<Previously posted in JG11 squad forum>
On the heels of a post by Angelsandair, I thought I'd post this for all to see. I was a bit shocked. to find such history next door to me.
I'll try to make a long story short.
My neighbor (next house down on the block) I have known my whole life. He is 25. His family has lived in the house for 4 generations (he is the 4th). They have decided to move (complicated reasons that I'm not clear about, yet) I was conscripted to help clean/move, etc.
While digging through and moving stuff in the basement we came across a funeral home box, and a leather case. I asked what was in the box(s), and if I could open them. My neighbor said "Sure, I think there is some old stuff of my Great-Grandfather's in there from the war" Considering the nature of our squad (JG11), I was pretty blown away by what I found inside the boxes.
I make no claim as to how these items were acquired, nor do I care to speculate. All I know is that James White (my neighbor's Great-Grandfather) was an American infantryman during WWII, in Europe. I'm not sure which unit.
All I know is that the one paper I photographed, was some type of invoice about how the items were for "trophy" purposes only, and how they were of no strategic/intelligence importance, and were not of a sensitive nature. This paper was signed by, what appears to be, Mr. White's CO or something along those lines.
I have identified some of these items, but not all. If anyone can I.D. them all, I would be much obliged. Especially the patches, most of all. There is also a bunch of duplicates (which he let me keep)
I apologize if any of this is unsettling. By no stretch of the imagination did I post any of this in bad taste, and I did not do it to intentionally offend anyone or stir up memories better left forgotten or stored away in that "I must never forget, but try not to remember" place. I say this because I served in the military, myself, and I know how the manner in which these kinds of items are sometimes "acquired" , in addition to, the reaction that my Grandfather can have to some of the images shown on WWII PTO programs on the "history" channel.
I did this more to honor and remember those who may no longer be with us that served with great honor, pride, and integrity no matter which side of the fence they were on.
So, without further ado................
