Inheritance

[airborne1092]

Hey all,

My Grandpa passed away several months ago, and he was a U.S. Army WWII vet who served in the Phillipines as an Infantryman and Japan after the war as a Military Policeman. For as long as I can remember, I have always marveled at his war trophies, namely several sabers, an old bayonet and a slew of firearms. Of course, Now that I'm a Soldier in the Army and I am a history buff, several items have really caught my interest lately.

Several days ago my Grandma, mother, aunt and uncles got together to go through his stuff and my family was kind enough to set several items aside for me, knowing I always had an interest in them.

One item - a Japanese cavalry sabre was one such item. it's in really great shape although the leather retainer is half missing.

Another item of interest is an old French musket bayonet. I'm sure this thing has seen some interesting times. My theory is, the Japanese Soldier my Grandpa picked it up from somehow acquired it in French Indochina (Vietnam) as the empire rolled through the mainland. On its spine, it has a French inscription - not sure what it says - and a date of June 1875.

Another item that had seemed to pass from Soldier to Soldier as a war trophy is an old .455 Webley revolver. I'm sure this thing was taken from an Australian or NZ Soldier at some point in the war in the pacific.

Also, My grandma gave to me an old Japanese military compass which I thought was interesting and a Japanese 'multi tool' - a stamped steel tool with a P-38 and a folding blade.

I haven't had time to take a good look at any of this stuff lately, but once I do, I'll post pictures and perhaps you folks could help me out with it all!


I haven't talked much about him since his funeral so if you're not really into the sentimental stuff, you can stop reading!

I have to say, My Grandpa was my hero. His life was literally The Grapes of Wrath - one of 9 children from Arkansas, at age 12 his family loaded up an old Buick hearse and headed west to California to work the fields in the early 30s. With only a 3rd grade education, later the Army taught him to read and basic arithmetic and quite literally gave him his first pair of shoes! He was a part of the greatest generation, with depression era ethics - always willing to lend a hand to his neighbors, would feed a hungry stranger and would give you the shirt off his back if he thought you needed it. A hunter and fisher, he tended Apples, cherries, apricots and walnuts and made the best biscuits and gravy I have ever eaten. He was a great man who over came hardship, bigotry (1/8th native American who looked quite hispanic as a young man) and a family of alcoholics up until the day he died, he was able to pull himself above all that and turned out to be quite a man.

[brnn53]

That's a wonderful epitaph. I know you will miss him. Nice that you received some of his military possessions. You'll be sure and take care of them for the next generation. HH!
Mike

[stevesno]

My favorite items are those of sentimental value....from my grandparents. Cherish what you have been given and find a safe place to display them. I find that I get much more out of my keepsakes by being able to see them on a daily basis rather than being tucked away in a closet....I wish that I could have been able to sample your gpas biscuits and gravy!....Steve

[GL]

bump for pics.