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WW2 USMC Reserve 1st Samoan Battalion insignia

Featured Replies

  • Author
#26

14 of 19

 

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  • Author
#27

15 of 19

 

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  • Author
#28

16 of 19

 

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  • Author
#29

17 of 19

 

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  • Author
#30

18 of 19

 

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  • Author
#31

19 of 19

 

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  • Author
#32

Patches are US made. At least patches for 500 members were ordered. Maybe everyone received 3-4 each? If that is the case, you could 500-2,000 of the patches made with 1/4 of them being sewn onto lava lavas. 

 

Interesting to note that the Navy Frita Frita was created 1st. 

#33

Love the documentation and especially those standard samples!  Where'd you dig that up?  

  • Author
#34

This was the display that was at the Marine Corps Reserve Depot in San Diego up until 2012. 

 

 

Screenshot 2021-02-02 104539.png

#35

These are the two I have left, I might even have his photo album in a box will check. 

IMG_20210202_134752211.jpg

IMG_20210202_134800381.jpg

#36

OCS

The list of enclosures also mentions the sample chevron for the Lava-Lava.  Do you have any photos of that as well?

  • Author
#37

Eric, photograph of exhibit 1997.66.1 has a single stripe for Private First Class. It appears through the orders above that that the Quartermaster pushed back and stated that they were to wear standard issue USMC ranks. For Private First Class, Corporal, and Sergeant. 

 

I am not an expert on USMC so I do not know if that Private First Class or even other photographs denoting the Sergeant rank were standard issue or a different shape and matching red to the insignia. 

 

It would also be interesting to see if someone has a Navy Frita Frita with ranks to see if those were anything issued or sourced locally or in Hawaii or mainland. 

 

 

#38

OCS,

Do you have a higher resolution shot of that display?  I know the forum restricts the images to a pretty low resolution.  If so, please send a hires to my email (see my signature).  I'd love to see a closer image

  • Author
#39

Eric, nope, that was the image that I received from Joanie at the MCRD Museum. The room upstairs where it was located was dark. 

 

 

  • Author
#40

This photo was from the National Marine Corps Museum. It was labeled "Nusbaum 3 medium"

 

I am not sure if Nusbaum was the Marine ministering the oath?

 

Regardless, it has a nice shot of the Sergeant rank. 

Nusbaum 3 MEDIUM.JPG

  • Author
#41

rank.png.3d2b668112670a1d9a039d844f7226f9.png

#42

I had a group from an enlisted man who later was given  a commission with 1/8th Marines and they were sent to Samoa prior to Guadalcanal and in that group were numerous photographs and several were of these uniforms in wear on Samoa; the person who currently owns that group is a member of this forum.

 

Kurt

#43

Okay, looks to be the standard chevrons used by the rest of the Corps.  

  • Author
#44

Also interesting to note, that the initial request for cap insignia was turned down as they were told that the

 1944504923_capturneddown.png.cb6fc237758dca270048658399d5a1c5.png

 

However, they ended up creating their own insignia, as we have seen in the pictures and caps in collections. 

#45

Great job of research and thanks for providing all the information, just a terrific effort, thanks Steve. Hope forum can see how rare these are and how few have survived.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mort

  • Author
#46

Found this on pinterest. It is of the same moment that post #40 was taken, Nusbaum medium 3. 

 

 

 

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  • Author
#47

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  • Author
#48

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  • Author
#49

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#50

In post # 47 is that a dental checkup? You won't find many cavities like that.

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