D-day American Flag (1 Viewer)

[BLReed]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/06/12/d-day-flag-from-us-boat-sells-for-514g-at-dallas-auction.html?intcmp=hpbt4


Published June 12, 2016 Associated Press
DALLAS – The U.S. flag flown on the stern of the boat that led the first American troops onto Utah Beach on D-Day was sold on Sunday for $514,000 at auction in Texas.

Heritage says the guide boat's skipper, Lt. Howard Vander Beek of Cedar Falls, Iowa, kept the flag up until his 2014 death. The seller acquired it last year when Vander Beek's family sold the historic item at an estate auction.

 

[Terp152]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/06/12/d-day-flag-from-us-boat-sells-for-514g-at-dallas-auction.html?intcmp=hpbt4


Published June 12, 2016 Associated Press
DALLAS – The U.S. flag flown on the stern of the boat that led the first American troops onto Utah Beach on D-Day was sold on Sunday for $514,000 at auction in Texas.

Heritage says the guide boat's skipper, Lt. Howard Vander Beek of Cedar Falls, Iowa, kept the flag up until his 2014 death. The seller acquired it last year when Vander Beek's family sold the historic item at an estate auction.

Bet the family didn't get a fraction of the recent auction price. Of course the flag was very special to Lt Vander Beek keeping it for 72 yrs, not so much evidently to his family. Chris

 

[lancer]

Bet the family didn't get a fraction of the recent auction price. Of course the flag was very special to Lt Vander Beek keeping it for 72 yrs, not so much evidently to his family. Chris

That should have been an heirloom that never left the family. -- Al

 

[BLReed]

I'd rather it was in a museum that has the funds to conserve the cloth and can be seen by
interested public. Maybe the family has dire need of what funds they got. I'm sure it
was a hard decision.

 

[jazzeum]

I would have thought that this belonged to the United States government.

 

[johnnybach]

I would have thought that this belonged to the United States government.

That was my first thought too Brad. When I left the British Army - I had to hand in everything that had been issued to me. The only thing that I was allowed to keep - was a medal - which was issued personally to me.

I'm not in favour of these "trades" in service memorabelia - where people can make profit from selling things on, which should rightfully be in museums anyway.

I assume it is the same in the services of any other Country.

Tricky though, when it comes to medals - where sometimes the recipient of a big "gong" runs into hard times - and then sells the award to someone with a deeper pocket. How can you blame someone for selling something which is valued by others - when they are down on their luck???

As to Flags - are these the personal property of an individual???????

Just my opinion though. jb

 

[Terp152]

I would have thought that this belonged to the United States government.

Technically, it may. One of the Enola *** crew kept and sold the safety pins from the atomic weapon. The US gov't initially tried to claim proprietary rights but lost. Soldiers often kept weapons, helmets, etc. Unless it's a tank or LST :wink2:, I don't think anyone's going to object. Although, a point can be made for the loss to history of relics like this flag. There were ACW battle flags put up for auction after Edwin Stanton's grandson (?) perished in the airline crash after take-off from (then) National Airport. Those were US property originally as well. Chris

 

[jazzeum]

Thanks for the response Chris. If this is the only surviving flag from a landing craft, I'd like to see in a place where most people can see it such as the Smithsonian. However, if there are a few surviving flags and one of them is in a museum, I suppose it's a non-issue.

Brad

 

[BLReed]

Certain items can be brought back as souvenirs. Then and now. Includes enemy items as well as US. Here is the now.
http://www.stripes.com/news/u-s-troops-war-souvenirs-are-strictly-regulated-1.47550

Department of Defense Form
http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/forms/eforms/dd0603-1.pdf

Then
http://www.ww2f.com/topic/52476-what-souvenirs-were-soldiers-allowed-to-carry-back-home/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_trophy

Generally items of low or no intrinsic value were permited. The US was/is much more lienent than say Britian. Where you can't even bring back a toy soldier without Customs and 31% Vat slapped on. :smile2: