IMPERIAL QUEST Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 (edited) Funny how when you least expect it, something incredible happens. This grouping was found in a small Texas town at an antique shop. These items were recently bought by a dealer at an estate sale, and offered for a ridiculously low price at this shop. The only "bad" thing about the grouping is the attempt by the dealer to conceal the recepients name by employing a sharpie permanent marker on the original labels on the reverse of the boxes . Fortunantly, with the help of a magnifying glass, and a bright light - I easily deciphered the name of the recepient. I am currently trying to research this person, and with the help of a friend-have found the following so far:Rear Admiral Neill D. Brantly, US Navy 1920-1950Silver Star Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Bronze Star MedalBorn: July 8, 1897 Died: June 26, 1972Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, Plot: V, 0, 1163US Naval Academy Graduate No. 5582, 1920Commanded the Beach Yellow Harbor Control Unit during the assault on Cape Glouster in December, 1943Commander of Special Services Vessels during the assault on HollandiaCommanded Control Vessels with the Destroyer Screen DESRON 25 at Leyte GulfFirst, an overall shot.What a shame I could not buy this set out of respect for the recently passed SVA.... Edited May 23, 2007 by IMPERIAL QUEST Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMPERIAL QUEST Posted May 23, 2007 Author Share Posted May 23, 2007 (edited) Captain's shoulder boards in the original envelope (with Houston, Texas store address) and box...mint. It makes since that they were purchased in Houston as the Admiral lived there. Edited May 23, 2007 by IMPERIAL QUEST Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMPERIAL QUEST Posted May 23, 2007 Author Share Posted May 23, 2007 Silver Star, and Bronze Star Medals obverse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMPERIAL QUEST Posted May 23, 2007 Author Share Posted May 23, 2007 Reverse...as right as can be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMPERIAL QUEST Posted May 23, 2007 Author Share Posted May 23, 2007 Reverse of award cases Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMPERIAL QUEST Posted May 23, 2007 Author Share Posted May 23, 2007 Inside Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMPERIAL QUEST Posted May 23, 2007 Author Share Posted May 23, 2007 outside shot 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMPERIAL QUEST Posted May 23, 2007 Author Share Posted May 23, 2007 Beautiful patina...ahhhhh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMPERIAL QUEST Posted May 23, 2007 Author Share Posted May 23, 2007 This was in the small brown box shown, and was in the larger box containing all of the other items seen here. Not sure if this could have been the Admirals' since he graduated the NA in 1920...maybe his Father's??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMPERIAL QUEST Posted May 23, 2007 Author Share Posted May 23, 2007 American Defense in original box, and the clasp is merely lying loose on top of the ribbon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMPERIAL QUEST Posted May 23, 2007 Author Share Posted May 23, 2007 (edited) Absolute mint in box WW II Victory. I can sleep well knowing that I passed on this group because the government thinks I shouldn't collect these items...man, I feel so safe and proud!! Edited May 23, 2007 by IMPERIAL QUEST Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rick Research Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 If he graduated from Annapolis in 1920, he would have begun courses there in 1916, so he would have earned the WW1 Victory Medal. Maybe it was the family that blotted out the name. People are strange-- didn't care enough to keep these, but "embaarassed" to be selling them? Not sure what you mean from the mis-typed last post. I've fixed the title spelling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMPERIAL QUEST Posted May 23, 2007 Author Share Posted May 23, 2007 (edited) If he graduated from Annapolis in 1920, he would have begun courses there in 1916, so he would have earned the WW1 Victory Medal. Maybe it was the family that blotted out the name. People are strange-- didn't care enough to keep these, but "embaarassed" to be selling them? Not sure what you mean from the mis-typed last post. I've fixed the title spelling.Thanks very much Rick. Very good news indeed about the WW I victory. I didn't realize that he would have been eligible while at Anapolis. Thank you for fixing the title, and I'l fix my hastily-written last post. Edited May 23, 2007 by IMPERIAL QUEST Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul R Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 That is a really great grouping!! Congratulations on rescuing it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_Haynes Posted May 23, 2007 Share Posted May 23, 2007 Nice group, a shame it is broken, but, still, . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMPERIAL QUEST Posted May 23, 2007 Author Share Posted May 23, 2007 Thanks guys, I was floored when I saw the Silver Star in the red case. I am still having a problem believing the asking price. God Bless small towns.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted June 9, 2007 Share Posted June 9, 2007 Steven,That's a kick ass grouping and again, your display is really beautiful. Congratulations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Brouillard Jr. Posted August 15, 2022 Share Posted August 15, 2022 Great group!! Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAL Posted August 15, 2022 Share Posted August 15, 2022 Brantley appears on the Rear Admiral retired list in the 1951 Register of Commissioned Officers with a retirement date of June 1950. He appears in the USNA Alumni register with a retirement date of 1 Jun 1950. The regulation codes cited in regard to his retirement in the 1951 Register were “C” and “O”. C = Retired for age ineligibility for promotion, act of August 29, 1916, or for service ineligibility for selection for promotion. This means that Bratley was not eligible for lineal promotion to rear admiral based on age and/or time in grade as a captain. His promotion to captain came on 20 Jun 1942. By the time 1950 rolled around he had 30 years commissioned service and had been a captain for eight years. Promotion to rear admiral at that time required 10 years’ time in grade as a captain. Too many years’ service, not enough time in grade. In 1950, his last year of active service, he was 69th in seniority on the captains’ list; there were 1807 captains. Brantley retired 1 Jun 1950. O= Placed or advanced, upon the retired list with the rank or next higher grade in recognition of having been specially commended for performance of duty in actual combat. Having been awarded the Silver Star for performance of duty in combat, Brantley was eligible to apply for a retirement promotion to the next higher grade, in his case, rear admiral. The promotion was concurrent with his retirement. These retirement promotions are what are known in the vernacular as “tombstone promotions.” No increase in his retirement pay, just a little extra prestige, the higher rank on one’s tombstone, and, of course, prior to that end, the all-important flag parking in front of the Navy Exchange. Up until October 1959, Navy and Marine Corps officers, provided one had an appropriate combat decoration, could apply for, and be retired, at the next higher rank concurrent with their retirement. Brantley held the Silver Star, which was sufficient for the purpose of the regulation. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sal Posted January 18, 2023 Share Posted January 18, 2023 Phenomenal grouping. The Silver Star is the kicker for me…just beautiful and the Bronze Star in the short titled Navy case is great too. Great find… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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