Ulsterman

From the Stars and Stripes, ETO edition, July 10, 1944: "The Age of Miricles, It Seems, Is Now Here George McCann, Chicago railroader, has been in the army just five weeks, but already he has been (1) Given a two week furlough, (2) sent to the ETO, and (3) been made a tech seregant. McCann reported for induction at Camp Planche, La., last month and immediately received the usual two weeks leave granted selectees. Later he embarked on a brief training program which earned him a T/4 rating. The drilling over, McCann was rushed to England and upon reporting to the Military Railroad Division was promoted to a five striper."

Like this man:

Grossly undervalued in my opinion, I remember when these were 25 pounds at Spinks only 7 years ago. I just picked up this third class in silver (silver marks on the back too) for pocket change. I love these: the precision, quality workmanship, the snow white enamel work, silver filigreed oak leaves and sweeping, smooth, curve of the cross's arms make this my favorite merit award. This is the Austrian version of the EK2 noncombat award I suppose-but much nicer.

Great information! Much useful info also pertinent to medal bars. Pity it's not in book form somewhere for all posterity. here's hoping....one day...one day....

Two comments: Flower war medals were awarded to a variety of folks-not just people in uniform, so he might hypothetically undefined be a civillian and has anyone ever seen this type of 'miniture bar before? Also, the KDM before the rest of the stuff is bothersome to me: most everybody I have ever encountered with this was a tram driver or lathe operator or a typist. Lastly: I think it's a fake.

Interesting file, do I read correctlt that his son is born almost 10 months to the day after his marriage, but then #1 son dissapears by 1914, when daughter (Irmintrude?) arrives.

How about Wer Ists? Is he in there at all?

Bloody hell! This is GREAT stuff! I did not know the Bavarian archives gave out this level of detail!

There is another avenue of investigation: Try the Bundesarchiv and look for the war diary of that artillery park. Also, wasn't there a Zeug-officers' association? They might have more in an obit.-or even an obit in his local newspaper.

The Austrian commemorative medal at the front hints it was mounted post Anschluss. Says Berlin copper to me. One of his colleagues:

you mean like this? Lot 672 http://www.wallisandwallis.co.uk?

Ahhh-- if only we could see the royal files burnt before August 1947?

You mean as in civil defense/ARP?

whoops. What! I am outraged! I demand my money back! Nice avatar FK.

By the way, it was possible the guy had a 1st class:

I've been squinting and measuring and you are right!! he is prussian. there's a hint of a circle in medal #2, but in looking at it at an angle, magnified in sunlight one can see the cross arms. I'm buying everyone a beer! There's another ebay pic of a Napoleonic vet up for sale at the moment-I think most folks think it is a shooting medal.

Wow! Great stuff!!

I think it's Lassiter!

I love that RAD bar; it's a cracker!

Lo-thou art the good twin. Verily I shall reward thee with a small beribboned trinket for thy toilage in the ancient tomes of Asgard! Vivat! Thanks.

At first I thought I had bought a Napoleonic noncom Prussian vet; the ebay picture was fuzzy (taken in @1880 in Philidelphia, PA., USA) and there's the color shift-but then I looked hard and he's not a Prussian. But I'm not unhappy, because I think he might be a Baden Napoleonic vet-or at least someone on the other side of the barricades in '48. What do you think?

Right you are-I never actually looked on the back before-just read the the inscription (ball point pen) above the page-now obviously put there by a Yankee trader. And I suppose a smarter man might've actually noticed the epalettes. The rest of the photos are of IR 59 or 65 through 1939. Can you read the actual signature? Still-nice set of photos:

ED: GREAT stuff!!

Here is a close up of his 'economical' ribbon bar-note the 'wing span':

Here is a photo given at Christmas to one Lt. Gruse, a happy-go-lucky Adjutant in Poland in 1939: