Chris Liontas

Hi Christophe!! I will try to get a better shot of the Feldbinde and confirm it's German State. I honestly would not know a good medal bar from a fake one. However, I have seen photos of Dr Parks and LT Jacobs together with his medals, especially the PLM with Hohenzollern crown attached to it. This makes for a really interesting case. Did LT Jacobs have multiple sets that he wore to certain occasions? Did he have several copies that he got in the 60's as to not damage the original sets? Guys I can tell you for a FACT that this stuff came to Dr Parks from Jacobs. There is no questioning that the Lafyette Foundation in Colorado (USA) recieved these items from the man himself. The neat thing about this story is, what did LT Jacobs consider important to "give away"? Did he have his original, tucked away, and wore good copies to functions. Did he give Dr Parks a copy medal, thinking who would know the difference (and honestly, did he think anyone would ever notice the way we do?) These are the neat questions I would love to ask. Ok more photos (I should be in bed) Here is the book on the Blue Max that features these two awards (this does not mean anything, just wanted to point out these have been around a while) Note the history on the one with the Crown. This doesnt have a date on it, so who is to say it was not made in the 50-60's

closer shot. More to come again!

Hi Guys! More to come on this! I love a good mystery! LT Jacobs was a close personal friend of Dr Parks. Dr Parks, MD, was teaching at the University of Munich when he met the Lt. They developed a large friendship and, as I understand from Dr Park's son, Lt Jacobs gave his medals, dunkelblau uniform, and several very nice photos to Dr Parks later on. These items would have to have been given in the late 60's or early 70's. I do not know the exact date, but I will find it. I talked with Stephen Privitaria about the Technical Museum, there is some doubt that the PLM to Lt Jacobs, in the museum, is his actual medal. More to come--I took more close ups and will post them this weekend.

A new photo I got (actually a while ago) but I am just posting it. It is a SPAD XIII of the 95th Aero Squadon......but notice anything different about it? :)

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_08_2011/post-948-0-16032000-1314242093.jpgughh these stink. I promise better photos. I was playing around with their new Spad XIII wingframe, and the museum director just put these in my hand. Was too excited to hold still. :)

two

I promise I will get better photos of these. But how often do you get to hold two named Pour Le Merite's in your hand? Both of these reside in the Dr Parks museum in Colorado and were given to him by Jacobs himself. Jacob's dunkelblau uniform and medals are also in the museum. --the bright one was given to Jacobs post war by a Navy ace, and the crown is soldered onto the cross itself. --the other looks like an issue piece, but I could not get a good shot of the hallmarks. crappy camera phone- My good 18 Meg one died on me. I will get better photos in a couple weeks if there is interest.

Did Russia re constitute the Order of St Andrew?? I was not award that had been brought back! Another beautiful award!

Wow -- I must agree.

Would this have the same type requirements as the German East Front Medal?

That was going to be my question, what replaced the Order of Glory. Personally, I think the St George medal is a great choice. Wasnt there a large distinction between the Order and Medal during Tsarist times?

Ughh. Really makes you sad when stuff like that happens. I see it alot with the WWI American Aero Squadron stuff on the market these days.

You've had some amazing stuff Chris. That fact that most of it was named was the amazing part. That 12th SS tunic is still my favorite due to its history

excellent! It has been so long since I had a good cigar. I smoked my last Monte Cristo over a year ago. I'm so happy we embargo Cuba :P

ROFL!!!!! What kind of cigar?? :)

Catholic Bavarian Monk serving his duty time. The Catholic monks were allowed to wear their robes rather than a unifom if they represented a certain order. I saw the majority of these with Bavarians. An Orthodox would be a little different in the vestment and cross.

amazing pieces! Do you have any problems with dust or age to the oils? Is there any maintenance you need to do with the fabric itself?

The mask, Percy could not talk about how he got this, only the situation in general terms. Gas still haunted him until his dieing day

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A small item but poignant in it's history. This was captured in the heavy fighting of the Oise-Aisne offensive, where the US 32nd Division earned the name, "Les Terribles". Percy Totten, of F company, 126th Infantry, 32nd Division was in the vanguard of the fighting. After a heavy allied barrage on the German trenches, the 126th attacked and gained the trench line. With bullets wizzing by him, Percy rolled into the trench, as he described, "filled with German dead". During a rest in the trench, Percy took this gas mask, before F company advanced. The original owner, who got this from Percy, tells me he was always haunted by remembering this. He did not sleep remembering the dead piled in the trenches. The mask is named. I wish I could trace his name. Unlike the helmet, which had both individuals surviving the war....this story is different. It reminds me of the cost of the items we collect. The German died, and lost his future. Percy was haunted, and dammed to no rest in his survival. This to me shows the massive cost of human conflict

NICE!!!! I know it was a huge source of pride to the Doughboy's to have "succeded" where the French of 1916 did not. Although the Argonne was a far cry from Verdun of 1916. They seem, in diarys, to not differentiate between the two. Those helmets are amazing!!!

so....you dont want me to show you the gas mask from the Oise-Aisne offensive :)

Inside shot. It is nice to know that both the wearer, and the taker of the helmet survived the Argonne.

other shots of the helmet

There are vast amounts of captured German, both WWI and WWII items floating around in collections. You see doughboy groups with items in them, but rarely do I ever find one with a history behind the captured item in question. I was lucky enough to find this helmet, and get the story behind it. The helmet was given to the collector I received it from by the Doughboy himself. Percy Totten was a member of F company, 126th Infantry, US 32nd Division. The 126th Infantry was originally made up of men from Michigan, as was the 125th Infantry. Percy was in every major engagement of the 32nd division. Right before the armistice was signed, Percy was ordered on a Trench Raid. This would have been around early November. The 32nd division was brought out of the Argonne Offensive in October for rest. Then it was ordered to support the 5th Division. The 126th Infantry was in support at this point, of the 128th Infantry who was in contact with the Germans. Percy's platoon, was ordered to get prisoners to see what the German's were doing. (Headquarters had originally thought the Germans at this time were pulling back, and sent the 128th Infantry into an ambush.) They took three prisoners on the raid, and Percy was assigned to take them to headquarters. On the way, he took this helmet off a German trooper, and sent it home to his mother. You can still see where the postage stamp was placed. The helmet is a nice brown, black bordered cammo pattern. I am attempting to figure out what German unit this might have come from. It would have been situated to the right of the 5th Division. Anyone have any ideas? The photo below is of Percy himself, just returned to Brooklyn Michigan after occupation duties in Germany.