July 12-14, 2022 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/13/2022
World War II US Marine Corps P41 fatigue jacket with obvious field use named to Oliver J. Taborelli, who experienced the brutality of combat on Okinawa. Taborelli was born on June 7, 1924 and registered for the draft on June 30, 1942. By 1943, Taborelli is listed on the Marine Corps muster rolls where he is noted to have completed his training and was stationed in various locations throughout the United States. Afterwards, he was assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 6th Marine Division and is listed as such on the muster rolls right before Operation Iceberg. Taborelli and the rest of the 6th Marine Division were baptized by fire during one of the bitterest battles of the Pacific War. The battle raged from April 1-June 22, 1945, initially starting with light resistance from the Japanese defenders, the campaign would later turn into a meatgrinder. Taborelli and his fellow Marines were constantly pushed hard while fighting the Japanese, especially at the Shuri Line, including a week of hard fighting at the infamous Sugarloaf Hill. After Sugarloaf Hill, the Division advanced through Naha, where they conducted a shore-to-shore amphibious assault and subsequent 10 day battle to capture the Oroku peninsula. The mop up operations continued until June 21, but the battle was cut short for Taborelli when he was wounded in the hip June 12, 1945 while assigned to Company I, 3rd Battalion, 22nd Marine Regiment. Although he is listed as killed on 12 June 1945 on some casualty indexes, Taborelli survived his wounds and returned to New Jersey. He passed away on May 12, 2013 at the age of 88. The harshness of war is reflected by Taborelli's P41 jacket, which is in standard configuration, and according paperwork provided by the consigner, is stained with his blood from when he was wounded on June 12, 1945. The jacket is named to Taborelli twice in the collar. The jacket is complete with all of its original buttons with the exception of 1 button on the right cuff. CONDITION: USMC stamp on upper pocket has faded, left cuff button is dented. Jacket is heavily stained, with the largest area on the upper back with various smaller stains scattered throughout the jacket. Overall good, considering its history. The jacket is accompanied by a file of research regarding Taborelli's service. JLD
Item Dimensions: 10" x 10"