There is a WWII US Army 2nd Ranger Battalion KIA Purple Heart on eBay. His name is John Clifton. There is a photo of John Clifton. I wonder if the Purple Heart is authentic.

 

I contacted the seller and the back of the Purple Heart is not engraved. He claims KIA Purple Hearts were all privately engraved by the family. He probably hasn't heard of the US government engravers.

 

The eBay title is the following: WWII U.S. Army D-DAY RANGER CASUALTY FRAMED PHOTO PLUS HIS CASED PURPLE HEART

 

This seller is located in London.

Avoid

Run Forest run..............

Someone bought this medal for $384 plus $42 shipping cost.

John Clifton was from Indiana, and a member of the Indiana National Guard, federalized and on active duty at Camp Shelby. He volunteered for the Rangers and was transferred. I am associated with an Military history museum in Indiana that has several of John Clifton's original artifacts, PH certificate, one of his NOK dog tags several photos, his Memorial book from England. All this items were donated by a family member. The family said his Purple Heart was buried with John Clifton's father when he passed away.

BKW

This doesn't sound right for a KIA Purple Heart; "Hi these were never officially named. If you see a named one it has been privately done by the Family.This Purple heart is 100% contempary to the photo.Ive kept them years like this!....Regards Tony"

 

Anyway, here are the photos to the completed auction.

 

 

Back of photo:

 

Inside PH case:

Thanks for adding the Photos Matt, I'll look at the museum tonight to see if he looks the same. The labeling is pretty old.

BKW

I’ve posted a thread showing original artifacts relating to John M. Clifton, Co. D, 2^nd Ranger Battalion, who was Killed In Action in Normandy, June 6, 1944. That thread is here: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/267670-john-m-clifton-2nd-rangers-kia-normandy/

 

These items are in the collection of the Museum of the Soldier, Inc., in Portland, IN and were donated by a relative of John Clifton. At the time of donation, it was stated that Clifton’s Purple Heart was buried with his father.

While the ASN is correct, the photo in this sale is NOT a photo of John M. Clifton, of Jamestown, IN, who served in Co. D, 2^nd Ranger Battalion and was KIA at Normandy. It is a shame that apparently, at some point (very possibly many years ago) somebody made some connections of artifacts and a photo to Clifton that did not exist.

BKW

Brian,

 

Thank you for all your research on John Clifton.

 

Ted

Hey there! I'm John M. Clifton's great-great-grandnephew, Aaron Morrison. John's older half-sister, Golda Mae Clifton, was my great-grandmother. Marion Clifton was my great-great-grandfather. I can't believe I'm seeing all of this! I decided to do a random google search for John M Clifton's name, and this thread came up! My grandfather, Melvin Gene Morrison, was a childhood friend of John's. They grew up and went to the same school together. My grandpa said that a friend of John's came and visited the family after the war and told them that John was killed by machine gun fire across his chest. 

 

I would love to get in contact with you, Brian Keith! My email is saaron.morrison@gmail.com. I will have to go to the museum in Portland!