|
Post by one50 on May 30, 2010 10:53:12 GMT 8
No guesses? None at all? I'll give you a clue... 1 1000 2 1000 3 1000
Dan
|
|
|
Post by one50 on May 24, 2010 8:26:07 GMT 8
This past weekend I spent the day with the family of a 503rd Vet. He passed away in 1987, but his legacy lives on with a collection of memos and photos his family have kept close. Going through a box of items I ran across this little pin. Shaped like a 4 leaf clover with the number 4000 on it. My jaw dropped to the floor and I stuttered and asked "do do you know what this is?" the family replayed back "no...tell us" I have never seen one of these pins. I have only heard of them...and actually passed them off as myth, but here in my hand I was holding one. It wasn't a fluke...I later found official documentation to prove that he truly deserved this pin. What is it? Tell me what you think. Dan
|
|
|
Post by one50 on Apr 13, 2010 4:00:09 GMT 8
He enlisted in the service on June 9, 1943. His records say he was born in 1924...is this correct?
His army SN is actually 39333409 not 39333469 as indicated on the "honor roll".
I'll ask around to see if anyone I know knew him.
Thanks for sharing. Dan
|
|
|
Post by one50 on Apr 12, 2010 23:24:01 GMT 8
I decided to send letters to people in the states with the last name Itagaki in hopes to make contact with a known relative. As of today...no luck. I have found from some responses that the surname Itagaki is about 400 years old and Akira can be written many different ways in Japnese.
I will keep you posted as to any new findings.
|
|
|
Post by one50 on Mar 26, 2010 21:53:26 GMT 8
Then, if he was Imperial Japanese Navy... Thus, Itagaki IJN might become... Absolutely brilliant. That makes a good amount of sense.
|
|
|
Post by one50 on Mar 26, 2010 10:46:12 GMT 8
The 503rd never made it to Japan during WWII and never did any post war occupation time either. You have a letter envelope with APO 503 on it? APO stands for "Army Post Office" the 503 would be the number associated with the office. So....APO #503 is located in Tokyo. APO 929 = Port Moresby, New Guinea APO 713 = Base E, Nadzab, New Guinea etc, etc. Unfortunately it is not related to the 503rd represented on these webpages. Which means Eddie Davis was most likely not part of the 503rd team. As a side note, On the NARA website, there were at least 90 Eddie Davis's that were in WWII. You have a lot of research to do still Hope this clears some things up. Dan
|
|
|
Post by one50 on Mar 26, 2010 10:10:38 GMT 8
After talking with Jim Mullaney (1st. Lt. "H" Co. 503rd), I asked about this event (he took very good notes) he had this to say. "The japanese capt was killed early in the mission probably the first or second day. He was not killed by "H" Company. I made no note of his death but remember we were near the opposite end of topside at that time..."Jim was good friends with Bennett Guthrie also and no mention of the sword was made. I have come across a document saying someone in "I" Co. killed the Capt. I still have hope this may be his sword, maybe Bennett traded for it I can be hopeful.
|
|
|
Post by one50 on Mar 26, 2010 9:59:25 GMT 8
Would the real Capt. of the Japanese Force on Corregidor please stand up, Capt. Akira Itagaki or Capt. Ijn Itagaki?
I'm doing a little research on the Capt. and we have 2 different first names in multiple historical documents. Any ideas? I always thought it was Akira, but I ran across Ijn multiple times this week also.
What are your thoughts?
|
|
|
Post by one50 on Mar 25, 2010 3:39:48 GMT 8
That book is currently on loan to a buddy of mine. When he's finished reading it, I'll let you know. Next week sometime.
Dan
|
|
|
Post by one50 on Mar 25, 2010 1:40:59 GMT 8
Here is some interesting info on the sword. It is a Type 98 Officers Gunto. The tassel color is for rank of lieutenants and captains.
This sword was brought back from a member of the 503rd "H" Co. Which we know was part of the 3rd Bn. Someone in the 3rd Bn. shot Captain Akira Itagaki.
COULD THIS BE HIS SWORD?
Your thoughts?
|
|