor     

I have long pieces of what I am assuming to be cut or torn material from a WWII parachute, since my father-in-law was in the 82nd Airborne. The pieces are approximately 12' long and are wedge-shaped. I photographed one of the 2 pieces I have, as they are similar. Was this a common thing to do?  Do these have monetary value, or just a souvenir of sorts? Any background information would be appreciated.

Here's one with a missing front wheel on a 4th Armored patch

Thank you for the insight Airborne-Hunter.   I do like to try to keep the history with the item when possible.   Best regards P

well i guess the trail has gone ice cold......response from Davis Monthan....so awesome that everyone has responded so quickly......   Good morning from the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG – America’s National Airpower Reservoir).  Davis-Monthan AFB’s 355th Wing Public Affairs Team forwarded your inquiry to me.     Unfortunately, AMARG does not retain records when aircraft are transferred to salvage contractors.  Aircraft records are disposed when aircraft leave AMARG to be shredded.  In the case of museum assets (as Bonnie at the National Naval Aviation Museum may have noted) the records are sent to the owning museum (NNAM for Navy, National Museum of the USAF for USAF aircraft) when aircraft are transferred to recipient museums.     I have noted some (mostly USAF) seats here at AMARG that have the aircraft serial number stenciled on them.  That being the case, on the off shot that “730” was the last three of the F-14’s BuNo, I scanned AMARG’s departed aircraft database but no departed F-14s appeared to have “730” as their last three.     One note, when AMARG accomplishes aircraft disposal preparation (prior to transfer to the disposal contractor that will shred the aircraft), AMARG Disposal Techs clear the seats for hazardous materials.  Seats then accompany the aircraft to the disposal contractor to be shredded.  That is the case whether seats are removed from and placed alongside a disposal aircraft or remain in said aircraft.  Seats are part of the salvageable metals.  The exception would be seats that were reclaimed for return to the supply system/the operational fleet.     Sorry I’m not of any help.     Best wishes for finding the seats history.

???  “Stay in your lane guys!”  Please explain!    “Our shop…”   Are you talking about “Military Collectables Shop” ??? which I did visit…and shuck your hand…that “Shop”??

Very poignant and exceptional CBI group. Fascinating material and sad.  

Thank you. Always been a bit fascinated with the operations in Burma. Would very much like to see a movie made about the campaign, perhaps even about the Chindits. Great group. The CBI vets sure were in some exotic places and about as far away from home as one could get. 

actually see a NORVA decal indicating service as late as Q4 of 1995