Recently I had an opportunity to purchase an authentic "cricket" signaling device like the ones our paratroopers used on D-Day. This is just one of several styles of these children's toys that was used and it is in near mint condition. It could be 1944 or later (1950's) because I had one like it when I was 6 or 7 years old in the mid 50's, but it's authenticity was verified by the soldier pictured as being exactly like the one he carried from D-Day to Market Garden.
If it looks familiar to any of our ETO Vets here please let me know.
Thanks!
Dogdaddy 1
Well now I will have to get one, for if we run into each other in the middle of the night in the middle of the woods...
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company
Would like to share with you the humble beginnings of my Pacific display. This is my one and only mannequin, who has changed his affiliations and even his loyalties too many times to count! This was the only mannequin I could afford, so please pardon the way his uniform hangs...He really has only a head, a torso, and white PVC piping for legs to utilize. I fashioned a right arm for him out of a strip of foam tubing and I will "tidy him up" as time and materials permit in the future. The helmet & helmet cover (and gloves) are not original WWII USMC, but everything from the neck down is, including his USMC ammo belt and roughouts (boots). A friend of mine in Australia is sending me a KABAR knife (commonly referred to as a "Ball Cutter") & sheath as a belated Christmas gift. I'll be adding more to my display a piece at a time
ps- The grenade is inert, and also post-WWII I believe.
Dogdaddy 1
Well I still think he's pretty cool, regardless. Hey, we all have to start somewhere, right? Can we name him? 
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company
He looks like a Mike or maybe a Bud (pronounce "Buuuudd"). 
Very nice display!
Erwin
704th Tank Destroyer Battalion
https://ardennes-breakthrough-association.com/
Hmmmm, he DOES look like a MIKE. Michael B. Mannequin.
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company
Marlis, Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting the keepsakes. Those are just great!
Marion
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company
A FEW MORE
Ah, a little nursing humor. Especially loved the one "hitting the dirt". 
Also love the Christmas card. Do you think I could use that in the documentary? It would be perfect.
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company
A FEW MORE
Marion, Please feel free to use anything I post!
Marlis
Today an interesting item on ebay... Glenn Miller's (alleged) WWII AAF Dress uniform & cap, all for a mere $15,000! 
If you want to check it out yourself it is ebay item # 170449205509.
Dogdaddy 1
I saw Glen Miller at Madame Tussad's wax museum in NYC. It was pretty neat!
God bless those heroes who suffered and died, for plain folks, like you and me.
War is a crime. Ask the infantry and ask the dead.
Something else of my mother's...
I found this great-looking scrapbook on ebay. It's unused and the front is embossed leather and features representations of all branches of the service. It's titled "Uncle Sam at The Helm." I love these old WWII scrapbooks! I think I will use this one to make a tribute to family members who served in WWII. It came with a 12" x !6" certificate, also unused, that is too big for my scanner , but something I've wanted for a long time as I can fill it out with Dad's Navy info.
I will be sharing pics soon of another WWII scrapbook I received today in the mail. It is for a USMC veteran and also great-looking if you are like me and enjoy things that have that "been there" appearance.
Dogdaddy 1
