Post by cbuehler on Dec 21, 2015 0:12:57 GMT 8
This is a great thread and as a collector, I am envious of the things you have inherited from him! Commenting on them, I see a couple of the old photos showing men wearing what appears to be a camouflage shirt, one an outer garment, and another as an inner garment.
There was an HBT camo coat that was essentially the same as the standard HBT OD coat, but I cannot determine if this is what they are wearing, or if they are field made, possibly from parachute material?
Regarding the cap, it is somewhat unusual that the blue (red for artillery) parachute infantry roundel is on his cap. By the end of the war they were "supposed" to be wearing the combined Airborne patch consisting of a parachute and glider together on a dark blue background edged with red.
Sometimes the men just wore what they had upon returning to the states, claiming their old uniforms and mustering out.
His four pocket service coat was also likely the one he had left in the States before going overseas, as these were no longer issued by the end of the war, being replaced by the famous "Ike" jacket.
The 503rd PRCT wore the Airborne Command patch as their SSI (shoulder sleeve insignia) on the left arm. Being a regimental combat team, they did not belong to any particular Army, Corps or Division, thus the use of the generic command patch.
On Pacific Forces patch on the right was commonly seen on uniforms of men who served in the battles of liberation in PI. Many men were funneled through this command level organization into their respective combat units and chose to wear the patch.
I also note that the ribbon bars etc. on his coat were changed from those he is seen wearing in the black and white photo of him. Vets sometimes updated and added items that they were entitled to postwar, but may not have been available upon discharge.
The placement of the PUC ribbon on the right chest should be below the ruptured duck, often on the top of the pocket flap. He also obtained a 503rd oval for his jump wings and added an invasion arrow to his Pacific campaign ribbon.
In the photo he is seen wearing a small version of the Combat Infantry Badge together with his jump wings at the side, and unusual arrangement. Usually Airborne soldiers placed a full sized CIB on the pocket flap because there was no room to crowd them in, which can be seen on his coat today which now has a full sized CIB.
Although technically "incorrect", if your grandfather placed these awards and insignia as they are, then I would leave them as such.
Great photo studies here!
CB
PS, that ww1 US trench knife is fantastic. He had a home made leather scabbard made for it to replace the simple and useless metal one that they came with.
More of these knives were actually used in ww2 than ww1.
There was an HBT camo coat that was essentially the same as the standard HBT OD coat, but I cannot determine if this is what they are wearing, or if they are field made, possibly from parachute material?
Regarding the cap, it is somewhat unusual that the blue (red for artillery) parachute infantry roundel is on his cap. By the end of the war they were "supposed" to be wearing the combined Airborne patch consisting of a parachute and glider together on a dark blue background edged with red.
Sometimes the men just wore what they had upon returning to the states, claiming their old uniforms and mustering out.
His four pocket service coat was also likely the one he had left in the States before going overseas, as these were no longer issued by the end of the war, being replaced by the famous "Ike" jacket.
The 503rd PRCT wore the Airborne Command patch as their SSI (shoulder sleeve insignia) on the left arm. Being a regimental combat team, they did not belong to any particular Army, Corps or Division, thus the use of the generic command patch.
On Pacific Forces patch on the right was commonly seen on uniforms of men who served in the battles of liberation in PI. Many men were funneled through this command level organization into their respective combat units and chose to wear the patch.
I also note that the ribbon bars etc. on his coat were changed from those he is seen wearing in the black and white photo of him. Vets sometimes updated and added items that they were entitled to postwar, but may not have been available upon discharge.
The placement of the PUC ribbon on the right chest should be below the ruptured duck, often on the top of the pocket flap. He also obtained a 503rd oval for his jump wings and added an invasion arrow to his Pacific campaign ribbon.
In the photo he is seen wearing a small version of the Combat Infantry Badge together with his jump wings at the side, and unusual arrangement. Usually Airborne soldiers placed a full sized CIB on the pocket flap because there was no room to crowd them in, which can be seen on his coat today which now has a full sized CIB.
Although technically "incorrect", if your grandfather placed these awards and insignia as they are, then I would leave them as such.
Great photo studies here!
CB
PS, that ww1 US trench knife is fantastic. He had a home made leather scabbard made for it to replace the simple and useless metal one that they came with.
More of these knives were actually used in ww2 than ww1.