Brian R

Bringin' this thread back to life. I can offer two examples that I am convinced are genuine as they are mounted on period bars. Here is one that fits the descrition of "type 3" that Steve posted earlier in the thread. It has the straight G so I think that way of determining real/fake is nonsense.

Nice piece. I had one of these a while back and your cross is good. Great addition...

a pre-war demonstration... I like the kid holding his ears

A decorated group...

EK2 Winner - away from the front, enjoying his pipe...

Douglas- There really is no reference book available that can spell out all Imperial German Awards. Your best bet is to check out the following... Neal O'Connor's books - like the ones recently sold here... http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=15655 Dave Danner's site... http://home.att.net/~david.danner/militaria/states.htm ...and this forum. The group knowledge here is the best in the world. I've learned so much here and still don't know anything compared to these guys. Brian

Thank Rick - at least ID is a little closer than before - one of 50 as opposed to hundreds.

Rick- Here is a bar you saw a while back - my absolute favorite in my collection. Perhaps it is finally time to figure this guy out. Probably one of the 377 Dr types (on combatant ribbon) you spoke of in the "Sachsen-Meiningen Unpublished Award Rolls 1914-1918" thread. No LS ribbon and no Prussian Red Cross Medal - probably a Reservist. I wonder how he did with those Slovakian forces on the Russian Front in WWII...

Howell...

Bowen...

a couple more... a death Citation to Captain Jesse Bowen of the Army Corps of Engineers and a wound citation to Private Clinton S. Powell of Company C, 308th MG Battalion. Another member of the 77th Division engaged in the Argonne Forest in the Fall of 1918.

reverse...

Here's an interesting example to a wounded Private Clarence R. Turner of the 104th Infantry Regiment's HQ Company. The 104th (out of Massachusetts) was one of the first American units to see action in WWI and was the first American regiment to receive the French Croix de Guerre. Turner was probably wounded by artillery. The interesting thing about this doc is that it was framed shortly after World War II - a movie bill listing movies such as Cinderella Jones was used as matting. Perhaps WWII brought out the pride and memory of this soldier's service in the first war and he decide to have his citation mounted.

a close-up...

Chris - I'm glad you posted this... I've been meaning to do this for a fews weeks now. These docs are fascinating. I believe they are actually called the Meritorious Service Citation Certificate. They were given to both the dead and wounded of the AEF after the war (1919) before the introduction of the Purple Heart in February, 1932 (recipients of this citation could apply for a Purple Heart). The docs read at the top, "Columbia Gives To Her Son The Accolade Of The New Chivalry Of Humanity." Some are detailed enough to show the soldier's unit while others just list their branch of service. Not suprisingly, the "wound" docs are a bit more common than the "death" docs. I have, and have had, a few that are quite interesting. Here is my favorite one... a wound citation to my Great Grandfather who served as a Private in Company A, 306th Machine Gun Battalion (part of the famous 77th Division). I have his dog tags, which list the same rank and unit. Companies C and D were with Major Whittlesey in the pocket, as part of the "Lost Battalion" - I am not sure where company A was at the time and I don't know when he was wounded. I do, however, have few photographs of him and members of his unit at the Lost Battalion reunions in New York City in the early 1940s. I'm curious if Companies A and B were part of the relief effort in getting through to Whittlesey's men. If anyone has any info to share about his company, I would be most grateful.

No one has anything to share? Interesting docs from within one family...

I've had it for about 6 years and refer to it often. It is quite valuable to me.

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