buellmeister

Chris, that picture is a rare find indeed. Thank you for your contribution. Regards, Joel

Jon, Great Pictures my friend! Regards, Joel

Claudiu, What works for me, given that most of my pictures are either Scanned or taken from my Digital Camera then saved in, "My Pictures" folder, is that once saved, right click and hit the edit tab. From there I can hit the resize option and change the size of the picture to allow for it to be downloaded. It may work for you without owning photographic editing software... Regards, Joel

Joe, I completely agree. It is a bit scary to know that many of the medals and helmets that we collect were stripped from the dead... Joel

Thought that this story had a happy ending to share with you all. 63 years late, a soldier?s dog tag comes home D-Day soldier?s ID, recently found in France, is returned to Tennessee family Updated: 4:42 p.m. ET June 6, 2007 HUNTINGDON, Tenn. - The family of Pvt. William Bernice Clark never had a funeral for him, never got to say goodbye and never really accepted his fate among the fallen during the Normandy D-Day landings in World War II. That was until a piece a him, his dog tag discovered in the sands of Omaha Beach in France, was returned to his native Tennessee on Wednesday ? exactly 63 years after that tragic day. ?This feels like an ending,? said the soldier?s first cousin, 79-year-old Lota Park, who along with another cousin accepted the dog tag at a ceremony in the small town of Huntingdon, about 90 miles west of Nashville. The tag has blackened with age, but his name, identification number, religion (Protestant) and blood type (Type O) are all clearly visible. It remained out of sight for more than five decades until a collector from England found it five years ago on the beach, likely near the very spot where the 20-year-old Clark was killed. The collector gave the dog tag to a World War II buff from New Jersey, who turned it over to the National D-Day Memorial. ?It?s in pretty remarkable condition considering it was buried in the sand for 58 years,? said National D-Day Memorial director Jeff Fulgham, who presented the tag to Clark?s surviving family members. The D-Day Memorial, based in Bedford, Va., keeps records of nearly every American and Allied soldier killed during the invasion, and it helped locate Clark?s family in Huntingdon a couple months ago. ?I remember the day the soldiers came and told his mother (that Clark had died),? Park said. ?They never accepted it because there was no proof, no body.? The family has only a few personal effects from Clark: two yellowing photos, a couple of letters during his short service and his Purple Heart. His remains were buried in a cemetery for American soldiers in France. ?Like brothers and sisters? The return of a small piece of metal has reconnected his family to the young soldier?s life that was cut short. ?We were just like brothers and sisters,? said another first cousin, Ava Smothers, 84. The collector from New Jersey, Bill Santora, said the dog tag was the most cherished piece in his World War II collection, but he was happy to give it up when the memorial officials told him it could be returned to his family. ?I always wondered who it was,? Santora said. ?I feel more connected to the soldier, a little connected to family and I think they are going to be happy to have this memento back.? Clark was one of 4,000 American and Allied soldiers killed during intense fighting on D-Day, a crucial turning point in the war. The D-Day Memorial is in Bedford, Va., because that town lost 19 soldiers, the highest per capita loss from any single town in the United States. Regards, Joel

claudiu, Welcome to Forum! Your medals look good to me as well. I'm with Paul in wanting to see closeups. In particular, of your Iron Cross. Curious to see if it is Maker Marked. Kind Regards, Joel

Mark, I too am a recent recipient of such a Brass Framed Cross. There have an appeal to which is all there own. Very Nice! Regards, Joel

Elmar, Interesting... Now, there may be another Manufacturer that I may have to go on the hunt for.... Just add it to my list I say.... LOL! Very Nice Crosses by the way. Regards, Joel

Yes indeed....

Gents, I want to thank a good friend of mine for giving me this Post Card to add to my collection! I think this one sums it up quite nicely! Cheers, Joel

Micha, Very Nice. One of the most interesting dual screwbacks I've seen! Regards, Joel

Steve, Not certain on answering your question. I'd be curious to know myself on that one. Those in the know the floor is your's. Regards, Joel

I agree. Dont get me wrong, finding the Mint ones are a thrill all in there own. However, the Salty Crosses tell the better story in my book. They convey more character and send your imagination in gear to invision them potentionally as being worn in the thick of battle look.

True. I guess I would love just a nice signed letter of acknowledgement that I'd frame with one of their Crosses. Kind of an expose' of the Past and the Present. LOL!

Agreed! Regardless of the lack of a Maker Mark that one is a stunner! You better slow down my friend and leave some of the good ones out the for the rest of us to obtain.

Steve, It's still a beauty and a piece of History is the way I look at it. If the Cross brings you joy it's always worth the purchase! Regards, Joel

Interesting... I actually emailed the Jeweler WILM and congratulated them on their fine craftmanship on there Imperial EK's. Funny I know, but I'm still waiting for a response.. LOL! I'll doubt that ever will arrive... Wishful thinking. Different Times, different Generation running the Business.... Regards, Joel

Jeff, I don't think I was as excited as you upon hearing that the medal I bought was an Imperial German Bowling Award from Aachen. LOL! At least your's has a ribbon... LOL! Regards, Joel

Chris, It is indeed an interesting topic. Honestly, I often as myself why are there so many unknown Manufacturers with EK's? Is there no documentation at all indicating whom made what? Have they arisen when the war needed them and couldnt sustain themselves after the Versailles Treaty and then got obscured in History? Those in the know are you able to shed some more light on this subject? Regards, Joel

Jeff, I know what you mean about getting through the onlookers and those that cut in front of you just to be impolite. It's all good especially if you can find a piece or two in what interests you and to know that you got though it ok with just minor bruising... Regards, Joel

Steve,

Micha, When I handled the cross I knew that not only it would fill a foid in my collection with the "square" stamp but the fact that it was a brass framed piece really got me excited! Thank you sir! Steve, Congrats to you on obtaining a rare find! Exquisite Cross my friend! Regards, Joel

Greg, Thank you as well. Definately one of the more unusual in my collection and from what I've seen, in general.... Regards, Joel

Joe, Thank you for your reply. I could't find the stamp referenced on the Maker's list from the Kaiser's Bunker website let alone one with Brass Frames.

Danny, I thank you for your kind words my friend! I hadn't seen many posts on the "66" stamped Crosses and couldn't wait to get home for further research on this one. Trying to keep up and find one for sale is hard enough especially after your buying them all up. Regards, Joel