Friday, September 20, 2013

WW2 4th Infantry Division Uniform

The story of this brave veteran has a beggining like many others. He was born in 1919 and worked as a ticket clerk at the local railway in New York City. He enlisted in the Army in February of 1942. Coughlin was assigned to the 8th Infantry Regiment in the 4th Division and trained with the unit prior to being deployed in January of 1944. In the following months, it was decided that the famous ivy division would spearhead the charge for mainland europe by being the first unit to hit the beaches of Normandy. Coughlin's records indicate that he was wounded on D+4 (and also later on in November of that year)

This brave soldier not only received a Silver Star Medal and Purple Heart Medal w/ OLC for his heroic actions in the ETO, but a battlefield commission also. He was commissioned from a,SSgt to 2nd Lieutnant a month after landing in France. If only this uniform could talk to me and tell me the details of the footsteps that this Ivy Divisioner took. I was lucky enough to get some records with the uniform including (what must be a VERY rare) letter of commission.

The uniform is in gorgeous condition and it has his initials embroidered on to a tailors tag on the inside. Sterling CIB, All Pinback ribbon bars, machine sewn 4th Division patch (he was discharged from the 4th at Camp Butner so there isn't another on the other sleeve).

It is a centerpiece addition to my war room and I hope to display it for years to come.








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