Old Family Military Heirlooms (1 Viewer)

[VanguardFC007]

I know some here on the boards collect military memorabelia and what not so I was wondering if anyone had accumulated some interesting artifacts that had family value. This holiday season my grandmother passed on to me my grandfather's knife from his time in the Marines as well as a macheti he picked up during his tour in the Pacific. The macheti is pretty much beyond repair as it is severly rusted and the metal quite weak. But the knife is in fine condition. It has some old wax on it from being used to cut candles many years ago but nothing that a little work cant clean.

 

[4th Hussar]

If it is an old USMC K bar they are very collectible. My father in law was a WW2 marine and hung on to his Kbar to his last day

 

[Louis Badolato]

I have my Uncle Joe Amana's Purple Heart from when he was KIA in an 8th Airforce B17. I also have some photos of him and his brother in uniform in an airbase in England.

My mom used to have his wings, and his buriel flag. I also have a clip from a .45, but I am not sure it is really his.

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Guys,

I have my Great Uncles WWII Service Star from my great Aunt. A photo of my Great Uncles Father as a Corporal of Cavalry in the Philipines around 1900.
I also have patches and equipment from my dad who was in for a few years during the 1960 I also have all of my service awards and of course some interesting things my wife brought home from Iraq.

All the best

Dave

 

[Lewey Gun Vick]

Well lets see here, some loot from Manuel Noriega's office, some Iraqi ammo cans, Iraqi gas masks, don't no what else their is, my dad has like 2 giant trunk loads of old army stuff from the Gulf, and Panama.

Vick

 

[Deitz]

I have a compass and pocket watch that my grandfather used during World War I.

 

[Capitolron]

I have my Father's US Army Air Corps Uniform, a portrait (of himself in uniform) he had made in the Pacific when in the occupation army and several photos.

Also I went on line to get a reproduction set of his medals and insignas.

 

[thebritfarmer]

I have my Grandads' tie and documents that he received from joining the 1000 mile per hour club. I also have my dads' mess uniform.

 

[Warrior]

My father brought back a German helmet from WWII, my uncle brought back two Japanese rifles and a Japanese flag from Iwo Jima, all of which were given to me by them.

I've also got my other uncles burial flag, which means more to me than probably anything I own, my uncle was a top shelf guy and I think about him everyday.........

 

[VanguardFC007]

On top of the knife I also have the same grandfather's service medals and honorable discharge papers. Theres some photos of him and his buddies standing on a bulldozer on some airfield. I also have his burial flag.

My other grandfather served in the army air corps and his old flight jacket and photos are with other parts of the family.

 

[lancer]

My father was in Naval Intel. during the war and had postings at Bougainville and the Phillipines amongst others. I have his issue 1911A1, web belt, holster, magazine pouch, some uniform items, discharge papers, and replacement medals (he never picked up the originals). I also have a war souvenir German Luger my uncle gave me. It came to him via trade as he was to young to enlist until the very end of war and never was posted overseas. That's it for my heirlooms as my father dumped all his other uniforms and stuff while I was still a small kid. -- lancer

 

[bromhead]

As far as myself it never occured to me a great deal about my items as probably thru history with most,,I have kept most photos,military records and paper tho lost some in a fla hurricane,,I have my class A uniform in full kit in plastic as my field jacket, passed on to my kids most of my fathers ww2 B17 flying items,,photos,medals,wings,some records, paper,,most valued a 48 mission diary including entries after a water landing,,hit by jets for the first time,flak hit-purple heart,entries as to a group commander who became chief of staff, ploesti bombing high alt. 1 photo as a replacement a/c in my albums, unfortunatly othe rfamily items from ww1,2 not available for the most part.

 

[Gideon]

I just recently brought some stuff back with me from NYC:

Grandpa's airforce uniform - Recon Photo Specialist

Harold Morans wings. Harold was son of George Moran who had built and operated the Thunderbolt in Coney Island. He was a bomber pilot and was shot down somewhere over Italy in 43 or 44. I have the telegram somewhere telling what happened:

While not military, these were my great grandfathers. He was a rough and tumble guy who very likely used these on a few occasions:

 

[Louis Badolato]

Gid,

Was this the Grandpa who played for the NFL St. Louis Cardinals? I'll bet he was one tough dude!!!

 

[Gideon]

Gid,

Was this the Grandpa who played for the NFL St. Louis Cardinals? I'll bet he was one tough dude!!!

Nope, that was my moms dad. He played for the Newark Bears. This was my dads dad.

 

[Gideon]

Just wanted to clarify on Harold Morans wings:

KIA April 22nd 1945. From the Brooklyn Eagle, dated March 11th 1949, Harold was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. His flight crew reported that Lt Moran, while seriously wounded, took his damaged bomber from an altitude of 80 to 2000 feet enabling all but one his crew to successfully bailout to safety. His plane took more rounds of anti-aircraft fire and crashed.

 

[trooper]

I've got my father's medals from both World Wars. He enlisted in the Norfolk Regiment, went to France and was wounded in the leg by a ground strafing Albatros. After recovery he was re-badged to the Royal Fusiliers and was badly wounded by a shell burst at Passchendeale. During the Second World War he was in the Home Guard, working all day and then spending several nights a week patrolling. God knows when he slept.

 

[jazzeum]

Any chance you all could post some photos. I think we'd all love to see them.