“The future naval officers, who live within these walls, will find in the career of the man whose life we this day celebrate, not merely a subject for admiration and respect, but an object lesson to be taken into their innermost hearts. . . . Every officer . . . should feel in each fiber of his being an eager desire to emulate the energy, the professional capacity, the indomitable determination and dauntless scorn of death which marked John Paul Jones above all his fellows.”

President Theodore Roosevelt delivering the keynote address at the commemorative ceremony held in honor of John Paul Jones at the U.S. Naval Academy on 24 April 1906. Jones’s flag draped casket stands before the speaker’s stand.

President Roosevelt uttered these words (on April 24, 1906) within the confines of the United States Naval Academy at the re-interment of the of remains of the man who is known today as the father of the US Navy, Captain John Paul Jones. Ponder this for a moment.

As a militaria collectors whose primary interest lies in US Navy artifacts, the idea of possessing anything from the Continental Navy is an aspiration that is almost too lofty to consider. The sheer scarcity of objects precludes ordinary collectors like me from pretense of forays into the Revolutionary-era collecting. Seeking out musket balls and powder horns from the Continental Army is one thing, but the minuscule number of patriot participants in the naval service (in comparison to that of the ground soldiers) equates to an incredibly limited volume of available artifacts for collectors.

Considering my financial position and the reality that just about any piece (that I would consider worthy of my interest) from the Revolutionary War is well out of my reach helps to keep me focused on artifacts that are both within my area of focus and budget constraints. However, on occasion, I do find myself wandering about through dealers’ internet sites and online auction listings from the 1775-1783 time-frame  Very seldom do I find anything that captures my attention which is something that happened today…stay tuned.

This painting depicts Captain John Paul Jones’ legendary engagement between his Bonhomme Richard and the HMS Serapis, 23 September 1779.

In school, we learned about the famous exploits of Captain Jones (born John Paul in Scotland in 1747, he added the surname Jones after emigrating to the Virginia Colony in the 1770s) with the notable sea battles between his ships and those of the Royal Navy. His legendary response to the surrender inquiry (“Has your ship struck?”) by the enemy captain of the HMS Serapis (Richard Pearson), “I have not yet begun to fight!” will forever be cited in U.S. Naval lore. But most American school children are not educated on what became of Jones following his war service and his ultimate untimely demise.

“John Paul Jones the Pirate”
This Nineteenth-Century British engraving which symbolizes that nation’s view of Jones.

Following the 1783 signing of the Treaty of Paris that brought about peace between Great Britain and the newly established United States, the need for maintaining a navy was lost on (most) congressional members. By 1785, the Continental Navy was disbanded and the last ship (Alliance) was sold off. Jones found himself in Europe (assigned to collect prize money on behalf of Continental Navy privateer sailors) without a command. After a short stint serving  Empress Catherine II of Russia as an admiral in the Russian navy (along with some controversial legal troubles), John Paul Jones retired to Paris at the ripe old age of 45 in 1790. Two years later, the great Revolutionary War captain was found dead in his Paris apartment having succumbed to interstitial nephritis.

Jones was buried in the French royal family’s cemetery (Saint Louis Cemetery) with considerable expense to M. Pierre François Simonneau, who was incensed that the American government wouldn’t render the honors due such a national hero at his passing. Simonneau said that if America “would not pay the expense of a public burial for a man who had rendered such signal services to France and America” he would pay (the large sum of 462 Francs) himself.

With the collapse of the Louis XVI’s monarchy soon after Jones’ death and burial, the cemetery was sold and after a few years was largely forgotten. Decades passed and John Paul Jones’ grave was lost to decay and years of neglect.

In 1897, General Horace Porter was appointed as U.S. Ambassador to France by President McKinley. Soon after his arrival in Paris, Porter took personal interest in the pursuit of Jones grave while gathering official and private documents (much of it was conflicting) pertaining to his death and burial.

“After having studied the manner and place of his burial and contemplated the circumstances connected with the strange neglect of his grave, one could not help feeling pained beyond expression and overcome by a sense of profound mortification. Here was presented the spectacle of a hero whose fame once covered two continents and whose name is still an inspiration to a world-famed navy, lying for more than a century in a forgotten grave like an obscure outcast, relegated to oblivion in a squalid corner of a distant foreign city, buried in ground once consecrated, but since desecrated by having been used at times as a garden, with the moldering bodies of the dead fertilizing its market vegetables, by having been covered later by a common dump pile, where dogs and horses had been buried, and the soil was still soaked with polluted waters from undrained laundries; and as a culmination of degradation, by having been occupied by a contractor for removing night-soil.” – Horace Porter

After years of research, Porter was confident that he had narrowed down the approximate gravesite location. In 1905, excavation work began as archaeologists began digging beneath a building that had been constructed over the cemetery. Upon unearthing a third coffin (they knew that Jones had been buried in a costly lead casket), the men opened it and found a well-preserved body that matched all the details of the man they sought. Porter wrote, “For the purpose of submitting the body to a thorough scientific examination by competent experts for the purpose of complete identification, it was taken quietly at night, on April 8, to the Paris School of Medicine (École de Médecine) and placed in the hands of the well-known professors of anthropology, Doctor Capitan and Doctor G. Papillault and their associates, who had been highly recommended as the most accomplished scientists and most experienced experts that could be selected for a service of this kind. I of course knew these eminent professors by reputation, but I had never met them.”

Paul Weiss, A. Bailly-Blanchard, General Horace Porter, and others responsible for the exhumation of John Paul Jones, 1905.

This gruesome photo, taken during the 1905 autopsy, shows Jones’ mummified body was well preserved.

Following careful examination, the physicians confirmed the identity (of the remains) as being that of the late Captain Jones. By August of 1905, the lead casket (which was placed inside a wooden casket) had arrived in the U.S. and was temporarily laid to rest at the US Naval Academy’s (USNA) Bancroft Hall during an April 24, 1906 ceremony. Jones’ body remained in this location while his final resting place was constructed beneath the USNA chapel. Upon completion of the elaborate and ornate crypt in 1913, the naval hero of the American Revolution was laid to rest at his final location.

By now you might be wondering why I am going to such great length in describing what happened with the naval hero of the American Revolution and what the possible context is regarding militaria. While perusing an online auction site, I stumbled upon a listing pertaining to Captain Jones. As I scanned through the various images detailing the different facets included with the piece it began to sink in that the auction lot was highly bizarre and extremely unusual. Though seller made a minute attempt to fully describe what the listing was, opting instead to let the incredibly small images (low resolution, no less) makeup for the lack of details within the text.

This online auction lot containing John Paul Jones’ hair and accompanying documents was recently listed at auction (source: eBay image).

From appearances, the lot contained a lock of the Captain’s hair that had been removed by one of the physicians who performed the 1905 post-exhumation autopsy. Accompanying the lock (which was bound with a ribbon) was the doctor’s hand-written note regarding how he obtained the piece. Along with these two pieces is another handwritten note inscribed by the man who purchased the hair (“H. H. Strigley”) from the physician in January, 1926.

While this listing certainly piqued my interest, I’d shudder at the idea of forking over $3,500 (which I don’t happen to have available) without performing the necessary due diligence in verifying the documentation trail (or perhaps a DNA test of the hair would be in order). Taken at face value, the item would be a fantastic acquisition and quite the conversation piece for naval collectors.

When the confetti drops on the victors of the Super Bowl it is a signal that, rather than just the curtain falling on the football season, pitchers and catchers have less than two weeks to pack their bags.

Though much of the nation, at least the Northern states, may be crippled by the biting wind and traffic-snarling snow, indications of the impending spring are apparent, regardless of the vision of a certain Pennsylvania woodchuck…er…land-beaver…I mean…whistlepig (you might refer to him as “Phil” of Punxsutawney, PA). For many fans of America’s pastime, the day after Valentine’s day is the first day of spring.

For militaria collectors who are interested in the game of baseball, there are no beginnings or endings to the season. No spring training, cuts, mid-season call-ups, playoffs or championships are components of collecting military baseball. Fortunately trades and wins (and sadly, losses) come occur between the lines, on the field of play.

Sailors take in a game at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Many collectors who play the game of baseball collecting spend their time focusing on artifacts pertaining to specific players-turned soldier (or sailor). Some seek score cards or programs from the notable service team championship games while still others pursue artifacts from the games – worn or used by the players themselves. But in some cases, it is less important (for collectors) to seek items documenting or connected to star athletes, as the game itself is central to their pursuit.

Photographs of ordinary baseball teams fielded by individual military units, to some, may seem a bit mundane and ordinary. However, these images are quite riveting as they reveal the pageantry of the game. From action shots of games being played to group photos of the team dressed in their uniforms, moments in both baseball and military history are captured, forever bound together.

The 1914 West Point Military Academy baseball team.

One of the most compelling photographs for me is one that reveals historical information in the surrounding area or background. I seek out context – what was happening on the base or aboard the ship when the film was exposed?

My motivation for this particular interest was sparked when I inherited a photo album from my grandmother that contained a collection of snapshots of her sailor-brother who played for his ship’s ball club in the 1930s. Present among the images of my grand-uncle aboard ship and in his navy attire were two team shots featuring him (and the rest of the club) dressed in a simple baseball uniform (not the standard flannel of the era) with the ship’s name emblazoned across the chest.

The USS Maine (ACR-1) fielded an integrated team in the late 1890s.

Some of the earliest images dating to the late nineteenth century are (obviously) the most difficult to find due to their rarity. But rarity doesn’t solely fuel the collectors’ interest. One image of the USS Maine’s ball club, taken in the late 1890s (before the ship met her fateful end) shows that the game was integrated, like the professional game was, prior to the enacting of the oppressive Jim Crow laws.

Sailors of the USS Washington (ACR-11) pose in their home uniforms next to one of the ship’s main battery turrets (1911).

In the game of baseball, hope springs eternal as February runs into March and opening day looms on the horizon. But why wait until the first pitch to step up to the plate?

All photos courtesy of the Library of Congress (LOC).

I doubt there are many collectors who have NOT experienced the current run that I’ve been on, though I certainly feel alone in this rut.

Dating back to last fall, I have been seeing some amazing online auction listings of seldom-seen militaria pieces. It seems that with each week that passes, an item gets listed that falls into one of my many robot-searches, alerting me to investigate and research the piece. After the necessary due diligence, I am reeled-in and decide what I can afford and get set to place my highest bid (yes, I use a sniping program). After a few days of waiting, I receive the dreaded notice that I had been outbid milliseconds after mine was placed.

This khaki aviator’s ball cap is an oddity with this artwork on the bill. A sewn-on rank insignia adorns the front panel (source: eBay Image).

Aside from the disappointment of being outbid, the other all-too-familiar letdown that I have been experiencing is the discovery of pieces that would fit perfectly into my collection but the price never seems to align well with my budget. Illustrating this point was when a stunning World War II-vintage aviator’s ball cap, complete with hand-painted squadron artwork was listed at auction.

A close-up of the hand-painted bill shows the “437th” in the squadron insignia (source: eBay Image).

When I first laid eyes on the khaki ball cap, I was immediately captivated by the hand painted checkerboard pattern surrounding the squadron insignia. Though the design was monochromatic, the design appeared amazingly crisp overlaying the painted-yellow background. My interests lie predominantly with naval history so my expertise is lacking with regards to knowledge of Air Corps squadrons. The “437th inscribed within the insignia was very difficult to research with investigative results being sketchy. The most-likely squadron I could find that would fit the numeric designation was the 437th Bombardment Squadron, Light.

In this undated WWII photo of the Tuskegee Airmen, notice the aviator ball cap worn by some of the men.

With no experience in these caps, I had no idea of the range of value for this cap. The one thing that put me off a bit was the initial bid price of $750. On one hand, it seemed to fit my perception of value, but without ironclad provenance (it had none) or any way to confirm the squadron identity, the price started to seem quite high. Too many questions coupled with the lack of sound seller-history, I couldn’t begin to ponder placing a bid even at half the asking price.

The cap appears to be a correct-vintage with the leather sweatband (source: eBay Image).

Since I first saw the cap, the seller has (unsuccessfully) listed the cap for auction a second time with a lower price. With being listed twice and not a single bid, one could infer that the cap isn’t worth the risk. But something in me keeps me guessing and wondering.

Perhaps I’ll just wait for the next amazing listing to pass on (or be passed on).

I make no apologies for my passion for United States Navy militaria just as I never pass on an opportunity to talk about the history of my favorite branch of the U.S armed forces. By the time I was serving aboard my second ship I took interest in the legacies that were berthed in semi-permanent moorages awaiting some final disposition.

During my first enlistment, I was part of the commissioning crew of the Navy’s newest (at that time) state of the art cruiser. I spent four years aboard culminating in a combat deployment carving, along with my shipmates, my own page of naval history. It was a difficult yet highly rewarding time in my life. From that ship, I opted to relocate in favor of a preferred geographic region, settling for an old workhorse auxiliary vessel.

One of the first things I learned about my new (old) ship was that the main propulsion plant was significantly older than the ship itself. It seems that the Navy sought to make use of the steam turbines from the mothballed, incomplete BB-66 hull. The unfinished ship, the USS Kentucky, had been under construction as World War II was winding down and was no longer needed in the post-war navy. This powerful propulsion plant meant that my ship was very powerful and could keep up with the Navy’s modern super carriers.

USS Hornet as she sat in Bremerton, WA awaiting her final disposition.

Not only was there some history within my ship, but her home port was filled with it. The naval base was not only an active naval station and naval shipyard but it was also ship boneyard (see Kit and Carolyn Bonner’s fantastic work, Warship Boneyards) . There among the handful of active ships was an entire fleet of retired ships waiting for the Navy to decide their final fate. Greeting me as I drove up to the main gate were ships that had graced the pages of WWII naval history – among them were the USS Oklahoma City (CL-91), USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) and the USS Hornet (CV-12).

This image of the USS Oklahoma City shows her pier side after her decommissioning.

When we were in port, I was surrounded by naval history and I was like a kid in a candy store. What made things more interesting for this budding historian was when I was tasked with searching a few of the inactive ships for needed parts to make repairs to our antiquated equipment in combat information center (CIC) on my ship. Armed with a tool bag, my shipmate and I made our way through three vintage inactive carriers (the Hornet, Bon Homme Richard and USS Oriskany CV-34) in search of treasures. Traipsing through the various ready rooms, I was overwhelmed by the painted squadron insignia in each space along with tote boards where pilots would track their missions and statistics for launch and recovery performance.

WWII Naval aviators congregate in their ready room as they prepare for a combat mission in 1944.

Walking the flag bridge – where the embarked admiral and staff coordinated battle group operations – caused my imagination to stir. Regardless of of the space, I looked for anything that I could remove and tuck away in my pocket to preserve for posterity (I admit it, I was really looking for something to add to my collection). Unfortunately, I was unable to locate anything small enough that I would be able to carry past the mothball ships’ caretaker. Though my collection didn’t benefit, my ship did as we located most of the needed components. I was left with one of my most cherished memories

While this story doesn’t have a happy ending from a collector’s perspective (not that what I might have personally acquired would have been under ethical circumstances), what I did keep was a fantastic experience walking the decks among the ghosts of decades long past. A few short years later, three of the four ships (mentioned above) would be disposed of. One was scrapped (CV-31) and two others were sunk as a targets (CL-91 and CV-34) for missile firing exercises.

USS Oriskany (CV-34) sinks after charges are detonated. She settled on the bottom almost precisely at her intended location as a man-made reef (source: Matta).

Navy enthusiasts and budding historians can follow in my footsteps whole touring the USS Hornet Museum in Alameda, California though I’d recommend NOT emulating me by bringing your tool bag.

Many people collect U.S.Navy rating badges and many other folks collect ephemera. Still other collectors pursue metal insignia and uniform devices. But the question I have is, how many of them combine all three “genres” of militaria collecting into one, singular focus?

As a ten-year veteran of the U.S. Navy and an amateur military historian, I’ve researched a vast number of subjects ranging from basic minutia to emotionally gut-wrenching and personally significant stories with historical context that I find utterly fascinating. During my naval career, I performed my job without so much as a fleeting thought regarding the historical aspects of my chosen specialty. Navy enlisted men and women receive schooling and training to perform specific job functions to meet the needs of each unit or command. These ratings (similar to the Army’s Military Occupational Specialty or MOS) are denoted on each sailor’s sleeve insignia with a unique emblem symbolizing certain characteristics of that specialty.

Somewhat uncommon, these two-piece rating badges were a short-lived experiment. The sailors need only swap out the chevrons with advancement (or demotion).

My own rating, Operations Specialist, seemed to be (to me) quite ordinary and less historic as compared to traditional ratings such as boatswain’s mates, gunners mates and machinist mates. I was none too interested in discovering any of the historical aspects or the development of my rating beyond what was presented in my training manuals. Other than the basic historical narratives (also presented in the training manual) regarding the history of naval radar, I didn’t give it much thought. Despite this lack, I did manage to excel at my job and advance in a timely manner.

What turned me onto the historical backstory of my rating was an insignificant story that I read about the installation of radar onto the USS Washington (BB-56) as told in the pages of Ivan Musicant’s 1986 book, Battleship at War: The Epic Story of the USS Washington. What was revealing to me was how radar was installed onto the ship and essentially turned over to untrained operators and technicians. In his book, Wahoo: The Patrols of America’s Most Famous World War II Submarine, Medal of Honor recipient Admiral Richard O’Kane made considerable mention of the submarine’s unreliable radar and the continuous need for the boat’s radiomen (the technicians and operators) to service the wonder-device. Both of these books planted a seed that my navy job had an important history that was berthed during World War II and developed into a key job function in today’s radar-reliant naval service.

When I added the activity of collecting to my interests, I cultivated a new desire that prompted me into new research directions. One could say that when I was bitten by the rating badge-collecting bug, my interest was tempered by context. I focused on ratings that had connection to me such as my grand-uncle (post-WWI musician), grandfather (ship’s cook), brother-in-law (machinist’s mate), uncle (radioman) and my own. Along with those rating badge pursuits, I picked up some of the more highly sought-after rates whose ranks were filled by more than their share of heroic blue jackets, such as hospitalmen, aviation radiomen. However, I found myself drawn to the historical aspects of my own rating, originally known as ‘Radarman’.

The Radarman rating (abbreviated as RdM) was officially established in 1943 after radar became more widely adopted aboard ships and submarines, and was at that time finding its way onto naval aircraft. The demand for highly skilled and trained operators and technicians prompted the Navy’s Bureau of Personnel to create a program to send qualified personnel to the fleet to better utilize the secret weapon. The rating badge that was subsequently created employed a borrowed feature from the radioman rating as it referenced the close connections to the communications technology. Also, many of the early Radarmen had previously served as Radiomen. The badge symbol used the electrical spark bolts (three rather than the four seen on the Radioman’s insignia) with an overlaid arrow indicating the directional detection aspects of the job.

This OS insignia shadow box would be a fine addition to my RD/OS group (source: Shadowbox For You).

In 1946, the Navy updated the insignia, incorporating the oscillator symbol while carrying over the arrow insignia. In 1973, change impacted this rate once again as BUPERS split the rate, removing the technicians (rolling them into the electronics technician rate) and those who were skilled as Electronic Warfare (ESM, ECM and ECCM) specialists as EWs. Those who remained were  re-designated as Operations Specialists (OS) yet the rating badge remained and continues at present.

A selection of my Radarman rating badges. All are from during and immediately following the end of WWII.

My collection of OS militaria began with what remained from my time in the service: insignia that was never applied to my uniforms. I began to pursue badges from WWII and worked my way forward to the 1960s and 70s as I picked up some special bullion versions. I searched for insignia from the rating’s roots and then onto ephemera, such as rate training manuals from several eras. I have managed to save some of the tools of the trade in the area of navigation, such as compass and dividers, parallel rulers, and nautical charts. I am still seeking an OJ-194 NTDS (Naval Tactical Data System) console for my office (OK, perhaps this would be overkill).

With manufacture dates ranging from the 1940s, this selection of Radarman/Operation Specialist badges includes current-issue SSI.

I always keep my eyes open for anything that might augment this collection without breaking my budget or fill the floorspace in my home. At some point, I would like to assemble this collection in order to create a well-rounded display that is representative of this rating.

References:

• Radio Detection and Ranging

The notion or the idea of time, or at least the measurement of it, has played a significant role in man’s history. The application of time measuring that has played the most impactful role, in my opinion, is in providing the ability to determine one’s geographic location.

“And te tide and te time þat tu iboren were, schal beon iblescet.”  (translates to “Time and tide wait for no man.”) -  St. Marher, 1225

The ability to determine where you are on terra firma is relatively easy to do, and relative to the visibly discernible and recognizable landmarks that surround you, and your proximity to them. But how does one determine their precise location on the open ocean, surrounded by 360-degree views that are free of fixed landmarks? At present, we have the luxury of decades-old technology that uses digital signals by way of triangulation between several points, most of which are man-made structures orbiting the globe at speeds of nearly 17,000 miles per hour.

Prior to 1773, sailors were forced to use a number of inaccurate methods that under perfect conditions, could leave mariners hundreds of miles off-course with one miscalculation. Nautical navigators understood the relationship between time, distance and position (using latitude and longitude) for pinpointing precise location on the globe. In order to perform this task, the imperative information needed was the time of day… exactly. Armed with this information (the time on the clock which would have been set to Greenwich Mean Time), mariners would measure the angle of the sun or other heavenly bodies using a sextant to determine their longitudinal distance from the Prime Meridian — an imaginary vertical line that stretched from the north to the south pole and passed through Greenwich, England.

“Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.” ― William Penn

Without the ability to precisely measure time, mariners were almost guessing at their longitudinal position on the globe. Harrison’s Sea Clock made open-ocean navigation a precise science.

Without an accurate clock, determining longitudinal position was difficult. Leading up to 1773, clocks were abhorrently inaccurate due to the pitching and rolling movements of the ship as well as the environmental conditions (humidity, moisture, heat, cold, etc.) imposing destructive forces upon their delicate mechanical movements and workings. Enter John Harrison, an English carpenter and clockmaker who became interested in solving the navigation challenge and capturing the lofty Longitude Prize offered by England’s Board of Longitude, which he did with his Sea Clock.

Timepieces have fascinated people since their inception, spawning perhaps one of the largest segments of collectors. Within the realm of militaria, clocks and watch collecting tends to have more of a contextual aspect. What I mean by this is that militaria collectors seek authentic and period-exact time pieces to enhance a display or grouping in order to provide an accurate visual representative setting. This is not to say that there aren’t clock collectors who focus solely on military timepieces – there are plenty of people who specialize in this area.

“You may delay, but time will not.” ― Benjamin Franklin

I have watched, from a distance, the sale of many naval chronometers over the past several years; clocks ranging in age from the World War II-era to modern day. My interest in these works is probably due to spending hundreds of hours of plotting fixes on nautical charts and providing time-oriented position data to the commanding officer (such as in the Eight O’clock Reports) at various intervals. These chronometers (which are not simple clocks) are usually highly accurate time-measuring devices that seldom operated advanced or retarded from their set time, although we did manage to discover that some were not quite sailor-proof and were subsequently useless in keeping time. As with most collectible items, the older and more intricate the design of the nautical chronometer is, so goes the value and collectibility. Some of these pieces from the late 19th and early 20th centuries are so finely appointed with ornate caseworks and boxes that values can be pushed well into five figures.

The current clocks made by Chelsea, though plainly appointed, are highly desirable (source: Chelsea Clock).

Vintage car collectors are familiar with the term “barn find”, locating a rare car that has been stashed away, relatively untouched in a barn, and are always hopeful that they will be on the receiving end of such a fortuitous experience. For militaria collectors, barn finds sometimes walk through their doors. One such moment played out on the “reality” television show, Pawn Stars, when a vintage maritime clock was featured on a segment of the program (episode 2, season 2: Sharks and Cobras). The man, seeking to sell his inherited clock had an idea that his clock was valuable and wanted to cash in by selling it to the pawn shop. The star of the show (and owner of the Silver and Gold Pawn Shop), Rick Harrison (no relation to the aforementioned, John) observed the inoperable state of the antique timepiece.

Armed with the knowledge of the collectibility of these clocks, Harrison made a low-ball offer and after a few moments of dramatic counter offers, the two reached an agreement and the clock changed hands without the seemingly-requisite expert appraisal by one of Harrison’s many “friends”. Later in the show, a clock expert examines the chronometer, commenting on the aesthetic condition as he removes the inner workings from the case. Flipping the movement over, he simply withdraws two cork pieces that had been inserted years ago to protect the mechanism during storage and transport.

“Time is an illusion.” ― Albert Einstein

Now fully functional, Rick Harrison can sell the clock for several thousands of dollars earning considerable profit over the low-dollar investment (which included a $50 repair fee from the clock expert).

For more on clock collecting, see: National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors

[Pawn Stars, HISTORY and the History “H” logo are the trademarks of AEN. Collectors Quest is a partner of AEN.]

As a collector of militaria and a self-professed amateur military historian, I am only just beginning to scratch the surface when it comes to collecting artifacts from the Civil War. My skills and experience are so limited when it comes to understanding what I am looking at (or, for that matter, looking FOR) that I have to bring to bear the skills that I do possess to compensate for the areas where I am lacking.

My ancestor fought at the battle of Malvern Hill and as a cavalryman, would have carried a Sharps Carbine. This round was excavated from the Malvern Hill battlefield.

This year (2012) was a banner year for me in my quest to uncover rock-solid details and history pertaining to those in my ancestry who served in the military. I was able to use the National Archives and other research resources to my benefit in order to produce narratives of service for a handful of my relatives. In that process, I was able to learn that one veteran in particular served with a rather unique (Pennsylvania) cavalry unit that had participated in some of the most notable (and devastating) campaigns and battles of that war.

The discovery of this cavalry veteran ancestor was the catalyst that launched me into collecting militaria associated with the Civil War. Like many Americans, I had a sincere interest in this tragic conflict. During travels for business, if I found myself in close proximity of a Civil War battlefield, I would take the time (sometimes adding a day or more to my time on the road) to visit and tour the sites, not knowing that I had ancestors who might have fought at any of these sites. Back in those days, I was more caught up in the history of these men and their sacrifices.

One thing I have learned is that Civil War militaria is probably the most widely reproduced area of historic military items due to the thousands of Americans that are actively participating in reenactments throughout the country. Reenactors  painstakingly recreate accurate representations of the soldiers they portray, spending thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours in their pursuit of maintaining history with their living portrayals of historic battles. Civil War reproduction is a large industry that recreates everything from uniforms and insignia to rifles, bayonets and other weaponry of the war.

Due to the popularity of the war, relic seekers have been uncovering and selling artifacts seemingly since the guns fell silent and the surrender at Appomattox Court House in 1865. In addition to the selling of authentic pieces, forgers have been working diligently to create fake relics as the prices for the real items rose to stratospheric levels in the 1990s. Some of the pieces (created by these unscrupulous counterfeiters) are incredibly accurate. The process used to age and relic these pieces, make them virtually indistinguishable from the real McCoy.

Those of you who follow my CollectorsQuest blog postings know where I stand on purchasing militaria. Buy the item, not the story. If the story can be verified with indisputable, irrefutable proof, then the you should be willing to pay for the item and the story. On a recent episode of The History Channel’s Pawn Stars television show, a man brought in a Civil War-era officer’s field desk that he sought to sell.

When the seller open the desk, a treasure trove of history was revealed (source: Pawn Stars screen grab).

At first glance, the desk appeared to be a fairly generic desk. When the man opened the collapsible desk the provenance almost poured forth. The cubbies and compartments were filled with period-correct documents, ledgers, books and other pieces that were left behind by the original owner, the seller’s great, great-grandfather who was a captain with the 10th Indiana Volunteer Regiment (“C” Company) and served with them from 1861-1864. The ephemera includes a diverse selection of materials ranging from enlistment documents to a quartermaster’s ledger book detailing the company’s clothing expenditures. Clearly, the information supports the story (presented by the seller) that the desk and it’s contents are genuine.

A massive haul of ephemera documenting this veteran’s service history (source: Pawn Stars screen grab).

What is baffling to me is what could prompt someone to part ways with a museum-caliber artifact that possesses rock-solid history of the family’s ancestry and military heritage. Perhaps my dismay stems from my own challenging pursuit of artifacts to recreate some sort of tangible representation of my ancestor’s service. The desk’s owner was unsuccessful in the pursuit of his $15,000 price tag having received and subsequently rejected a one-tenth offer from Richard Benjamin Harrison (“The Old Man”). The two were miles apart ensuring the desk would remain in the family for the time-being.

Having only seen scans and copies of these as part of my research, I have found that these muster sheets are invaluable in learning about a veteran’s service (source: Pawn Stars screen grab).

One of two enlistment documents from the desk’s original owner (source: Pawn Stars screen grab).

Perhaps this episode will give pause to family heirs who seek momentary monetary gratification as they part ways with their own history. The generations who follow them spend untold hours (mostly unsuccessful) in their pursuit to reconstruct what was so easily cast aside.

See Also: Boxing My Ancestor’s Civil War Service – Part III

[Pawn Stars, HISTORY and the History “H” logo are the trademarks of AEN. Collectors Quest is a partner of AEN.]

Admittedly, patch collecting has only been a dabbling affair for me. While I find this focus area quite intriguing and considerably broad, I still only give it contextual attention. What I mean by that is that I tend to acquire patches that are related or connected to something else I am already collecting. However, there are some exceptions that have lead me to dive a little deeper, assembling a little bit more of a complete collection of certain patches and shoulder sleeve insignia.

Being a veteran of the U.S. Navy, I find that I am more inclined toward navy and Marine Corps patches. Considering that Navy shoulder patches, predominantly seen during WWII, are limited to a handful of varieties, I have been slowly working to expand my collection with at least one example of each. Serious patch collectors know that each of these Navy patch types may have several variations in their design, embroidery, thread colors and backing materials, just to name a few. Rather than commit a lot of time and finances in the pursuit, I chose to simply fill the hole in the collection with one of the variations. My collecting of Marine Corps patches has followed the same path, but with the wider spectrum of patches, but building a complete group will require more time.

Time is something I have plenty of. World War II Marine Corps SSI run the gamut of availability and scarcity and unfortunately, more disposable cash is going to be required for me to fill the gaps in my collection as some USMC patches are downright scarce and highly sought-after. A few months ago, I introduced you to the basics of Devil Dog patches, providing you with a brief history and insight into the more common pieces. However, I didn’t begin to scratch the surface regarding those items that draw the attention of hardcore collectors and fakers alike.

One could essentially group Marine Corps patches into a few levels of availability or scarcity. I am hesitant to apply the term “rare” as sometimes it erroneously conveys to novice collectors a sense of exorbitant monetary value on an item. What this means is that while something might be hard to find, it doesn’t mean that there are lots of collectors are competing for the same item. However, in some instances with the hard-to-find USMC patches, rare and scarce can be interchangeable and the values can be cost-prohibitive for the majority of collectors. In my experience, I’ve categorized USMC patches by their use (i.e. unit type).

Divisions
These patches cover the WWII USMC divisions ranging from the First (1st) through the Sixth (6th) Marine Divisions. Besides the common patches, there are some hard-to-find examples, especially those created during the very early months of the war. The 1st MarDiv patches that were made in Australia (when the division was relieved and sent to Melbourne for R&R following the Guadalcanal operation of 1942-43). These patches are quite distinct featuring a unique backing material and unique embroidery. Of course there are a vast number of variations for each of the subsequent divisions to be on the lookout for.

Marine Air Wing (MAW)
For the purposes of organizing my collection, I have also grouped in the Marine Aircraft Fuselage patches as the units are connected. The MAW units are organized from the 1st through 4th and also include a headquarters group. Each unit has an associated patch design. The same structure applies to the Fuselage units and their patches (1st-4th and HQ). There are several variants of each patch design which can make a novice get cross-eyed wading through each one.

This assortment of patches includes examples of all four Marine Fuselage units along with the HQ patch (shown with the crown). The bottom SSI is from the 1st Marine Air Wing.

Raider Battalions
Perhaps the most widely sought patches originate from the elite Marine Raiders. These legendary units were the original Marine Special Forces units and employed highly skilled grunts who routinely operated behind enemy lines. The unit patch design is simplistic but conveys an ominous symbol superimposed onto a field of blue with five white stars. There are several variations of this patch with correlating price ranges – the upper end of which can break almost any collector’s bank.

Amphibious Corps
These patches employ a similar design to the Marine Raiders patch, borrowing the shape, color, five-star arrangement and the central white-bordered, red diamond field.

Marine Defense Battalions
These battalions were responsible for providing protection of bases throughout the Pacific Theater and consisted of more specialized units including coastal gun and anti-aircraft batteries, a detection battery (searchlights and radar) and machine gun units. These patches would be characterized more as scarce rather than rare. Authentic examples are available but are nowhere near as common as the division patches. Expect to pay a bit of a premium for these patches.

Fleet Marine Forces Pacific (FMFPAC)
Nine patch designs align with the eight units (anti-aircraft artillery, artillery battalions, bomb disposal companies, dog platoons, DUKW companies, engineer battalions, supply and tractor battalions) along with a headquarters unit, and pose an interesting challenge for collectors. Along with the embroidery and backing variations, there are some color alternatives (white emblems instead of gold) which pose some challenges for collectors locating them all.

Among these patches are four examples of the FMF PAC units. The example in the bottom row (with the star) is a more rare white-thread example of the FMF PAC Supply unit. The two patches flanking the FMF PAC Supply SSI are the 5th Amphibious Corps (at left) and Marine Detachment Londonderry patch.

Marine Detachment
These detachment patches are some of the most desirable USMC patches, the Londonderry and Ship’s Detachment patches being a bit more affordable than the more rare (and unique) Iceland patch.

Aviation Squadrons
Perhaps the most widely sought after and diverse patches stem from USMC aviation squadrons. These patch designs could include variations that range from Disney crafted in painted-leather to embroidered fabric. Each squadron could have many renditions dependent upon how long the squadron was active and based upon where they were located. Squadrons could have their patches made in theater by resident artisans (including squadron personnel) or by domestic manufacturers. Specific designs could vary based upon available materials or leadership changes. As the WWII veterans’ personal artifact groups continue to arrive on the market, collectors still discover new variations of squadron insignia that were previously unknown, making authentication a challenge even for the most experienced patch enthusiast.

Without a doubt, I am a sucker for ornately appointed, vintage military uniforms. Seeing a jacket or jumper with a full-ribbon rack or dressed out with shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) or distinguishing marks that illustrate a career of service, no matter the length, immediately grabs and holds my attention. All of the appointments, devices and hardware convey the general story of the wearer’s service, however the details and specifics of the serviceman’s career are non-discernible without documentation. It is at this point where ephemera plays a vital role in militaria collecting.

Taking a stroll through an antiques mall, one can find a wealth of militaria items gracing the various shelves and display cases. Purple hearts, bronze and silver stars, or perhaps even Distinguished Service or Navy Cross medals can be found, at times, among the common European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign and National Defense Service medals. The absence of documentation that associates them with a veteran, in effect, orphans them from the history – the how and why the decorations were awarded. In many instances, these medals are devoid of any engraving or names, truly disconnected from their recipient and all the history. Researching these sorts of finds is virtually impossible.

Though this is only a smattering of the entire ephemera group, it helps to paint a clear picture of my uncle’s military career. In addition to what is shown, I have personal correspondence he had with a few legendary politicians (who were his friends) as well as other information detailing my uncle’s life of service to his country.

Prior to embarking on a multi-year long (and still running) research project to document my family’s military history, I had only anecdotal information – stories that were either told directly to me by the veteran or were handed down from others. When I really got the project moving, I received a large assortment of medals, devices and paperwork for one of my uncles. The paperwork consisted of dozens of service record pages, correspondence from recognizable semi-famous names and their accompanying signatures and several other pieces that served to tell a more complete story of my uncle’s service. When I started to truly analyze and assess what I had inherited, I noticed that this grouping contained an amazing assortment of ephemera – records, mementos, photo albums, short-snorters, passes, ID cards, awards certificates and a broad range of captured enemy pieces, in addition to the uniforms and weapons.

My uncle’s grouping in its entirety, represents a nearly complete narrative of his service and because of the diverse spectrum of items, has considerable value maintained together. If, for some reason, the medals and other pieces were to be separated from the group, their value would be greatly diminished. The documents make all the difference for collectors.

Military paperwork: a group of certificates of appointment along with a selection of the veteran’s decorations (source: Pawn Stars screen grab).

As you might have seen in some of my more recent posts, I’ve been captivated by some of the collectible-themed “reality” television shows. Pawn Stars in particular, whenever militaria is featured, has been rather enjoyable regardless of some of the consistent, albeit formulaic, presentation of each episode as the cast members review the customer’s pieces, determining authenticity and value along with the potential for acquiring items for personal collections of the pawn shop’s inventory.

Watching the episode, it was unclear of Ulysses S. Grant’s signature was from his time as President or as the Commanding General (source: Pawn Stars screen grab).

Yesterday, I was watching an episode in utter amazement when an older gentleman came into the shop with a container that was filled with documents and some decorations. As the man extracted the items from the tube, he began to unroll the paperwork, revealing an amazing collection of documents, complete with historic signatures of men who were presently (when they signed), or would be in the future, filling the office of the President of the United States. The official documents were certificates of appointment, traditionally for commissioning for officers, naming one George R. Vernon to various ranks by direction of the cabinet and military officials (Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft) and, in two instances, the sitting president himself (Andrew Johnson, Ulysses Grant).

President William McKinley’s signature is crystal clear on this certificate (source: Pawn Stars screen grab).

From appearances, the documents looked genuine, especially in light of the several decades of service they represented. Considering that they covered one man’s military service, the context solidified (at least, for me) that the papers were not forgeries, however questions remained surrounding the signatures themselves. Were they officially placed by a representative? Were the autographs facsimiles or rubber stamps? Wisely, Rick Harris deferred his decision to delay purchase until he could have an expert accurately authenticate the documents and signatures.

Chester A. Arthur’s autograph (source: Pawn Stars screen grab).

Not surprisingly, the authentication bore out that the autographs, save for one, were genuine. The signature of President Andrew Johnson was determined to be that of a stamped facsimile which, according to the expert, was quite common at the time of the document due to a problem with his signing hand. Fortunately, the historic nature of the document and the context with the all the other pieces, prevented this discovery from negatively impacting the value of the entire group, which was purchased by Harris.

Subsequent to the taping of the Pawn Stars episode, the group was apparently split apart, as someone along the way determined that the monetary value the individual pieces far surpassed the concept of preserving the history and the idea of keeping the group together. Sadly, it appears that one of the documents is currently listed, at the time of writing this article, in an online auction.

To learn more about ephemera in relation to militaria collecting, see:

• Paper and Postcards – Telling a More Complete Military Story
• Subtle History – Finding a Unique Naval Militaria Piece
• Finding the “Lady Lex,” One Piece at a Time
• Flying Leather – Aviator and Flight Crew Jackets
• The Battle Before the War: Pursuit of the Bismarck
• Militaria Collecting? What’s That All About?

[Pawn Stars, HISTORY and the History “H” logo are the trademarks of AEN. Collectors Quest is a partner of AEN.]

The Rough Riders with Lt. Colonel Roosevelt (at center wearing glasses) after taking San Juan Hill. Note the leather holster attached to his belt (which holds a very special Colt revolver).

Due to the considerable amount of retrospectives in books, television and film production paying attention on World War II, the Spanish-American War (SAW) has all but faded from historical discussion. As aged WWII veterans rapidly pass from society, their children and grandchildren (like me) are seeking to capture their personal and historical narratives pertaining to service during the war. In doing so, a vacuum is left when it comes to relatively minor conflicts such as the War of 1812 and the SAW.

Theodore Roosevelt on horseback with the Rough Riders

However, in context such as discussions about specific events or personalities within one of these wars or milestone anniversaries (Admiral Dewey, the USS Maine or the bicentennial of the War of 1812), some discussion does percolate regarding these other historical occurrences.

In keeping with my previous string of topics regarding collecting military weapons, I couldn’t help but set my sights upon another collectible that piqued my interest on several levels.

This Colt Revolver was recovered from the sunken USS Maine and subsequently carried in combat by Lt. Colonel Theodore Roosevelt during the Spanish American War. He would use the weapon during his Medal of Honor engagement.

While conducting research for my USS Maine article, I was fascinated to learn about a revolver that had been removed from the wreckage of the ship within 24 hours of her sinking. In order to make a quick, preliminary determination source of the explosion, divers discovered a Model 1895 Colt double-action Army-Navy revolver. The weapon was brought back to the Navy Department in Washington D.C. along with the findings and found its way into the hands of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt. When “Teddy” vacated his position to fight in the ensuing war, he carried with him the Colt revolver that was recovered from the Maine. Roosevelt would use the pistol in combat, telling a story of how he killed a Spanish enemy soldier after firing two shots. For this action, Colonel Roosevelt was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor a century later.

“Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt distinguished himself by acts of bravery on 1 July, 1898, near Santiago de Cuba, Republic of Cuba, while leading a daring charge up San Juan Hill. Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt, in total disregard for his personal safety, and accompanied by only four or five men, led a desperate and gallant charge up San Juan Hill, encouraging his troops to continue the assault through withering enemy fire over open countryside. Facing the enemy’s heavy fire, he displayed extraordinary bravery throughout the charge, and was the first to reach the enemy trenches, where he quickly killed one of the enemy with his pistol, allowing his men to continue the assault. His leadership and valor turned the tide in the Battle for San Juan Hill. Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.”

Aside from the combat use, what is most intriguing about this pistol is what happened in the years after Roosevelt passed away. The pistol was stolen from Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, the former home of Theodore Roosevelt, on two separate occasions. The first theft resulted in the weapon being dumped on the grounds only to be found, heavily corroded, months later. When the weapon was taken a second time in the 1980s, it would be missing for significantly longer (sixteen years) and again, it was returned to Sagamore where it sits today.

For more on Roosevelt’s stolen revolver, see: NRA’s Curator’s Corner

Needless to say, a weapon of this caliber (pun very much intended) shows up in a pawn shop (such as happened on Pawn Stars season 3, episode 10: Rough Riders) that is purported to originate from the Rough Riders and, more importantly, Theodore Roosevelt, heads are bound to turn.

Engraved Model 1875 Remington .44 caliber (rimfire) pistol that was alleged to have been presented by Theodore Roosevelt (source: Pawn Stars screen grab).

The story, as told by the current owner of the gun, who claimed to be the step great-grandson of the original owner, was that the Remington Model 1895 .44 caliber (rimfire) revolver was presented by Teddy Roosevelt since he had “ridden with the Colonel in the Rough Riders.” The man’s name, “General E. Kraft” was inscribed into the mother-of-pearl handle grip. Apparently, Senior Kraft had risen to the rank of General and served in the Honduran army.

The elaborate engraving covers every metal surface – even the metal frame at the butt of the grip (source: Pawn Stars screen grab).

Rick Harrison, owner of the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop (and star of the Pawn Stars television show), seeking to qualify the man’s story and learn more about the revolver, called in Sean Rich of Tortuga Trading Inc. for authentication and an appraisal. At first glance, I had my doubts as to the validity of the Rough Rider story, but something about the heavily engraved revolver was still intriguing enough to keep me watching. Sean’s assessment of the weapon was that it was a very rare and highly collectible revolver yet without any sort of provenance, the monetary value resided only with the weapon (remember, buy the item, not the story?).

I did some checking on the alleged Rough Rider connection, seeking to confirm or disprove E. Kraft’s connection to the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, Roosevelt’s regiment. Due to the obvious popularity of the unit and their leader, there are many research resources available (including rosters) online. Not surprisingly, there were no matches to the name inscribed on the revolver. Sadly, many family stories are altered and perhaps embellished, as they are handed down through the generations. By the time they reach present day, the tales are quite grand, which could be the case with General Kraft and his pearl-handled pistol (anyone recall George C. Scott’s famous line in Patton?).

[Pawn Stars, HISTORY and the History “H” logo are the trademarks of AEN. Collectors Quest is a partner of AEN.]

Sailors and Marines are queued up for their spending spree during liberty on the infamous Hotel Street in Honolulu during World War II.

December marks a significant shift for me and how I manage my finances. It seems that I go from the frugality-based spending as I slowly fuel my collecting habit to that of a free-spending sailor out on Hotel Street in Honolulu after a lengthy deployment (old-timey jarheads and squids will understand that reference) in search of the perfect gifts for my family. Being a December-baby, I get asked by family members what I’d like for my birthday or Christmas, to which, I seldom have a response. But, this year, I’ve thought about this question while symbolically wearing my “militaria collector hat.”

With all of the articles I’ve written in the previous eleven months, one could ascertain that “shopping” for militaria isn’t as simple as a trip to a big box store, hobby shop or even an antiques store. Militaria collecting requires research and an understanding of the item (and variants) and how a particular piece would fit into the collector’s collection. Simply buying an “old Army” thing for a collector might not shake have the desired results. For this reason, I decided to assemble a list of items that should be somewhat universal for a wider range of collectors who would like to organize and display some of their more prized pieces.

1.  UltraPro 4-Pocket (postcard) Pages.  For the seriously organized (borderline obsessive-compulsive) patch or shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) collector, these pages, in concert with large three-ringed binders provide an affordable on-shelf storage system. Package of 100-ct: $17.00.

These top-load pages are a perfect fit for MOST military patch sizes and shapes.

2. BCW BallQube Helmet Display Holder. Displaying a helmet can be rather difficult due to their odd shape. Collectors might also seek to limit exposure to dust or free-flowing air (both are harmful to the suspension webbing). These acrylic displays would seem to be a great option, especially for collectors seeking to showcase all sides of the helmet. Priced at $40-45 each.

Prior to ordering, be sure to measure your helmet and verify the dimensions of the BallQube helmet display will accommodate it.

3. Ultra Mount Jersey Display Hanger. For a quick and dirty method of displaying a uniform jacket or shirt, these sports jersey displays appear to be an affordable option providing more aesthetics along with the ability to securely display the piece on a wall or in a large case. This system affords the collector with the option to easily swap out the uniform item to keep the display fresh. The downside with hanging the uniform directly on the wall is that there is no protection from harmful elements (dust, UV, air). Priced at $25 each.

Though shown with a football jersey, these display hangers would work well for military uniforms.

4. Jersey Frame Display Case Shadow Box by Null. Collectors seeking protection from harmful elements (as mentioned above), this shadow box display includes 98% protection from ultraviolet rays while providing a professional presentation of the uniform item. Reasonably priced at $60.00.

Some of the heavier wool uniforms could be a bit too thick for this display, so check the dimensions prior to ordering.

5. Ultra Mount Deluxe Acrylic Jersey Display. Fully enclosing the uniform item in acrylic provides a very tasteful display including visual access to all sides of the item. Aside from the price, the one drawback for this display is the lack of UV protection. $260 each.

This display affords visual access to the sides of the uniform. However, the increased visibility also allows harmful UV rays to access the material. Be cautious with placement in proximity to windows.

6. Riker Mount Storage and Display Cases. These brilliant yet, subtle cases come in a wide range of sizes and depths to afford collectors the ability to organize, store and display many pieces of their collection. For metal devices (such as collar and hat insignia) Riker Mounts are preferred by collectors as way to limit handling of those pieces made from precious metals (such as silver or gold) reducing wear or tarnishing. Prices range (depending on size and quantity) from $8-20.

Available in many dimensions and depths, Riker mounts are easily stored on bookshelves for easy access.

7. Wood-Framed Riker Mounts. In an earlier post, I called attention to these beautifully crafted wooden frames, designed specifically to allow for a handsome wall or tabletop display that incorporates the long-standing collector-go-to Riker Mount. Prices range (depending on size and quantity and type of wood).

A smaller example of a wood framed Riker mount, propped with a hobby shop display stand.

8. Display Case Coffee Table. Collectors seeking to showcase a militaria grouping or shine a spotlight on some of their finer pieces might want to consider this functional furniture item, especially if floor space is limited. These coffee tables can be had for $400-1,200, depending upon the size, design and materials used.

This is an example of one of the simplistic coffee table display designs and is shown with ribbons and a casket flag and is an excellent way to honor a veteran’s service.

9. Detolf Glass-door Cabinet by Ikea. This display cabinet is so widely used that perhaps it is THE go-to unit for a large segment of militaria collectors. Both affordable and compact, this unit makes displaying collections in a museum-like setting, quite easy. Complete with an overhead light to illuminate the contents. Collectors should consider the placement of this case to reduce or eliminate exposure to UV rays as the Detolf cabinet provides no protection. $65.00 at Ikea. Be aware that assembly is required.

10. DisplayGifts.com – Sword Display Case. One of the more challenging collection pieces for displaying is a military sword or sabre. Considerations for safety, security and protection from exposure to deteriorating elements (especially for swords and scabbards constructed with natural materials) should be considered prior to selecting a display method. These display cases are simplistic in design and are quite affordable while offering protection from harmful UV rays. $130 each.

Some sword handles and guards might exceed the depth of this display case. Measure before ordering.

After nearly four years of actively collecting militaria, I am only scratching the surface of what can be located and added to one’s collection. One could say that I am only just getting started, especially when I line up what I’ve acquired with just about any other enthusiast’s collection. Though I have been preaching to you, my readers, about focusing your efforts and interests on specific aspects or types of militaria, I have, at times, strayed away from my objectives.

You know the drill: you’re at a show, scouring online auction listings or reading through the “for sale” sections of your favorite collector discussion boards and you happen upon an intriguing piece. The piece, while so far removed from your area of interest or expertise, is so compelling that you have to dig deeper into the details. You launch into overdrive as you begin the rapid research into the item’s nuances and details while trying to determine if the asking price, though doable (for your bank account), you have no idea as to the true value. After all, you don’t want to be beaten to the purchase or scooped by the competition and you certainly do not want to overpay.

This scenario is all-too-familiar to collectors in all genres and only serves to underscore the need for consuming sound information from renowned experts. This always plays out for me when I start to look at military weapons and begin to ponder how a piece might fit in with what I collect. Besides the predominantly non-weapon pieces I have purposely sought out and purchased, I also inherited or have been gifted with a number of armament items ranging from artillery shells to blades (see: U.S. Military Bolos and The Blades That Got Away).

As of yet, I have managed to limit my distractions away from small arms and other weapons – quite frankly, the prices for even the most common pieces (such as a garden-variety M1 Garand rifle) are well outside of my budget. However, I don’t let that sway my interest in educating and familiarizing myself with the tools of soldiers. But my specific interest now and for the foreseeable future has been with weapons carried by U.S. troops. Even though my blade collection contains Third Reich and pre-WWI French examples, I still lean toward those used by American GIs.

The top section of the knee mortar includes the main chamber where the weapon is aimed and the rounds are dropped in for firing (source: Pawn Stars screen grab).

When a World War II-vintage Japanese Type 89 grenade discharger made an appearance on the History Channel’s hit TV show, Pawn Stars, my attention was immediately captivated and I watched intently to see if the weapon was authentic and what sort of value would be attached as the stars of the show evaluated their potential purchase. Such a unique item, at least from my vantage point, should garner considerable interest while fetching a decent price for the would-be seller. Thinking back to the smattering of WWII Japanese items in my own collection, I wondered if such a piece would make for a good augmentation.

Below the bottom of the chamber (tube) are the adjusting knobs. These are used to configure the weapon for precise targeting (source: Pawn Stars screen grab).

Commonly referred to as a Japanese Knee Mortar (though they were never placed against or propped up with a soldier’s knee), these weapons are essentially a highly portable grenade launcher that can propel a mortar-like grenade several hundred yards onto the enemy. Similar to the American counterparts, these mortar rounds could inflict heavy casualties on troops and equipment while providing covering fire support for their own ground troops as they attack or withdraw. Five different types of ammunition rounds were made and deployed with the knee mortar, consisting of the following:

• Type 89 50mm HE (high explosive) mortar shell (fitted with impact detonator)
• Type 91 Fragmentation Grenade (fitted with 7 second delay time fuse, ignited in flight).
• Smoke shell weight: 0.9 kg containing 0.11 kg of HC type smoke mixture.
• Incendiary shell weight: 0.57 kg containing 0.32 of incendiary material.
• Type 94 50mm practice shell – (used for training purposes)

These launchers were effectively used against Allied forces, inflicting considerable damage to personnel and equipment

The small base plate is attached to the mortar unlike the American counterpart. Due to the smaller diameter ammunition, this weapon was far easier to maneuver for quick strikes than the U.S. mortars (source: Pawn Stars screen grab).

The Pawn Stars example was alleged by the owner to have been brought back from the Pacific Theater (PTO) by his veteran father. The Pawn Stars crew, unfamiliar with this particular type of militaria, opted to have it evaluated by a local expert who subsequently assessed it as an early example, based upon the four-digit serial number, and valued it accordingly.

What struck me with this particular example was not simply that it had been “demilled” or deactivated, but the manner in which it was altered. The mortar had been altered with 2” diameter circle cut away at the bottom of the tube as well having piece of steel welded directly into the muzzle. Clearly, this weapon was permanently altered and could no longer be used. But the alterations, in my opinion significantly detracted from any remaining aesthetic value.

Based upon the unnecessary demilling, I would steer clear of making such a purchase (that is if I could have afforded it in the first place) and looked for a better example for my collection.

Other militaria weapon collecting posts of interest:

• A Bullet With No Name
• Is ‘Rosalie’ Too Common for Your Collection?
• Collecting on a Short Fuse
• The Blades That Got Away
• Pappy’s Mameluke
• Third Reich Prizes in the Attic?
• The Bizarre and the Oddities of Militaria
• U.S. Military Bolos

[Pawn Stars, HISTORY and the History “H” logo are the trademarks of AEN. Collectors Quest is a partner of AEN.]

For most Americans, this time of year spurs thoughts of lighted trees, large and rotund red-suited elves, massive crowds at local shops and mega malls, anxiety, and ever-increasing credit card debt in the rush to obtain the perfect gift for loved ones and friends. All of this translates into the hopes that the recipients of said gifts illuminate with unbridled joy and gratitude. Meanwhile, a continuously diminishing segment of the population, in addition to the aforementioned seasonal activities and concerns, recall a monumentally tragic and infuriating event, now 71 years hence.

At that time (seven decades ago), Americans, like today, were in the throes of an economic depression while war and conflict littered regions around the globe. Many Americans had been without work for months, while others had been unemployed for years. The holiday season was in full swing but on an infinitely smaller scale. All of this about to change, catapulting the nation into chaos and doubt while transforming the nation’s doubt into a singular mindset, while rising from the literal ashes and wreckage to defeat fascism.

The USS Arizona’s bow pitches upward on the high seas sometime in the late 1930s (source: U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command).

A rare color image showing the USS Arizona’s forward magazine detonating after it was struck by a high altitude aerial bomb (Source: U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command).

The World War II generation is departing our society at an increasingly accelerated pace. The men and women who banded together on the war front and home front still recall the Day of Infamy, remembering those who fell prey to unpreparedness and bumbling governmental bureaucracy and a dastardly attack. When the final tally was counted in the weeks and months following December 7, 1941, more than 2,400 Americans were dead at the hands of the Empire of Japan. Three battleships of the U.S. Navy were complete losses. One of those ships, the USS Arizona (BB-39), was obliterated by an aerial bomb that penetrated into the forward magazines (for the 14” guns), igniting a cataclysmic explosion, killing 1,117 sailors, accounting for more than half of the Pearl Harbor attack death toll.

The memorial structure straddles the stricken ship’s hull as she rests in the mud and silt of Pearl Harbor.

Inside the Arizona Memorial, this wall bears the names of the 1,177 victims who were killed on that tragic day.

In the 71 years since that fateful day, much has transpired to cause the slow evaporation of Pearl Harbor memories of from the American conscience. The current younger generation experienced their own day of infamy 11 years ago with the 9/11 attacks, fueling the 12/7/41 forgetfulness with redirected angst.

Conversely for militaria collectors, the events of Pearl Harbor are held close to the vest and worn on their sleeves. The pursuit to hold a piece connected to that tragic day isn’t taken lightly. More often than not, collectors pay an extremely high premium for the honor of preserving and displaying items that tell the individual stories of the struggle to survive and the will to fight the attackers. Collectors treasure anything directly related to a veteran, aircraft or ship that participated in warding off the Japanese onslaught.

Though the lettering is faded and shows some signs of the bullion thread corroding, this USS Arizona enlisted sailor’s flat hat is a rarity and is well worth the investment (source: eBay image).

For me, the realization of the Pearl Harbor collector mindset truly occurred for me several weeks ago when I spotted an auction listing for a flat hat from a navy veteran that served aboard the most notable ship casualty of the attack, the Arizona. I scanned through the associated photographs, noting the condition while attempting to approximate the age of the item.

Worth its weight in gold, this flat hat recently sold for nearly $900 at auction (source: eBay image).

By 1941, operation security had been steadily increasing due to the waging war, both in Europe and the Western Pacific. The Navy, seeking to reduce the visible indications of ship movements, stipulated in uniform regulations that all ship identifiers, such as ship-name tallies on enlisted blue flat hats, be omitted from uniforms. Generic “U.S. Navy” lettered tallies replaced the those bearing the names of ships which meant that the one in the auction listing predated WWII by at least a year.

The condition of the hat left lots to be desired. From dozens of small holes scattered across all of the woolen surfaces, it was readily apparent that moths had a field day as they enjoyed their “hat salad.” The only components on this cap untouched by the Lepidoptera larvae were the tally and the liner.

No name or means of identifying the flat hat’s original owner can be seen in these photos (source: eBay image).

What would be a significant value-increasing factor is if the hat bore the name of its owner. I was unable to discern from the provided photos any hint of a stenciled or inscribed name. If I had been able to see the original owner’s name, I might have been able to locate related details concerning his naval service, and quite possibly, the dates he served aboard the Arizona. It might be safe to assume that the value of the hat increases if the veteran did survive the ship’s sinking. However, based upon the features of the hat (the overall design, the liner and the tally), I would surmise that the hat is closer to the World War I-era.

The real value of the USS Arizona flat hat is in the tally. Due to the historic-nature of the famous ship and the scarcity of tallies bearing ship names, the damage seen here had little impact on the final selling price of the hat (source: eBay image).

Regardless of when the hat was used or if it belonged to a survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack, the auction’s final, closing bid of $848.00 was astonishing. Without a doubt, the winning bidder took a chance on acquiring an extremely rare piece with direct ties to a historic ship. In doing so, this collector now possesses a tangible connection to that fateful day.

See also:

• Collecting U.S. Navy Uniform Ship Identifiers
• World War II Navy Hats
• The Search for the White Whale
• Navy Cracker Jacks: No Toy Surprise

Since the U.S. armed forces have sent men into aircraft during World War I, clothing designers have seemingly had an affinity for military flight attire; specifically, their leather aviator jackets. Though some could have a spurious “chicken and egg” debate about the origination of the wearing of leather jackets — whether they were started with open automobile motorists or early motorcycle riders and spread to aviators or vice versa — the fact remains that flight jackets are as culturally popular today as they were nearly 100 years ago.

This Navy-contract G-1 flight jacket belonged to Blacksheep veteran Frederick “Fred” Samuel Losch.

Though today we consider the classic appearance and style variations of U.S. military aviator jackets to be iconic, they were designed more around function rather than aesthetics. Flying in an open cockpit of a biplane left the pilots exposed to the environment. Flying at increasing altitudes exacerbated the exposure by reducing temperatures as the aircraft flew skyward into the thinner air. Leatherwear provided a natural barrier, reducing exposure and affording the crew with a second skin that broke the effects of wind yet breathed, reducing perspiration.

Though commonly referred to as “bomber jackets,” the A-2 flight jackets were also issued to pursuit pilots such as this one that belonged to Lt. Harold W. Gray of the 431st Fighter Squadron.

For militaria collectors, the iconic aviator leather jackets are highly prized items that, due to continual use dating back to WWI, are available to just about any collector, regardless of budget. For jackets with combat provenance, prices will be well into four-digit ranges. If the jacket belonged to an aviator of distinction (such as a valor medal recipient or a multiple ace), expect to add another digit to the price tag.

For contract-manufactured aviator jackets used from the inter-war period, through World War II and to present, collectors can easily ascertain when the jacket was made and potentially used or worn. This information is especially helpful when trying to vet a piece that might not seem to jibe with the associated story.

Some unscrupulous sellers go to great lengths to increase the perceived value of an otherwise “ordinary” vintage jacket. In some instances, jackets have been embellished with faux-antiqued, hand-painted artwork that never adorned the leather. Some sellers might assemble a jacket by adding period-correct insignia or squadron patches in an attempt to replicate an authentic piece. As with any militaria piece, buy the item, not the story…unless there is iron-clad proof to back up seller’s story. Let the buyer beware.

What does iron-clad evidence look like? An example of such proof walked through the doors (Season 4, Episode 33: Pirate Booty) of the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop and up to the star of the History Channel’s hit reality show Pawn Stars, Rick Harrison. A woman presented Rick with a classic WWII A-2 leather flight jacket, complete with a squadron patch, hand-painted adornments and a stencil of the original owner’s name on the inside liner. Along with the jacket, the woman carried what she thought were handwritten “flight logs” from the original owner.

When I saw this jacket on Pawn Stars, my jaw dropped. To see the custom details such as the squadron patch and hand painted mission indicators along with the owner’s name stenciled within, my eyes were glued to the entire segment (source: Pawn Stars screen grab).

The jacket showed some considerable wear of the leather finish and the squadron patch (from the 364th Bombardment Squadron, 8th Bomber Command) appeared dry and brittle with the painted artwork considerably faded and deteriorated. The cuffs and waistband appeared to be intact though it was difficult (for me) to determine their condition. The beauty of the jacket, also a point of curiosity for Harrison, were the 29 painted bombs on the jacket’s right front, no doubt indicating bombing missions flown by the wearer. One of the bombs had an additional notation – white lettering that indicated a D-Day bombing mission. A collector could easily investigate the provenance of the jacket with the information contained solely on the jacket. However, the current owner could provide the unshakable provenance that should make any collector salivate.

On the right front of the jacket were these 29 hand-painted bombs – each one indicating a bombing mission over enemy territory (source: Pawn Stars screen grab).

Among the 29 mission indicators, this bomb was painted with “D Day” in white lettering to indicate the momentous day (source: Pawn Stars screen grab).

The woman, who was hoping to sell the jacket, handed Rick handwritten pages that documented the original owner’s (her father’s) missions over enemy targets during the war. Not only did he capture the basic details (departure time, enemy fighter composition, target information), but he also included emotional narratives of damage sustained and details about his flight crew members. On one of the spotlighted pages, the veteran tells about a direct hit that the B-17 sustained at his radio operator’s station moments after he had gotten up from his seat – he most likely would have been killed had he remained in his chair.

Placing a value on jacket such as this WWII B-17 radio operator, who flew 29 missions, is subjective, which prompted me to search through some current online auctions. Though I didn’t find anything comparative, I did note a stunning listing for a 1st Lieutenant B-17 pilot’s grouping that included his painted A-2 jacket along with medals and a wealth of ephemera with an asking price of $8,500 – which, in my estimation was a little steep.

In the case of the Pawn Stars episode, the woman was hoping to sell her jacket for $2,500 – a very reasonable expectation when compared to similar examples – but was offered less than half by the Pawn Stars gents…an offer which she accepted.

Equally popular (as the A-2) are the Navy G-1 jackets. This particular jacket belonged to naval aviator and NASA astronaut, Pete Conrad. Note the various patches affixed to the front and sleeves. 

This 1980s Navy G-1 flight jacket was a bargain at a recent militaria show and is part of my growing collection. With a little patience, collectors can find bargain jackets from more recent time-periods, complete with the aviator’s squadron and deployment patches.

Military Flight Jacket Resources

• History of Navy and Marine Corps G-1 Flight Jackets
• Type A-2 US Army Air Force Flight Jacket History

[Pawn Stars, HISTORY and the History “H” logo are the trademarks of AEN. Collectors Quest is a partner of AEN.]

During the past few years, and through the process of my genealogical research combined with efforts to recreate uniform representations of various veterans in my family, I learned how to truly appreciate the scant few militaria pieces that I inherited. While no military service can be regarded as average or ordinary, I realized that none of the recreations I am developing are easy to achieve as most of my family veterans served in unusual capacities.

This World War II uniform is a recreation of one that my uncle wore during his service in France (1917-1919). All of the devices and patches added (by me) are original, WWI-vintage. The ribbons are actual pieces from my uncle’s personal effects.

Recreating uniforms from period items is a worthy venture for me, but it would be ideal to have the original pieces. The only uniforms in my collection are from my maternal grandfather’s WWII naval service, which I inherited years after he passed. When one of my uncles (a veteran of WWI, WWII and the Korean War) passed away, I unknowingly had an opportunity to get hold of his uniforms. His caretaker held onto these items for years before they were donated to a charitable organization a few months prior to me learning of their existence. Saddened by the missed opportunity, it was at this moment that I embarked on my uniform recreation mission.

Needless to say, I have developed a considerable appreciation for the value of maintaining one’s family’s military history. By researching each individual, sending for military service records and researching the histories of the units in which they served, I am slowly creating a narrative of substantial history that I will assemble into a volume that can be handed down to future generations. With all of these accomplishments so far, it would be difficult to place a value on what I’ve assembled. The idea of selling away any elements of this collection solely for monetary gain is incredibly foreign to me.

Watching the various television shows regarding antiques is one of my carnal pleasures, especially when militaria items are discussed. It is quite entertaining when the owner of an item has a fair understanding of the piece’s history and how it is associated with one of their ancestor’s service. When a monetary value is assessed to the item, the hair on the back of my neck begins to stand up as I can almost see the owner begins to formulate spending plans subsequent to the selloff of their family history.

The nearly pristine U.S. Army M1902 dress blue uniform, though missing a few elements, was presented for sale to the guys at Gold and Silver Pawn Shop, home of the History Channel’s hit reality show, Pawn Stars (source: Pawn Stars screen grab).

One of the shows that I frequent is Pawn Stars (seen on the History Channel). If you’re not familiar with the format, the reality TV show is centered on the owner and employees and the business transactions in the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop, located in Las Vegas. The cast of the show has fun with each piece that is brought into their shop, some of which they buy either to sell or for their own personal collections. It seems that without fail, militaria pieces are brought into the shop and the viewers are then treated to a brief history lesson as local experts are called to the shop to provide analysis, authentication and appraisals.

The “92″ beneath the crossed cannons (which date to 1902) indicate the soldier’s unit within the Coast Artillery Corps (source: Pawn Stars screen grab).

When I sat down to watch the ‘Put up your Dukes’ episode, I was eagerly anticipating a segment in which a man brings in what he believes is his grandfather’s Spanish-American War dress uniform coat. When they show the man arriving with the coat, a rush of emotions ranging from excitement to frustration arose within me as I listened to the man tell what he knows of his ancestor’s service and how he came to inherit the uniform item. Although he states that piece is from the “Philippine-American War,” his story is met by the staff with some apprehension, since there was no such war. The customer is really unsure of his grandfather’s service but doesn’t seem to be too concerned with the details.

When the pawn shop owner, Rick Harrison, asked the man what he wanted to do with the piece (pawn or sell), I cringed at the response – that the owner wished to sell the uniform so that it would be better cared for by someone else, saying “I am just hoping to get some money for it… a large amount of money.”

As it turned out, the uniform was a beautiful example of an M1902 that belonged to a first sergeant (gunner) who served with the Coast Artillery Corps. While it was missing a few pieces, the condition of the coat looked to be outstanding. Missing from the collar are the “U.S.” collar brass which would be placed next to the artillery devices (crossed cannons), closer to the front of the collar.

Note the blank space to the right of the crossed cannon device. This area should have a brass “U.S.” device (source: Pawn Stars screen grab).

After a few moments  to collect myself following the conclusion of the show, I arrived at the idea that there are many people who are detached from their family history for myriad reasons, and they might be in considerable need of the cash. Rather than hold onto the militaria, they opt for the financial compensation which is understandable, especially considering the current economic climate.

Resources:

• Insignia of the Coast Artillery Corps
• Uniforms of the Coast Artillery Corps

[Pawn Stars, HISTORY and the History “H” logo are the trademarks of AEN. Collectors Quest is a partner of AEN.]

Archaeologists could agree that in some form or fashion, militaria collecting has been around seemingly since men have gone to war. Though the concept may not have been seen as collecting, at a base level, man has maintained combat-related artifacts to remind him of battles won or brothers-in-arms that were lost. Not only has man sought to remember his warring past, he has long maintained the spoils of war by removing specific items of his vanquished opponent’s body as it laid on the field of battle.

This illustration from Tut’s tomb shows the young pharaoh at war in his chariot (source: Araldo De Luca).

When some of the tombs of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs were opened and the contents were inspected and cataloged, among the gilded, religious and life-story items were weapons of war. Free from the worries and troubles of earth, anthropologists and Egyptologists surmised that the military pieces were objects that heralded the deceased king’s victories. Within the tomb of the most widely known pharaoh, King Tutankhamen (or “Tut”), among several depictions of him in combat, was his beautifully ornate chariot that would, more than likely, have been used in battle as documented throughout his burial treasure.

This section of fabric from an aircraft belonging to the famed Lafayette Escadrille (a squadron of American volunteers that flew for France during WWI) recently sold at auction (source: Cowan Auctions).

This section of cloth survives from an aircraft of the 1st Army Aero Pursuit Squadron and is preserved at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington.

With the advancement of technology came the modern version of the chariot during World War I, the airplane. The warrior who battled from the seat of these modern machines, though differently equipped, had much in common with the brave Egyptian warriors of ancient times as they bravely piloted their flying machines into the center of the fray. In the quiet of the battle’s aftermath, these warriors would, if possible, descend from their winged chariots to survey their opponent’s wreckage, tearing or cutting strategic pieces of the fabric that contained specific identifying marks that helped to tell their story to both their squadron mates and to their leaders, providing quantifiable evidence of their success.

Showing what was left of Richthofen’s heavily scavenged wrecked Dr 1.

The elaborate funeral procession for Manfred von Richthofen.

In many cases, these aerial opponents would extend honors that were reserved for their own fallen heroes, to their vanquished enemies. When Manfred von Richthofen, Rittmeister (Cavalry Captain) of the Luftstreitkräfte (Imperial German Army Air Service) was killed when his Fokker Dr1 was downed, members of the Royal Air Force took custody of his remains. To a casual observer viewing his funeral service, it would have appeared that a renowned British war hero was being laid to rest by the varying honors being rendered to this fallen adversary. However, the preservation of his aircraft was overlooked as souvenir hunters quickly rendered the nearly undamaged plane a shamble as they haphazardly dismantled it.

A section of fabric from a German WWII aircraft with the letters ‘Fok’ could originate from a Fokker war plane. The colorful pattern was typical of the camouflage painting of the war (source: eBay image).

This photo shows Lt. Roosevelt in the cockpit of his WWI aircraft.

Bestowing honor upon fallen adversaries was practice by the Allies’ opponents, the Germans. Quentin Roosevelt, son of the former president and colonel (from the Spanish-American War’s Rough Riders), was an aviator in the 95th Aero Squadron, flying pursuit aircraft such as the French-made Nieuport 28. After he was shot down during an engagement, his flight of twelve was jumped by seven German fighter planes. Roosevelt received two fatal bullet wounds to his head and his aircraft rolled over and spiraled to the ground. His subsequent funeral service was witnessed by a fellow American soldier, Captain James E. Gee (110th Infantry) who had earlier been taken prisoner:

“In a hollow square about the open grave were assembled approximately one thousand German soldiers, standing stiffly in regular lines. They were dressed in field gray uniforms, wore steel helmets, and carried rifles. Near the grave was a smashed plane, and beside it was a small group of officers, one of whom was speaking to the men. I did not pass close enough to hear what he was saying; we were prisoners and did have the privilege of lingering, even for such an occasion as this. At the time I did not know who was being buried, but the guards informed me later. The funeral certainly was elaborate. I was told afterward by Germans that they paid Lieutenant Roosevelt such honor not only because he was a gallant aviator, who died fighting bravely against odds, but because he was the son of Colonel Roosevelt whom they esteemed as one of the greatest Americans.”

After the Germans lines were pushed back, the Allies were able to visit the grave of former President Roosevelt’s son, Lt. Quentin Roosevelt.

Collecting aviation artifacts from WWI is becoming increasingly difficult as nearly a century has elapsed since the armistice was signed. The soft materials that made up the uniforms and accouterments are under continuous attack from the ravages of time and every manner of decay brought on by insects and ultraviolet exposure. Museums in the last few decades have done amazing work at acquiring the best examples of surviving armament and other hardware to provide their audiences with incredible displays and depictions of the Great War. When the rarest pieces arrive in the marketplace, the heavy competition ensues driving the prices skyward.

This flag looks to have been cut from a WWI American aircraft. The jury is still out as to whose aircraft it was removed from (source: Pawn Stars screen grab).

In a recent episode of the History Channel’s Pawn Stars (“Stick to Your Guns”), a woman enters the shop with a rolled-up section of old fabric emblazoned with a hand-painted representation of an American flag. She tells the story of her American serviceman relative darting over to a recently wrecked plane to cut out the flag, saving it from the ensuing fire resulting from the crash.

In providing the requested provenance, she presents a pair of World War I dog tags. One of the tags shows the information for her ancestor while the other contains the personal identification of Lieutenant Quentin Roosevelt. The Pawn Stars segment could easily lead viewers to draw the conclusion that the flag was removed from Roosevelt’s wreckage but that would be a considerable leap based upon the story of the retrieval and the burning aircraft. It would have been difficult for American to do so, considering that Roosevelt crashed behind enemy lines.

Similar to the flag shown on Pawn Stars, this WWI aircraft has a flag painted on the fuselage side.

Ultimately, the Pawn Stars folks purchased the flag (the price was well into four figures) despite the lack of connection to Roosevelt. In my opinion, they probably overpaid for the piece but considering that it was destined for Gold & Silver Pawn Shop owner Rick Harrison’s personal collection, it wasn’t too much of a reach.

By May of 1945, most of Europe was in shambles, utterly destroyed by nearly 6 years of war waged in countries such as Czechoslovakia, France, England, Italy, The Soviet Union, Spain, The Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Poland and Germany. Considering the unyielding daylight bombing by Allied aircraft over German targets and the “Nerobefehl” or Nero Decree (scorched earth) policies of the retreating Wehrmacht, it is amazing that the survivors even had homes to return to after the cessation of hostilities.

General Alfred Jodl signs the instrument of surrender.

When the weapons and machines of the war fell silent, some 40-million* non-combatant people (civilians) had been obliterated – wiped from existence. In the Allied European nations, estimates of the civilian dead are upwards of 25 million. For the European Axis nations, nearly 8,000,000 civilians were gone.

Utter devastation was present seemingly in every location. Those who survived the conflict were left facing uncertainty and immense challenges to reconstruct and rebuild their cities and towns from the mountains of rubble and bomb-craters. The effort would require a coalition of nations to coordinate the monumental effort while overseeing the dismantling of the German war machine.

This map shows the post-war occupation zones agreed upon during the Potsdam Conference. Each Allied nation would be responsible for the management of their zone in order to restore peace and facilitate the destruction of the Nazi war machine.

In the waning weeks of conflict in Europe, the Allied nations had established and agreed upon boundaries that would limit the extent each nation’s push as German resistance ebbed. By the first week of May, 1945, it was all over. Hitler, fully aware of the fate that awaited him should he be captured by Soviets who were closing in on his bunker, chose to take his own life on April 30. Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz now in charge (Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring was removed from this position due to his attempt to take power prior to Hitler’s death), agreed to surrender unconditionally to the Allies. The instrument of surrender was signed on May 7, to take effect the next day, by Germany’s representative, General Alfred Jodl, who would be hanged in 1946 having been found guilty of war crimes.

These printed paper signs (there are two) date from the final days of WWII or immediately after the German surrender. My uncle, who was with U.S. Army intel during the war, sent these home (in May 1945) along with a few trunks of material. They remained sealed in the trunk until 1994 when I found them in the attic. The German text translates to, “Prohibited access-command of the U.S. Army Central Command.”

During the first half of the twentieth century, Germany had initiated two world wars, and initiating and inflicting considerable devastation upon other nations. Rather than leave this repeat aggressor to its own devices and risk a third global war, the Allies decided to be proactive in overseeing not only the German reconstruction effort but to instill a system (under the Potsdam Agreement) of governance for control and management. Not only did the Allies agree to create zones of occupation but they had to work to establish and define national borders due to Germany’s continuous disputes and territorial claims spanning the previous decades resulting in the redrawing of much of the Western European map.

This map shows the boundaries of the four zones of Berlin – what later became the two cities of West and East Berlin.

Germany was divided, in accordance to Allied agreements, into five zones: British, French, Polish, American and Soviet, providing for monitoring and governing by military leaders from the respective nations. The capital city of Berlin was similarly divided between France, Britain and the U.S. controlling one half of the city and the Soviet Union taking over the other). With re-construction well underway and the war criminal trials concluded in 1946,

“From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.” - Sir Winston Churchill, March 5, 1946

With increased tensions between the former allies over which nation would be the sole supplier of West Berlin (the USSR sought control of West Berlin by making the city solely dependent upon Russian provisions) , the Soviets began an 11-month long blockade (June 1948 – May 1949) in an effort to choke off the supply routes (roads, rails and waterways) between West Germany and West Berlin prompting the United States and Britain to commence a massive-scale relief effort, flying all supplies into the isolated city.

Medal for Humane Action – Berlin Airlift. This medal was awarded to U.S. service personnel for 120 days of participation within the boundaries of the Berlin airlift operations between 26 June 1948 and 30 September 1949.

The original intent of the allied agreements was to eventually merge the zones back into a single German nation. Between 1947 and 1949, the three western zones (American, British and French) merged to form the West German Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). Due to continued breakdowns in negotiations with the Soviets, the Eastern zones would remain in Soviet control and a subsequent establishment of communist East Germany – also known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR).

Within two years of the creation of the German Soviet-state (the GDR), fear began to run rampant among the East German citizens who were witnessing the increased control being foisted upon them by the Stalin regime. In West Germany, reconstruction was in full swing and her citizens were beginning to taste the freedom and prosperity of a democratic society. Seeking to escape the death-grip of communism, East Germans began to flee the GDR for the FRG (West Berlin, specifically) beginning in 1950. By 1953, upwards of 1 million East Germans had escaped in nearly four years’ time – over a quarter million in the first few months of ‘53 alone.

East German troops stand guard at the Brandenburg Gate, 1961 prior to the construction of the Berlin Wall.

Seeking to stem the outflow of their citizens, East German officials began restricting travel to western areas, following the direction of other Eastern Bloc nations. This control would be tightened over the next several years. Losing more than 3.5 million to successful escapes to the West, the first elements of the infamous wall would begin to be set in place in August of 1961 by order of GDR government officials. It is unknown, however if the decision was directed by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. The Iron curtain was solidifying, being set in concrete.

This image shows the hasty construction of the Berlin Wall that was well underway in November of 1961.

For decades the wall would be in place, surrounding the city. Unlike the ancient times when cities were walled to protect those within from invaders, this wall was constructed to keep its citizens from escaping to freedom. The Wall stood as both a symbolic and literal representation of communism. For those behind it, getting beyond the Wall meant having a chance at a better life and that getting there alive would be a monumental challenge. Countless few did make it across while Some 136 people would die in direct connection to the Berlin Wall. 98% of those deaths were the result of attempted escapes – 97 of them were shot dead by GDR border guards.

Note the large space, known as the “Death Strip” between the two walls. Certain death awaited those who attempted escape. This photo was taken at the wall along the Luisenstadt Canal (it had been filled-in during the 1930s).

By the mid-1980s and the height of President Ronald Reagan’s time in office, Soviet control over Europe was beginning to wane. Fed up with the boot of communism, the citizens of the Eastern Bloc nations began to revolt as they pursued democratic freedom. Seizing upon the momentum of the spreading freedom and liberty, President Reagan visited the Wall and gave the famous speech at the Brandenburg Gate, calling for the removal of the wall.

“Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” – President Ronald Reagan, June 12, 1987

The Wall had effectively closed off the historic Brandenburg Gate. The sign in the foreground provided its readers with a stern warning that they were now leaving West Berlin.

The grip of communist control continued to disintegrate. In 1989, beginning with Poland, the revolution was in full swing as one by one, Eastern-bloc nations emerged from behind the Iron Curtain. On November 4th, more than 500,000 East Germans gathered at the Alexanderplatz in protest, the culmination of the Peaceful Revolution that had started previously in September. By the 9th of November, the Wall began to fall – the actual demolition taking the better part of the following year.

German reunification was now free to commence.

Since WWII, the U.S. military has maintained presence in Germany in an evolving capacity beginning with dismantling of the Nazi war machine to providing security and stability in holding the spread of Soviet communism in check. Today, U.S. Army and Air Force bases are maintained in Germany, strategically located, providing vital services and resources for forward deployed forces.

Collecting items directly related or connected to the allied occupation and the Berlin Wall, to me is an interesting proposition. For militaria collectors, locating a grouping from veteran who served in the Berlin Airlift (something of a rarity) or of guard at Checkpoint Charlie would make for a uniquely historic display.

Along with the occupation medal that was warded to my uncle for his post-VE Day service in Germany, I have some signage with stern messaging in both German and English.

The gentlemen at the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop – cast of the hit History Channel reality show, Pawn Stars, have the opportunity to view this object of the dark East German past. (source: Pawn Stars | History Channel).

In a Pawn Stars episode, a customer brings a road sign into the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. The sign appears to be one that would have been found along a road leading to one of the East-West German border crossings. Affixed to the back of the sign is provenance from the U.S. Army officer who is purported to have received the piece in 1990.

If collectors simply wanted a piece of the Berlin Wall, there are plenty of online sources selling pieces of varying sizes, though it would be a dubious pursuit as an investment as there were nearly 70 miles of the double-wall.

For $30, you could acquire a piece of the Berlin Wall like this one (source: eBay image).

• Berlin-wall.net
• Your piece of the Berlin Wall is not special
• Berlin Wall now in pieces across USA

*This number includes the victims of the Holocaust.

[Pawn Stars, HISTORY and the History “H” logo are the trademarks of AEN. Collectors Quest is a partner of AEN.]

In the decades following the American Civil War, the United states was busy dealing with the reconstruction of the South, expansion into the Western states and territories, adding new stars to the blue canton of the national ensign (i.e. the addition of states to the Union), the influx of the destitute of Europe seeking to benefit from the Land of Opportunity and all the trefoils of a growing nation. Few Americans set their eyes upon the instability of governments beyond the borders and shores as the nation surpassed her first century of existence. Life, though fraught with the many diverse challenges of the time, was good.

USS Maine ACR-1 – Havana Harbor, 1898

In the latter half of nineteenth century, the American navy commenced a dramatic technological transformation from wooden-hulled sailing sloops and frigates, followed by ironclads and paddle-wheels, to steel coal-fired steam warships. Naval gunnery was advancing and U.S. leadership was following the advances being made by the British navy, which had necessitated a radical departure from the ship design conventions of the time in order to take full advantage of the new capabilities. The U.S. Navy had been fully committed to the designs of the ironclad Monitor, and many of the European navies adopted similar designs following the American’s success with them during the Civil War. With technology advancing at such a rapid pace and the need for a global naval reach, the Monitor was rendered obsolete in favor of larger, more powerful ships with greater sailing range, which would come to be known as pre-Dreadnoughts.

In the 1880s, the U.S. Navy began planning and designing their first pre-Dreadnought armored cruisers. By 1886, the Navy funded the first two ships of the new design: the lead ship, USS Maine and her closely-related sister, the USS Texas. The Maine’s keel was laid down on October 17, 1888 at the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard and wouldn’t be completed for nearly seven years. She was commissioned and placed into service on September 17, 1895 and following sea trials and fitting out, was assigned to the North Atlantic Squadron for service.

As the 1890s were drawing to a close, a spark in the tinderbox of the Cuban independence movement began to be fanned by U.S. financial influence. American capitalism and politics had been involved in Cuba for the past few decades, investing heavily in the sugar cane and tobacco industries, driving economic transformation of the Spanish-owned island and fueling unrest among the citizens. American popular sentiment, led by a pro-liberation agenda that was propagandized throughout the newspapers of the day, was growing in favor of intervening against the Spanish government. In January of 1898, a pro-Spanish riot erupted in Havana which prompted the American Consul-General to request assistance to protect U.S. citizens and business interests.

The USS Maine as she sat on the bottom in Havana Harbor. She was a total loss and a catalyst for war with Spain.

Sailing into Havana Harbor at the end of January, the USS Maine provided a menacing reminder of the United States’ commitment to protect her interests. In addition, her presence could have appeared to the Spanish loyalists as a threat to their sovereignty. Perhaps the revolutionaries saw the ship as an opportunity to draw the United States into a conflict with Spain that could result in the ousting of their oppressive overseers. Regardless of the stance of the two opposing sides, the Maine’s presence added to the already increasing tension.

Aboard ship, the crew was going about settling down for the night on February 15, 1898. Twenty minutes before taps and lights out, the shipboard routines were winding down. Liberty boats had returned to the ship and had been secured for the night. Suddenly and without warning, a massive explosion rocked the forward part of the ship as 5.1 tons of gunpowder ignited. In a matter of seconds, the Maine was sitting on the bottom of the harbor and more than 260 of her crew (of 355 officers and men) were dead.

To allow investigators full access to the ship, recover the bodies and to remove the ship from Havana Harbor, cofferdams hold back the sea as the water is pumped away from the ship.

As the waters receded, the full extent of the damage became apparent. The violence and destructive forces of the explosion killed almost the entire crew and sent the ship to the bottom in seconds.

Following a formal investigation and inquiry into the cause of the explosion, the cause was determined to be the result of a mine, though no supporting evidence existed. The slogan of the day, “To hell with Spain! Remember the Maine” could be found in print and plastered across buttons and pins as the American public began to rally to the cause. Following the publication of the findings, a media blitz of inflammatory editorials and exaggerated facts ultimately led to an April 21, 1898 formal declaration of war against Spain.

After resounding victories in Manila Bay (in the Philippines) and San Juan Hill (Puerto Rico), the Spanish pursued peace with the United States by the middle of July, 1898. The peace treaties were signed in Paris on August 12, 1898, relinquishing all rights and claims to the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Cuba.

With the guns now silent and the U.S. reverting to their isolationist stance, the rallying cry of “Remember the Maine” began to fade from the forefront of the U.S. populace. This was not so with Navy leadership who were still seeking definitive facts surrounding her sinking. In 1910, Navy engineers began constructing a cofferdam surrounding the shallow-water wreck of the ship. After the harbor waters receded from the wreck, investigators poured over every inch of the hulk. With no conclusive evidence uncovered and the bodies of the crewmen were removed for burial in the U.S. at Arlington National Cemetery, the ship was re-floated, towed out to sea and scuttled.

Several pieces of the ship were removed at the time of the 1910-1912 investigation, including munitions, guns, pieces of her superstructure and mast and other items that would serve as central components of memorials that were being constructed around the country. Commemorative medallions were cast from metal retrieved from her screws as Americans renewed their commitment to remember the Maine.

This outstanding example of a USS Maine medallion commemorates the ship and the Pittsburgh, PA memorial that was dedicated in 1914. The inscription on the obverse reads, “U.S.S. Maine, Destroyed in Havana Harbor, Cuba, February 15th, 1898.This medal made from bronze recovered from the Maine.”

The inscription on the medallion’s reverse reads, “Issued by the general committee of the fifteenth annual reunion of the army of the Philippines, Cuba and Porto Rico, in memory of our deceased comrades and the dedication of the Maine Memorial. Pittsburgh, PA | September 16th, 1914.”

Four years following the devastating loss of the cruiser, the U.S. Navy commissioned the USS Maine (BB-10), the lead ship of three-ship class of battleships which also included the USS Missouri (BB-11) and USS Ohio (BB-12). The second USS Maine would proudly carry the name and legacy in Teddy Roosevelt’s Great White Fleet and through World War I. Her 18-year career ended with her May 1920 decommissioning. The Maine name wouldn’t sail again until 1994 when the Navy launched the 16th Ohio-class Trident submarine, USS Maine (SSBN-741) which is currently homeported in Bangor, Washington.

This tally (from the BB-10) recently recently sold for under $200 (source: eBay image).

More than 110 years later, the stricken USS Maine resonates with a minute segment of collectors. While very few items or artifacts originating from the ship surface within the marketplace, memorial pieces are readily available.

I’ve been collecting for decades. My primary interest, since I was a teenager, was just about anything baseball or football related – specifically, Los Angeles Dodgers or Los Angeles Rams. Growing up in the Northwest United States where we lacked Major League Baseball and the National Football League, I followed the dominant teams of that era that were routinely viewable on television. As a young adult on active duty in the Navy, I still maintained my loyalty to these two teams regardless of my ship being underway in local waters or on deployment.

A fellow collector’s AEF football memorabilia  a program – 36th Division (1st Army) vs 7th Division (2nd Army) March 21, 1919; a football from a game between the 77th Division vs 81st Division teams; Football Championship Coin | First Prize – 86th Division.(source: Mark McCaffrey – Falls Creek Military Collectibles)

Learning about and understanding history led me to delve into baseball’s past and the golden years of the game in the 1930s and 40s. I was very familiar with the sacrifices of the game’s stars as many would serve in front-line combat units and ships during the war. I was fascinated by these men who could have played baseball solely on service teams, avoiding combat altogether by serving as morale boosts for troops coming off the line or prior to heading into the fray.

(See my other military sports posts: The Corps on the Diamond: US Marines Baseball Uniforms, Baseball Championship Series in August? Yes, it Happened in 1945, America’s Pastime During Wartime: Collecting Military Baseball Memorabilia)

When I was a teenager, my father (a Vietnam veteran) always thought highly of Rocky Blier, who after his 1968 rookie season with the Steelers, was drafted into the Army and volunteered to serve in Vietnam. While on a patrol, Specialist Blier’s unit was ambushed. Rocky sustained a bullet wound in his leg. Down on the ground, Blier sustained additional wounds when an enemy grenade exploded nearby sending shrapnel into his leg. While recovering in Japan, he was told by doctors that his playing career was over. He went on to play ten seasons, including four championship seasons, all with the Steelers.

The NFL didn’t truly come into its own until recent years, arguably taking over and holding onto the position as the national pastime from MLB. Prior to 1920, the game of football was predominantly a college sport. Little did I realize until recently that American football was played on French soil among the troops of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF).

From my uncle’s WWI photo album, this photo shows the gridiron surrounded by soldiers in full uniform. The action on the field is quite compelling as the ball carrier runs to the left for the goal line. Note the makeshift goal post in the background.

I inherited several military pieces that belonged to my uncle (who served in WWI, WWII and the Korean War), including a few photo albums. One of the photo books was of his military service spanning his WWI time and a few years following. The first several times scanning through the book, I focused my attention on the images showing my uncle in uniform prior to deploying and on through his return home from the war. I overlooked the others until years later.

A few years ago, I decided to scan some of the photos for use in a family tree project when I discovered a photo that I couldn’t take my attention away from. It showed a football game on a makeshift gridiron surrounded by doughboys in uniform. My curiosity was piqued. What was the story behind this game? Who were the participants? Was the war still raging at the time of the game?

I located a unit history book (F, 63*) that was published in 1919 detailing the exploits of my uncle’s artillery unit in The Great War. Gracing the pages were several photos that were provided by my uncle (with photo credit), including a photo of the football game. The narrative failed to detail the game but photo caption noted that the game was being played at St. Selve between Battery B (of the 63rd CAC) and the 67th Infantry Regiment (Ninth Infantry Division). Based upon the linear arrangement of the photos, I surmised that the game was played following the signing of the Armistice.

Sadly, scant few details have been written about American football during the war and even fewer artifacts exist for interested collectors.

*Ashton, John L., Sanford Martin, Fred J. English, Richard K. Beymer, and H. Victor Morgan. 1919. F, 63; being an account of the events and wanderings of that unit during the great war, 1917-1919.

Last week, I wrote about how the militaria collecting community embraces new collectors by providing invaluable guidance and answers to questions newbies might have. I also touched on the giving and generous nature these folks have toward genuinely interested, potential newcomers to the pastime.

With my day job, I have the wonderful opportunity to stay off the road a few days each week by telecommuting to work and plugging into my company and team workload electronically, which affords me the opportunity to be around my family during the day. Earlier this week, the doorbell rang about the time of our normal, daily postal delivery. I answered the door to see our letter carrier standing with a stack of mail and a parcel. Unfazed by the delivery contents, I thanked the postal worker as I grabbed the bundle and closed the door.

Walking away from door, I checked the parcel to see that it was addressed to my son. Just a few days before, I was checking the latest postings on one of the militaria forums as I was catching up on some of the amazing new discoveries other collectors were sharing when I saw something that caught my eye. It was a posting that was offering something special to a young, budding collector (under seventeen years of age) provided he or she is the first to respond to the thread.

As it was a school day and my kids are home-schooled, my son was nearby immersed in his math studies. I called him over to read the posting and to look at the pictures of the free item that was offered by this thoughtful collector. My son, who is fourteen, has a keen interest in history, including military history (hard to tell where he gets that from) and took to militaria a little more than a year ago. He read the details of the forum post and I watched as his eyes grew wide, viewing a full set of medals, full and miniature, ribbon and lapel pin of a fairly current Navy Cross in a presentation case, in unissued, new condition. He promptly responded to the offer, indicating that he wanted the medal for his collection.

My son opened the shipping box and pulled the presentation case out of the bubble wrap. It was exciting to see the anticipation on his face build.

Since my son has embarked on his own militaria collecting venture, he has been the recipient of several similar offers ranging from medals to patches and even a World War II Eisenhower uniform jacket in pristine condition. These fellow collectors, in their efforts to spark the next generation of collectors, are almost obstinate in their refusal to accept so much as a penny to cover shipping costs. These folks do this (quite often, in fact) out of the kindness of their heart and knowing the joy that it brings the youngster on the receiving end.

Opening the case, it was revealed the four pristine pieces to this Navy Cross set. My son is quite thrilled to have this in his collection.

I walked to the table, returning to my laptop where my son was also seated with his books. In my hand was the package containing the Navy Cross set. I reached out to him with the package with butterflies in my stomach. I was almost as excited to see the medal as he was! Responsibilities come first in our house so I told him that he could open it once his work was completed. It pained me to do that…heck, I wanted to open it!

The medals are pristine and clearly, unissued to a recipient.

A few hours later, my son opened his package and was giddy as he removed the medal case from the bubble wrap. He opened the case and carefully removed each piece from its individual wrapping while we discussed the reasons Navy and Marine Corps personnel are awarded this beautifully-designed valor decoration. We discussed how this medal didn’t belong to him (it wasn’t awarded to him) and that he was merely a steward – charged with learning about it and sharing the history with others.

The medal set includes the full-size, mini, the ribbon and the lapel pin.

Sharing – this is something my son, along with many other young militaria collectors, is learning as it is being demonstrated to him by other collectors.