A SSM/PH Recipient B-17 Pilot in the 8th AAF with a huge research surprise!

Lt George B. B-E-C-K-H-E-L-M enlisted in the Army in 1942. He was commissioned as a pilot in 1943 and quickly made his way to the 8th AAF in England. He flew several missions as a co-pilot before the fateful day in June of 1943 when his B-17 took a direct hit, severely wounding this LT. Please read the newspaper articles below and witness the moment captured on film by an official Army Air Force photographer when this brave officer was awarded the Silver Star. I was completely shocked when I stumbled across this photo!

This particular uniform is his cropped jacket (not pictured) that was manufactured and then tailored in England. All of the insignia is wartime original. I am currently waiting on his records and I will update the thread whenever they make it in. Enjoy! This one is amazing to hold in person. You just can't beat Wolf-Brown ribbon bars and Sterling insignia!

5th Division Company Commander: Highly Decorated Silver Star and Military Cross Recipient

To start off this thread, I have to first say I have never seen a man that has served in so many capacities in so many different branches of service! Captain Joseph F-E-K-E-T-E Jr was born in New York in 1909. At the young age of 17 he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served with them from Jan '26 through Oct '29. It was during this time he was awarded the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal and the Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal. In 1933, he continued his service to this nation in the Navy serving as a Sea2C until 1937. Wanting something less liquid under his boots he then joined the Army, serving as an enlistedman from 1937 until Sept 16 1940 when he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt under the New York National Guard. He found his way to the Easy Company, 2nd Regiment, 5th Infantry Division which he eventually wound up being the Company Commander when the previous CC was captured as a POW. In November of 1944, his fearless leadership saved numerous members of his company (read the citations below) and he was awarded the Silver Star Medal AND the British Military Cross for this particular battle.

This uniform came to me minus the ribbons and metal insignia which currently reside in Tarbridge's collection. Capt F-E-K-E-T-E's medals also can be seen here :

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/225704-tennessee-military-collectors-association-the-fatherson-grouping-i-found-at-the-show/

I painstakingly restored the ribbon bar using all period correct pieces (which is no easy task) and it matches his originals perfectly.

Please take a moment to read the Citations and think about the bravery and courage this man displayed on a November day over 72 years ago!

102nd Infantry Division Silver Star/Bronze Star/Purple Heart Medal Recipient Combat Medic

Marion M. L-E-W-I-S (ASN 38640080) was born on August 1, 1908 in Marion, Ohio. Drafted into the Army in 1942 in his city of birth he attended basic training in Austin, TX. He underwent medical training and was assigned to the Medical Detachment, 407th Infantry Regiment in the 102nd Infantry Division as a combat medic. During his time with the 102nd during the Rhineland and Central-European Campaigns, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, and Silver Star Medal. His SSM citations reads he repeatedly crossed and recrossed the Roer River to evacuate those wounded by enemy artillery, mortar, and small arms fire. T/3 L-E-W-I-S also entered an unknown minefield to rescue numerous casualties. After hostilities ceased in the ETO, he was transferred to the 16th Armored Division for occupation duties. His family states that he was presented the French Croix de Guerre by General Charles DeGaulle on October 30th, 1945.

T/3 L-E-W-I-S was married and had two sons. He lived in Cincinnati after the war and retired after many years in the funeral business. He passed away in 2005.

This uniform came to me with a post-war, Vietnam-era nametape of L-E-W-I-S on it so he most likely wore this to reunions or veteran's organizations events. It was sloppily sewn on so I removed it to return it to its correct WWII appearance.

The cross stitching on this uniform is unlike any I've ever seen. Such detail was paid to the stitching of the 16th Armored patch that the thread matches the red, blue, and yellow backing of the patch. Thanks for looking!