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Any one collect militeria?

Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 9:21 am
by GregS
Just curious whether other members collect militeria?

If so, from what time period?

Me,........I pick up WWII stuff here and there. Nothing very expensive, just interesting items. I don't look for show pieces.

Occasionally I will pick up some Korean War stuff that will look neat in my M38 even though my M38 wouldn't have been seen in the war.

Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 10:27 am
by Ryan_Miller
Greg,

I collect WWII stuff, nothing really expensive. I have a lot of 1911 pistol holsters and I am really into the 1911A1, but I only have one original as they are getting very expensive! :cry:

Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 8:42 pm
by Joe20
I've picked up a lot of stuff over the years, nothing real expensive. Various time periods. I work in an army navy store part time so I can keep my eyes pealed there for bargains too.

Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 8:37 pm
by JohnnyO
I myself have stuff dated 1917 to 1997. The WWI items don't get as much use as the WWII items. My biggest collection is of WWII and second come Vietnam. This a double edged sword. There are things that I want to buy to further my collection, however, there are 2 jeeps in need of TLC. One more then the other.

Posted: Sun May 08, 2005 11:45 pm
by wesk
I always keep an eye open for the WWII stuff. It was my dad's war. I finally gave my grand dad's issue 1911A1 to my son last year. Serialled 1926. I prefer the little oddities that shed lite on what life was like from 1939 thru 1945.

Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 10:26 am
by GregS
Ryan, I would love to have just one 1911A1. But, the cost has always stopped me. Hard to justify when I need jeep parts.............maybe someday!

Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 12:28 pm
by Galen
I'm WWI & WWII, but with 2 Jeeps on the rebuild currently, not much attention has gone toward growing my collection. I did score a big hit last year, my great uncle gave me his father's (my great-grandfather's) WWI stuff . . . helmet, overcoat, ammo belt, & wallet. I have pictures of him from WWI in various situations (all posed) with the assorted gear, so it has a lot of sentimental value.

I'm currently on the lookout to begin collecting the victory medals from WWII for my grandfather, who served in the 158th, the Bushmasters in the South Pacific as a medic. He lost all his decorations over the years after his return, so those medals would mean a lot to him.

Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 7:49 pm
by wesk
Galen,
You can get the correct medals from the Army. Just get your dad's DD-214's and take them to the nearest Army or Army Guard post's Personnel Office and they'll fix you right up.

Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 1:06 pm
by Galen
As always, Wes, you are a fountain of knowledge. Thanks!

Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 11:22 pm
by wesk
Here's the site to start at:
https://iris.va.gov/scripts/iris.cfg/ph ... _faqid=435

Once you have the DD214's you can review the awards section to determine which ribbons and medals he is authorized to wear.

I had to do this for my Dad's funeral service to properly organize and display his ribbons.

I retired after 22 in the USAF so I have a good background in gathering this info.

Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 8:24 am
by GregS
Galen,

Here is another site that will help you. It has step by step instructions about how to get replacement medals along with addresses where to send the requests.

I got them for my father last year along with the recently approved (Republic of Korea) War Service Medal. They shipped them directly to his house all free of charge. He got a kick out of them.

http://www.military.com/Resources/Resou ... -1,00.html