MARNE's Collection....
 
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MARNE's Collection...

(@moose)
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Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 482
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Heres a couple of pics of just a taste of the beginning my collection...

 

This is the U.S. 91st Engineering Battalion's original 1933 battalion flag...

 

This battalion was sent to Australia in mid-1942 I believe and, was busy building roads and airfields for the U.S. Army Air Corps. to use in Australia. The U.S. 96th Engineers were dissolved into the 91st which retained its original designation as the U.S. 91st Engineering Battalion. Of all the engineering battalion's in Australia, only eight were colored and with the 96th being dissolved into the 91st this left only seven. This flag belongs to one of only seven colored engineering battalions that were in the PTO.

 

The 91st went on to do further construction in and around Port Moresby and in the Philippines shortly after the invasion there in 1944.

 

I found it hanging on a wall by a piece of rope in an antique shop and, I bought it for $55.00...

 

91st_ECB.jpg

 

91st_ECB_2.jpg

 

This is a guidon I saved from a vendor at a flea market here in my hometown of Savannah, Georgia who had it tacked up on a wall...yes, you heard right... it was wrongfully tacked up on a wall.

 

I was told by the guy I bought it from(who is reputable dealer) that he bought it in Eastman, Georgia U.S.A. from an elderly lady who owned an antique shop in Eastman and her late husband who had served in WWI had brought it home with him.

 

So, with that being stated it could be as early as WWI or it could just be WWII. It is made of Dark Blue Wool Bunting(one piece) and it has the letters and the numbers embroidered into it, on both sides.

 

It belonged to a Georgia National Guard unit from Georgia up around the Macon area which would confirm the WWI history to this guidon.

 

The unit:

 

1st Battalion, Charlie Company

U.S. 121st Infantry Regiment

(WWI): U.S. 31st Infantry Division(Old Dixie Division)

(WWII): U.S. 8th Infantry Division(Golden Arrow Division)

 

I bought this guidon for $50.00...

 

121st_INF_2.jpg

 

I hope you enjoy this small taste of my WWII collection...

 

Kind Regards,

MARNE


A Moose no longer alone in the Wolverine State.


   
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Walts Daughter
(@marionjchardgmail-com)
Illustrious Member Admin
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 12626
 

Oh most certainly MARNE. Any history that can be brought to light, is just great in my book. Can you imagine how many "articles" from the war are stuffed in someone's closet, cardboard box, etc., and unidentified? It's great that you had the opportunity to "liberate" these items from obscurity or sure death.

 

Thanks so much for posting them on our forum. I look forward to all of your future finds and posts here on VI Corps.

 

:armata_PDT_37:

 

Oh speaking of black battalions, I received the following letter from my dear friend and head historian, Mike Broadhead, of the Office of History, Army Corps Engineers, just this evening:

 

"...We just got a nice donation pertaining to the 1321st Engineer General Service Regiment, a black unit. It includes scads of photographs, a 30+-page regimental history written by regimental commander Colonel Aldo H. Bagnulo, his diary, and other documents. It is unusual to have this many items for a black unit, so we are quite happy that the colonel's son, daughter-in-law, and another son were kind enough to place this great material with us..."

 

:armata_PDT_37:


Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company


   
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(@marne)
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Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 45
 

Hey Marion,

 

Thanks. I'm lucky it was me who realized what they were before they could have been lost to us forever. Plus I have tons of stuff in my collection to post and all of it VI Corps. related... :pdt34: If you think this something wait till my post tomorrow...

 

I've got something thats going to make Joe bounce off the walls... even at his age.. LOL... :armata_PDT_01:

 

Just wait till tomorrow.. :pdt34:

 

Thanks again...

MARNE


ROTM.jpg

"ROCK OF THE MARNE!"
Sgt. James F. Dunigan, III(NCOIC)
U.S. 3RD DIVISION LIVING HISTORY COMPANY


   
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(@marne)
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Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 45
 

Hey everyone...heres the greatest piece in my collection and CLEARLY my favorite.. LOL...Hey Joe, what do you think?

 

Heres a few pics of my 1943 Willys MB...

 

WILLYS MB

Serial No. 200861

Contract No. US W303 ORD 2532

Registration: 20239129

Date of Delivery: January 7th, 1943

 

The history behind this particular Willy's MB is that it was used locally, at either a U.S. Army or U.S. Army Air Corps. Base near New Orleans. It is one of 170 taken from around the New Orleans area in 1944 and refurbished and upgraded by the Higgins Corporation of New Orleans in December 1944.

 

Hope you guys enjoy the photos...

 

Here ya go...

 

MB200861_1.jpg

 

MB200861_2.jpg

 

MB200861_6.jpg

 

MB200861_7.jpg

 

MB200861_3.jpg

 

MB200861_4.jpg

 

MB200861_5.jpg

 

I probably got the best compliment a Military vehicle owner can get..it came from a veteran of World War II on Veterans Day 2006 here in my hometown of Savannah, Georgia....

 

"Don't touch it, it looks just the way they looked in the field...

 

A guy can't help but be proud.. LOL..

 

Regards,

MARNE


ROTM.jpg

"ROCK OF THE MARNE!"
Sgt. James F. Dunigan, III(NCOIC)
U.S. 3RD DIVISION LIVING HISTORY COMPANY


   
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Walts Daughter
(@marionjchardgmail-com)
Illustrious Member Admin
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 12626
 

I only have one thing to say to you, I am green with envy! :armata_PDT_37:


Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company


   
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(@custermen)
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Joined: 21 years ago
Posts: 452
 
Hope you guys enjoy the photos...

NO. I want a closeup photo of the Radio equipment in the Peep. I'm trying to learn about the types of radios and especially how they were mounted in the vehicles.

Love the photos. I might want to use one on my website.

 

 

This is the U.S. 91st Engineering Battalion's original 1933 battalion flag...

Very cool. It is amazing that it survived. I made contact with someone whose father brought home the regimental flags of my Dad's unit. If he had not done that, then it would have been destroyed or thrown in some large storage warehouse in Colorado----did you see the movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark"? That warehouse at the end of the movie is a real place.

 

Anyway, the family has decided to donate the flag to a museum. I'm trying to find a museum that will display it.

 

BTW, flags and tanks and artillery, etc. are considered property of the US Gov't. Only personal equipment and weapons could be kept by the soldier. So, if a museum receives a flag, it has to notify the Gov't and they can claim it if they want. Just thought you might want to know.

 

Steve

Flag of the 328 Field Artillery Battalion, 85th Division

Flag328FA2.jpg


Enginears...Engeneres....Engineres----- I are one and I can't spell it.

Reference Table of US Infantry Divisions


   
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(@marne)
Eminent Member Registered
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 45
 
NO. I want a closeup photo of the Radio equipment in the Peep. I'm trying to learn about the types of radios and especially how they were mounted in the vehicles.

Love the photos. I might want to use one on my website.

 

Hey Steve,

 

Here ya go...these photos were taken during the previous photo shoot of my Jeep.

 

MB200861_8.jpg

 

MB200861_9.jpg

 

The radios set was bought by a friend of mine for me, for Christmas 2005 its cost roughly $1200 he told me it was my Christmas present for the next three years... LOL... It doesn't work right now but, a couple of parts and it'll be back up and running. Its only got a range of five miles and thats it. It has everything(other than those internal parts to make it work) to go with it. Its a 1943 U.S. Army Signal Corps. BC-659 Radio with a Receiver and Transmitter, PE-120-A Power Supply Unit, FT-250-C Radio Mounting Bracket(Serial No. 14161) made by Galvin Mfg. Co., Chicago, IL. and canvas cover, MP-50 Antenna Mounting Bracket, Antenna Base by Ohio Brass, Mast Sections 51-53 with canvas sheath, and the BC-659 Operator's Manual dated 1943.

 

The only thing externally its missing are the two radio mounting legs to support it sticking out over the edge of the wheel well on the driver side they are the FT-422 and FT-423 they mount to the bottom of the FT-250-C and mount into the floorboard to support the FT-250-C base and the entire radio itself. The FT-250-C actually has a suspension system within it to give the radio a smoother ride rather than a rough potentially damaging ride.

 

Very cool. It is amazing that it survived. I made contact with someone whose father brought home the regimental flags of my Dad's unit. If he had not done that, then it would have been destroyed or thrown in some large storage warehouse in Colorado----did you see the movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark"? That warehouse at the end of the movie is a real place.

 

Anyway, the family has decided to donate the flag to a museum. I'm trying to find a museum that will display it.

 

BTW, flags and tanks and artillery, etc. are considered property of the US Gov't. Only personal equipment and weapons could be kept by the soldier. So, if a museum receives a flag, it has to notify the Gov't and they can claim it if they want. Just thought you might want to know.

 

Steve

 

I happen to know guys who own tanks and they are not property of the U.S. Government once they are put into surplus rotation and are privately owned. Once that is the case they are no longer property of the U.S. Government but the property of the individual owner. The same is true for my little Jeep. However, the U.S. Government was trying to make that the case with a bill recently, although it was shot down by both the Senate and the House of Representatives but, that doesn't mean they won't try it again. :rolleyes:

 

As for the US Government on the US Flags I know about that rule. I don't think they really care if they are owned by a private citizen just so long as they themselves can see the piece is being cared for. The US Army Corps. of Engineers knows I have the flag and they've told me.. "take care of it..."..LOL...I was like you bet!..LOL...I've got both of them protected right now as per-historic preservation regulations that the U.S. National Park Service uses.

 

I was lucky when I found the battalion colors. It was just a luck of the draw chance that I happened to walk in the day he was putting up and I saw it. Thats cool about your dad's unit flag and good luck to finding a museum that'll place it on display for everyone to enjoy. :drinkin:

 

Kind Regards,

Jim


ROTM.jpg

"ROCK OF THE MARNE!"
Sgt. James F. Dunigan, III(NCOIC)
U.S. 3RD DIVISION LIVING HISTORY COMPANY


   
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(@marne)
Eminent Member Registered
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 45
 

Heres a couple of pics of my original 1943 dated second pattern plywood style footlocker...

 

A friend happened to find this footlocker in a Goodwill store here locally for $25.00 and I bought it from him for $20.00 since he had no need for it and at the time it had no tray to go inside of it. He told me... "I saw it and thought you'd like it, so I picked it up." Its dated on the inside of the lid...

 

Abel & Bach Inc.

Tent Spec. C.Q.D. No. 61B

1943

 

Heres a few photos of what it looks like today!

 

Enjoy....

 

43_US_Footlocker_Closed.jpg

 

3rd_ID_Footlocker_1.jpg

 

3rd_ID_Footlocker_2.jpg

 

3rd_ID_Footlocker_4.jpg

 

All of the contents in the bottom section of the footlocker are original U.S. GI Field Uniforms. In the tray roughly 90-95% of the contents are all original WWII US GI personal items and yes that is an original unopened pack of Chesterfield Cigarettes.....LOL...

 

Hope you all enjoy....

 

Kind Regards,

MARNE


ROTM.jpg

"ROCK OF THE MARNE!"
Sgt. James F. Dunigan, III(NCOIC)
U.S. 3RD DIVISION LIVING HISTORY COMPANY


   
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Walts Daughter
(@marionjchardgmail-com)
Illustrious Member Admin
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 12626
 

Superb Jim! You already have a great collection. Can't imagine what you will have in another 10 years. The foot locker was a very nice addition. Love the pinup girl too. Classic! :armata_PDT_37:


Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company


   
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(@marne)
Eminent Member Registered
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 45
 

Hey Marion,

 

Thanks! :armata_PDT_01: LOL...Yep..every GI has to have his Vargas Girl :heartpump: ...its iconic...LOL...

 

Alright, On to tonights addition this is truly a rare piece belonging to one of the U.S. 3rd Infantry Divsion's regiments? Can you guess which one it is?...Nope not the U.S. 7th Infantry...Nope not the U.S. 15th Infantry...Give Up? :unsure:

 

This is a rare original copy if the U.S. 30th Infantry Regiment's Christmas Dinner Menu from 1941 at the Presidio of San Francisco...

 

Yep...this is an original piece. I found it on ebay, I won it for a mere $12... :armata_PDT_23:

 

Here it is....I hope you enjoy this rare piece of history from the U.S. 30th Infantry Regiment! :armata_PDT_01:

 

Front Cover...

Presidio1.jpg

 

Inside Front Cover & Page #1

Presidio6.jpg

 

Page #2 & #3

Presidio5.jpg

 

Page #4 & #5

Presidio8.jpg

 

Page #6 & #7

Presidio9.jpg

 

Page #10 & #11

Presidio7.jpg


ROTM.jpg

"ROCK OF THE MARNE!"
Sgt. James F. Dunigan, III(NCOIC)
U.S. 3RD DIVISION LIVING HISTORY COMPANY


   
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(@marne)
Eminent Member Registered
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 45
 

Here the last few pages....

 

Page #12 & #13

Presidio10.jpg

 

Page #14 & #15

Presidio4.jpg

 

Page #16 & #17

Presidio3.jpg

 

Page #18 & Inside Back Cover

Presidio11.jpg

 

Back Cover

Presidio2.jpg

 

Kind Regards,

MARNE


ROTM.jpg

"ROCK OF THE MARNE!"
Sgt. James F. Dunigan, III(NCOIC)
U.S. 3RD DIVISION LIVING HISTORY COMPANY


   
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Walts Daughter
(@marionjchardgmail-com)
Illustrious Member Admin
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 12626
 

Sweet! Can't wait till Joe gets to see this.

 

Funny but when I was looking at all the pics, I couldn't help to think; man these guys have NO idea what's in store for them. :(


Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company


   
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(@j3rdinf)
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Joined: 21 years ago
Posts: 377
 

Marne: Some geat pics. Many thanks. Cant help but wonder how many are with us now. Where were these pics taken? CA. WA, or where? I believe the 7th was at Vancouver, Ft. Lewis and Ft. Ord during this era ? No idea of where the 30th was then. Too early for this "youngster's" mind .



   
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(@marne)
Eminent Member Registered
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 45
 
Marne: Some geat pics. Many thanks. Cant help but wonder how many are with us now. Where were these pics taken? CA. WA, or where? I believe the 7th was at Vancouver, Ft. Lewis and Ft. Ord during this era ? No idea of where the 30th was then. Too early for this "youngster's" mind .

 

 

Hey Joe!

 

Thanks! Have you talked to Sherman in a while? Hows he doing? The pictures taken in this dinner menu were taken sometime I would ponder a guess in the November to early December time frame of 1941 just before their christmas dinner. I say that because a few of the photos show the infantry piping on the garrison caps and according to my research that regulation took effect in November of 1941. All the photos in the menu were taken of them while doing daily every day-to-day type activites and drill and formations while they were at the Presidio in San Francisco during the November to December time frame of 1941.

 

As for how many are still with us? I couldn't even being to say but heres their statistics:

 

U.S. 30th Infantry Regiment, U.S. 3rd Infantry Division

 

Campaigns:

WWI:

Champagne-Marne Defensive

Aisne-Marne Counter Offensive

Meuse-Argonne Offensive

 

WWII:

Algeria-French Morocco

Tunisia

Sicily

Naples-Foggia

Anzio

Rome-Arno

Southern France

Rhineland

Ardennes-Alsace

Central Europe

 

Constituted: Spring-Fall 1813

Unit: U.S. 30th Infantry Regiment, U.S. 3rd Infantry Division

Nickname: Friscans or Battle Boars

Unit Motto: Our Country, Not Ourselves

Days in Combat: 531

Theatres of Operation: Mediterranean and European

Casualties: 8,308

Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients: 12

Distinguished Service Cross Recipients: 39

Silver Star Recipients: 854

Bronze Star Recipients: 1,068

Legion of Merit Recipients: 29

Soldier's Medal Recipients: 28

 

Fedela to Salzburg Survivors of the U.S. 30th Infantry Regiment, U.S. 3rd Infantry Division:

 

Officers:

 

Regimental Headquarters: 9

1st Battalion Headquarters: 3

2nd Battalion Headquarters: 2

3rd Battalion Headquarters: 3

Dog Company: 3

Howe Company: 2

Love Company: 3

Mike Company: 1

Service Company: 5

Cannon Company: 3

 

Enlisted:

 

Regimental Headquarters: 57

1st Battalion Headquarters: 32

2nd Battalion Headquarters: 19

3rd Battalion Headquarters: 29

Able Company: 12

Baker Company: 14

Charlie Company: 9

Dog Company: 33

Easy Company: 6

Fox Company: 6

George Company: 6

Howe Company: 23

Item Company: 18

King Company: 6

Love Company: 13

Mike Company: 28

Anti-Tank Company: 44

Service Company: 74

Cannon Company: 57

Medical Detachment: 16

 

Officers: 33

Enlisted: 502

 

Regards,

MARNE


ROTM.jpg

"ROCK OF THE MARNE!"
Sgt. James F. Dunigan, III(NCOIC)
U.S. 3RD DIVISION LIVING HISTORY COMPANY


   
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(@custermen)
Reputable Member Registered
Joined: 21 years ago
Posts: 452
 

Great little booklet.

 

But what is it with the page of photos of the Dogs???

 

:machinegun:


Enginears...Engeneres....Engineres----- I are one and I can't spell it.

Reference Table of US Infantry Divisions


   
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