My best find of the year was USMC Civil War Medal # 178 (unfortunately untraceable to the original recipient). It was part of a block of 25 USMC CW medals that were purchased in late 1921. They are unusual in that they have the USN reverse and distinct, hand engraved numbers. (The USMC Spanish Campaign Medal from the same era also had the USN reverse and similarly engraved numbers.)

Many years ago I copied the letter in the National Archives that documents the acquisition of these medals.

Wow thats awesome with the document copy too!....mike

Year is almost over and I have yet to top this uniform from the ASMIC show in Portland.

Year is almost over and I have yet to top this uniform from the ASMIC show in Portland.

 

Drew- Have you quit carrying it around yet?

I thought I would bring this back to the top. Here is my favorite find for the year. This came out of the woodwork last February and just fell into my lap. An identified Minnesota Marine Raider Grouping. He served with 3rd Bn. until its disbandment. He also fought at Iwo Jima where he was WIA. He returned to Minnesota after the war. I intend on doing a write up on it here in the next few weeks.

- Henry

 

Outstanding uniform. Great find! Look forward to viewing the upcoming write up on him.

 

 

Drew- Have you quit carrying it around yet?

Bob, I had to have it surgically removed from my hand!

Awesome thread!!!

 

Didn't pick up much due to baby on the way and house but this is by far my best....13th AAF KIA Purple Heart

Great to see all the neat items in this thread!

 

Here is mine, the best CBI uniform find I have ever run across. I was later very fortunate to be able to track down the veteran and speak with him several times. It has certainly been the highlight of my collecting year!

holy cow! Can we see more of that uniform please?

Yes those uniforms are great!

holy cow! Can we see more of that uniform please?

 

No problem. Here are a couple more shots of the jacket.

This is one of my favorites of the year, identified to a soldier in the 422nd Infantry Regiment / 106th Infantry Division. He was captured in the first days of the Battle of the Bulge and held at Stalag IV-B Mühlberg.

 

I guess this qualifies as my best find of the year, and was just a recent pick-up. This Ithaca 1911A1 was one of 1000 shipped to Augusta Ordnance Depot on November 24, 1943. Includes extra contract magazine and Stanley tool. Box is a reproduction, but makes for great display.

My favorite find of 2016. A fairly rare L-2A flight jacket which was part of a small grouping of a career Air Corps/Air Force officer who's bomber was shot down in April of 1944 and he spent the rest of the war as a P.O.W. at Stalag Luft III. By far a most unexpected find, but it is now the centerpiece of my collection.

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/270919-l-2a-flight-jacket-named-to-a-wwii-pow/