Carbine Picture

I had a WWII dated belt with an open buckle like the one in the photo. I can't tell you whether it was Army or Marine though.

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Originally Posted by Bill Hollinger

open buckle

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Originally Posted by Bill Hollinger

Army or Marine

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Why? What's the difference?

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Originally Posted by ChipS

I'm not sure this is a U.S Marine and I sure wouldn't bet my dog it was taken on Iwo Jima.

I will note that the hand painted insignia on the helmet liner looks like a 96th Infantry Division insignia (double overlapping diamonds), but oriented vertically. The USA 96th ID served in the Pacific, of note in the battle for Okinawa and I believe in the retaking of Leyte, P.I.

May be on Okinawa or in the Phillipines with the (very small) double-barrel sling shot liberated from local indigenous personnel, in a freindly encounter. JMHO

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Applying the sophisticated research technique called "mashing the eBay See other items button" and looking at the other 36 photos should allay any doubt that those pictured are marines. Our fashion statement marine is identified as Bob Parker on the back of the silky underthings photo. Photo #13 shows a fellow who looks strikingly similar. That photo's caption lists only last names, but one of those is 'Parker.'

In case that's not enough, other photos show 3rd and 4th MARDIV cemeteries. For the truly obtuse, one of the cemetery views shows Suribachi in the distance.

Getting closer to actual research, it appears from Gordon Rottman's USMC order of battle book that the 8th Field Depot's only combat assignment was Iwo.

Pretty good job for an eBay listing. The only quibble would be that several of the other photos are dated Nov and Dec '44, so, obviously, weren't taken on Iwo.

I think the evidence is overwhelming. Good job, firstflabn. I did not think to check for additional pics for sale. All probably from Sgt. Parenti's album I would guess. We all knew a 'Private Parker' - the snuffy scratching his nose with his middle finger in the squad photo. LOL