Thank you Tonomachi! I didn't know if any good recent 'Kissing Skulls' reproductions had entered the market as of late. From what I had seen on the earlier USMF thread about the DE OPPRESSO LIBER insignia, these looked good except mine are very new looking in the plating on the front(red flag) and the few photos that I have seen of the so called originals on the internet are usually a little more dull from the 55+ years of patina. Thank you also for the link on the Pittsenbaugher fake. I never knew. Any comments on the other SF patch on the right in the photos? Thanks again...Alex

You have a very nice 1943 Ithaca.  Even with modified sights it's worth easily $1000+.  I personally wouldn't hesitate to buy it at $1000 and restore it.  

It's weird to think such a generic piece of USGI equipment could become so valuable, especially something from the 60's. Heck even excellent to mint camo poncho liners from the era probably fetch $150+. I'd bet if a Civil War soldier could see what a really nice cartridge box fetches these days, they'd faint.

This is an old thread, but I'd like to issue a warning to anyone who comes across it- old dress boots are almost consistently unwearable, even if they appear to be fine. The leather soles and especially heels grow dry and fragile with time and will crumble when weight is put on them (especially the edges). 

Yes. In 1981, after being in a year,  I received my first ribbon when it was first introduced - the “Welcome to The Army” ribbon.  (Army Service Ribbon).  

Re: World War I War Service Chevrons and the AEF-Siberian troops, I have attached an image of the third edition of the 31st Infantry Regiment's monthly newspaper.   The U.S. Army Transport (USAT) Sherman, carrying the soldiers of the 31st Infantry Regiment, departed Manila at about 6:00 p.m. on August 12, 1918.[1]  The Sherman landed in Vladivostok, Russia, on August 21, 1918[2], marking the two-year-old regiment’s first deployment. Given September 1, 1918, to February 28, 1919, was six calendar months, and some lag time for the generation of orders, acquisition of the chevrons, sewing, and a period of observation by astute NCOs like the cartoon's artist, Sergeant Emile H. Thibault (Army Serial No. 2368675), a mid-April satirical cartoon was possibly right on time.        [1] Headquarters, American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in Siberia, War Diaries, August 7–October 20, 1918, Record Group 395 (Records of U.S. Army Overseas Operations and Commands), series: Historical Files, file unit 21–33.5, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), NAID 337857919, https://catalog. archives.gov/id/337857919. [2]Headquarters, American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in Siberia, War Diaries, August 7–October 20, 1918, message from Vladivostok to AGWAR, August 24, 1918, reporting arrival of U.S.S.A.T. Sherman with 31st Infantry, Record Group 395 (Records of U.S. Army Overseas Operations and Commands), series: Historical Files, file unit 21–33.5, National Archives and Records Administration, NAID 337857919, objectPage 86, https://catalog.archives.gov/id/337857919

Hi everyone.    Long time no post.  I drove across the state to store some junk from the house and took a quick dive into a couple tubs. The things I rediscovered (especially the German stuff) was mind boggling. Here are a couple of the most interesting American things.    the first is a amphibious sailor who must have transfered from the navy to the army. I have never ever seen another uniform with a different branch’s patch on it. VERY weird and VERY cool     next up are a set of NAMED medals, but not in the traditional way. Both are to the same bombardier who also put the name of his plane in there for good measure.  I also have a TON on documentation for this man and his Ike jacket, but could locate them in the time that I had.     

. Another Slat Grille restoration project started    A Jeeping friend in London has started stripping his Slat Grille for restoration, it's in need of a new front floor section, a new wiring harness and minor other repairs and replacements.  Hi favourite trunk-monkey is helping him with the work, as last week they were repairing the garage roof at the trunk-monkeys place to keep his Jeep nice and dry.      Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, 09 April  2O26.   ..

M - 33A1  Portable Riot Control Agent Dispenser            

Eric died