Help with uniform please

[robert1963]

hello i did not know where else to turn with help with a uniform that we found in our attic, i do not need it and am going to sell it but i do not know what era (im thinking ww2) or what i should ask,
any help would be appreciative[ATTACH][ATTACH][ATTACH]Attachment 66597[/ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH]

thank you very much
Rob

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Welcome to the forum Robert, yes it's WW2...

[robert1963]

Thank you Jim, im not a collector but was looking for info on this and I thought what better place to ask, just trying to figure out what i should sell for I dont want to price it to high but I dont want to be lowballed either

[RT Ellis]

Well you've got a real prize for a uniform collector. The jacket is a U.S. Army enlisted uniform jacket known as a "Eisenhower Jacket" because they were designed after the short British battle jacket and ordered by General Eisenhower. These were manufactured in Britain and in the U.S. for the U.S. Army in 1943 and afterwards. (you may find a printed label inside one of the pockets that will provide the contract information)

This jacket was worn by a Private First Class (single chevron on sleeves), of the Signal Corps (crossed flags insignia on collar brass), assigned to the Headquarters Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHEAF) (shoulder sleeve insignia on left sleeve, and those magnificent embroidered unit distinctive devices on both collars.) His ribbon bars show service in the United States, in the European Theater of Operations, WWII Victory, Army of Occupation, and Good Conduct (2 years service). The WWII victory medal indicates he wore the jacket after the war was won. The shoulder sleeve insignia on the right sleeve is usually referred as a "combat patch" and signifies assignment to a unit during combat operations. The embroidered wreath insignia on the right cuff is a unit commendation awarded to all members of a unit at the time of distinguished service. The lower left sleeve appears to display two overseas service bars (each representing 6 months overseas service).

You may find the soldier's name marked somewhere inside the jacket, or his identification mark consisting of a letter and four numbers: an abbreviated code that represented the first letter of the soldier's last name, and the last four numbers of his serial number. Uniform collectors are getting pretty good at identifying the soldier and obtaining his service information from the name or even the identification code marked on uniforms and equipment.

You should not have any trouble selling the jacket and may even get some offers through this forum by forum members. If you can locate the name or identification code marked inside the jacket it would enhance the sale if you reported that information in the description of the jacket.

[browningautorifle]

One thing not present that you will usually find is the ruptured duck release emblem. Normally they're present...

[robert1963]

thanks RT and jim i was able to find the tag and my wife believes it belonged to her step grandfather Tom Haas it has no sentimental value to her apparently he was not a very nice man here is the tag along with some other medals i found [ATTACH][ATTACH][ATTACH][ATTACH]Attachment 66602[/ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH]

the big medal says pa national guard 1916 on one side and other side says Mexican boarder service

what value would you put on the jacket? ballpark of course

again thank you for your help

Robert

[robert1963]

i found his obituary - we bought the house from her parents it used to belong to her grandmother was built in 1760 was a log cabin and the logs still remain in the walls

Thomas W. Haas

Thomas W. Haas, 88, of Willow Street, PA, died Thursday, February 10, 2011 at ManorCare of Lancaster. He was born in Lititz, son of the late Thomas and Dolly (Bleacher) Haas. He was the husband of the late Elizabeth J. (McAvoy) Haas who died in 1963 and Lillian (Messer) Haas who died January 3, 2011. Tom was a retired truck driver for Kunzler & Co., Lancaster, where he had worked for 40 years, a member of the Conestoga United Methodist Church, Millersville VFW, Teamsters Local 771, a former Boy Scout leader for Willow Street Troop #58, and enjoyed fishing. He had honorably served his country in the US Army during World War II as a truck driver.

He is survived by his son, Thomas C. married to Christine Haas of Summit, NJ; his stepsons, Charles D. married to Earla Ament, Earl R. married to Belinda Ament; and a stepdaughter, Rose C. married to Ronald Barley,(my Wife's parents) all of Lancaster, and will be sadly missed by his 4 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his three sisters, Mary Herr, Charlotte Keesey, and Miriam Reed

[RT Ellis]

The contractor Kay Bro Clothes, Inc., was a muliti-million dollar contractor that made coats, overcoats, jackets, and trousers on large and numerous contracts for the Army, Navy, and Coast Guard, in 1941-46. The company had facilities in Brooklyn, NY; Clifton, NJ; Northampton, Pa; and Passaic, NJ. The contract information tells us the nomenclature, QM stock number (every size had a separate stock number, "55-J-384" identified the item type and "60" the size), size, contractor, jacket was manufactured on a purchase order (which was sometimes an extension of a contract), PO dated 8/4/1944, Specification P.Q.D. (Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot) 437 pattern 5/10/44. Contracted on purchase order by Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot.

As to the metal items the "US" disc is a U.S. Army enlisted collar device worn on the service uniform from circa 1902 to 1926. The silver sharpshooter qualification basic badge, and enlisted brass collar disc with infantry (crossed rifle) insignia, were used starting in the 1930s and still in use, but the examples shown are probably WWII period. The Pennsylvania Border Service metal was awarded to the members of the Pennsylvania National Guard that served on the U.S.-Mexico border from March 1916 until recalled. A complete metal is illustrated although the ribbon has separated. Several states issued similar medals and the soldiers that were eligible for this metal were also eligible for the Mexican Border Service Medal

[robert1963]

wow RT thank you so much you are amazing and i appreciate the help

[RT Ellis]

Here are examples of the medals previously mentioned. As originally issued these medals were serial numbered on the bottom edge of the medal. I've provided the serial numbers on these examples for illustration.

Attachment 66617

Pennsylvania National Guard Mexican Border Service, and U.S. For Service on the Mexican Border medals.