|
Post by sherwino on Feb 19, 2013 8:00:33 GMT 8
That was February 18, Bob.
|
|
|
Post by sherwino on Feb 19, 2013 8:03:28 GMT 8
Looks Navy. Weren't the Marines attached to the Navy?
|
|
|
Post by Bob Hudson on Feb 19, 2013 14:12:16 GMT 8
Two men, one retired Navy and one retired Marine both said they were Marine officer buttons, but not 100% positive. I did some extensive cleaning on the buttons and the backside of one says "Waterbury Burton Co"
|
|
|
Post by westernaus on Feb 19, 2013 22:32:17 GMT 8
Bob I did a quick look at the web site of Waterbury Button Co . They have been making buttons for the US Military for about 200 years as they say on their web site . The buttons certainly look like their production of US Marine buttons , that is a band of stars , a eagle over a anchor . Check it out buddy on their web site with your buttons .Regards Westernaus .
|
|
|
Post by victor on Feb 20, 2013 3:27:31 GMT 8
Hi Bob, I would also try and ask around in the US Militaria forum. The collective knowledge of the thousands of forum members there when it comes to US relics and military items is astounding. www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.phpJust curious... how deep were these buttons in the ground? Are there metal detectors that could be rented out there in Bataan? Victor
|
|
|
Post by cbuehler on Feb 20, 2013 4:34:08 GMT 8
They are indeed US Marine Corps buttons. They are the domed officer's type as opposed to enlisted buttons which are flat. They are the gilt dress buttons as worn on the full dress blues and whites; of course only the dress whites would have been worn in PI. I am surprised at the condition which is quite good, By the way, US Military uniforms of the period from 1900 to 1945 are my expertise and I have been a collector for 30 years. Same with Japanese military uniforms of the ww2 period, so I would be happy to answer any questions in this regard. Cheers,
CB
|
|
|
Post by Bob Hudson on Feb 21, 2013 7:03:55 GMT 8
Victor > Two buttons were found on the surface and four were found 1-2 inches deep. These were a few meters from Trail # 2 and near a rock outcropping. Someone told me there was a special detachment of Marines from Cavite, not part of the 4th, and were there to protect AA batteries in the hills above Mariveles. Not sure as to the accuracy of the statement. Going back in a week or so to recover a grenade that was buried after an accidental find a couple of years ago and will look for more buttons. Metal detector was borrowed from a friend in Angeles City while he is in the U.S.
cbuehler > I have no questions other than what branch of the military the buttons were from. Would like to know why a Marine would cut and drop the buttons where we found them. How many buttons, including one on the sleeves could we expect to find other than the six already recovered?
|
|
|
Post by chadhill on Feb 21, 2013 12:19:17 GMT 8
Great find, Bob. I'll even SWAG three officer's names that may have worn those buttons. From John Gordon's "Fighting for MacArthur", p.128: "...there were only about 150 Marines in the Mariveles area. The primary mission of Batteries A and C was to man four 3 inch anti-aircraft guns and nine .50 caliber anti-aircraft machine guns. Battery A, the machine gun unit, was under the command of recently promoted 1st Lieutenant {William F.} Hogaboom. Its .50 caliber weapons were located near the Quarantine Station close to the point where the dry dock Dewey was moored. Battery C's 3 inch guns were in an abandoned rice paddy between the Section Base and the town of Mariveles. First Lieutenant {Willard B.} Holdredge was in command. A month earlier Hogaboom and Holdredge had both tried to defend the Cavite Navy base during the devastating Japanese bombing raid..." According to the locations given above, which are also shown on a chart in Fighting for MacArthur (p. 139), Battery A was near the beach just south of the old Mariveles airstrip. Battery C was west of the airstrip and near Mount Pucot. (prewar photo of LT William Hogaboom from family archives, Fighting for MacArthur) Hogaboom later fought at Longoskawayan Point and Denver Hill, but perished on the Oryoku Maru in Subic Bay. Navy Cross, Purple Heart. Remains never recovered. Holdredge (no photo) also fought at Longoskwayan Point, where he was wounded. He also perished on the Oryoku Maru, remains never recovered. Navy Cross, Purple Heart. There is only one other Marine officer in Mariveles that my books mention, a 1st Lieutenant Carter B. Simpson from Battery C, who, like the other two, fought at Longoskwayan Point. Simpson was also aboard the Oryoku Maru and apparently survived the sinking, but died shortly afterwards. His remains were never recovered. He was similarly decorated.
|
|
|
Post by Bob Hudson on Feb 21, 2013 17:54:34 GMT 8
The buttons were about 2-3 kilometers due north of Mariveles near Trail #2 in the high hills. Also found one 50 cal shell and various other calibers as well as one 45 cal. A bolt to a rifle and misc. Photo Attached.Only spent two hours and need to go back. There is a buried grenade we did not have time to dig up. Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by Bob Hudson on Feb 21, 2013 20:04:55 GMT 8
By the way, thanks for the information. It would be splendid if we knew whose buttons those were.
|
|