WW2 veterans uniform for free today...

[NOLA_Ken]

Well it's got to be some kind of coincidence, but not long after I posted some info about the uniform of a soldier in a locket photo on the What Is It forum, I stopped by a sale on my way to the store bought a couple things (new coffee cups for work), and spotted this in a heap of old clothes. I asked about it and the lady said "Just take it". This guy was pretty small, it's a size 37 S! He was a Staff Sergeant and it's got a 3 year service stripe and 3 years of overseas service stripes, plus the "Ruptured Duck" discharge patch. All the original buttons are there in excellent condition, and while looking through the pockets I found some bonuses! 2 5th Army patches, a sterling Expert Riflemans badge, and an Infantry collar disk. No idea if they're original to the uniform, but still cool. All in all a pretty nice score, I don't see these turning up they way they used to.

 

[Subterranean]

Way to save history! Did you get the Vet's name? I am so thankful to have both my WW2 Gramps' uniforms! Sub

 

[NOLA_Ken]

Sadly no name, I was hoping maybe I'd find it written inside but it doesn't look like it was. If the 5th Army patches from the pockets are original to this soldier, and I have a feeling they are, he would have served in the Mediterranean campaigns, especially the liberation of Italy. It's a shame there's no way to know who he was.

 

[pulltabfelix]

My wife put my old army trench coat (1967 era used when in Korea) in a trash bag for goodwill. Fortunately I went through the back because of her penchant for throwing all my old stuff away. She hates clutter. I still have my army boots also. Cannot remember where my 1st class uniform went, maybe wife #1 threw that away.

 

[Hawks88]

Those are all great saves. Congratulations.

 

[jewelerguy]

nice save. I have a tremendous amount of respect for anyone who participated in WW2 and it saddens me see how quickly they are becoming forgotten. Many years ago, a guy I know bought a WW2 Brigadier General's uniform with the gold bullion shoulder patches for the measly sum of 20 bucks

 

[RTR]

Thread is 2 years old

 

[River Rat]

Thread is 2 years old

That don't matter, it sparked an interest to someone. Not sure if Ken has the uniform still or not. I would of donated to the WWII Museum in NOLA.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

I do still have it. I talked to someone at the museum about some of the things I have, but they are more interested in items that have a known history and provenance, and things that are rare, or unusual. The thought of donating it, just to have it end up in a storage room somewhere just didn't sit right with me. It's a shame that there was no name to go with it, I've tracked down some pretty interesting stories from named relics....