August 18 & 19, 2020 Edged Weapons, Armor, & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/19/2020
This is an incredible and historically significant Purple Heart Medal that was posthumously awarded to Willard J. Lucas, who was a member of the 82nd Airborne, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The Purple Heart is in its original case with ribbon bar and lapel pin. The medal is crimp brooched and is numbered "458547." The medal is engraved "Willard J. Lucas" on the reverse. The case is contained in a cardboard box in which it has been stored since it was received by Lucas' mother. The group also includes the original medal certificate and death certificate that was issued by the US Army. What is even more impressive is that the certificates are contained in the original mailing tube that is addressed to his mother. Lucas was born on November 21, 1921 in Lavelle, Schuylkill County Pennsylvania. Lucas entered service on May 27, 1942. He received his basic training at Camp Wheeler and later at Fort Benning with the paratroopers. He was assigned to overseas service in December 1943 and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne's 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Lucas would go on to participate in the Invasion of Normandy from which he would not return. In the early morning hours of June 6th 1944, just after 2:00 am, twelve planeloads of men assigned to the 507th PIR were mis-dropped and dispersed throughout the marshes just south of the French town of Carentan. The men of the 3rd Battalion of the 507th PIR were supposed to be dropped roughly 18 miles to the northwest in an area that was classified as "Drop Zone T," near the town of Amfreville. Instead, the 3rd battalion was scattered around the vicinity of the French village of Graignes. This would later be known as the worst mis-drop of any US airborne unit on D-Day. The ensuing Battle of Graignes would later be known as one of the most valiant defenses during the invasion. Slowly, American paratroopers began to arrive in the village with an initial force of 25 men. As the day progressed, 182 paratroopers had gathered in the town of Graignes. Due to the fact that the paratroopers were deep behind enemy lines and far from their objective drop zone, the decision was made to remain where they gathered and defend the town. Although it was dangerous to aid the enemy, the townspeople made a unanimous decision to feed and help the paratroopers in any way they could. On Saturday, June 10th, a German reconnaissance detachment made contact with the town which resulted in the death of four German soldiers. The following day on June 11th, the Germans unleashed several attacks in order to wipe out the 182 paratroopers that were defending the town. After several assaults, which resulted in the death of the American commander, the defenders became disorganized and were ordered to disperse and retreat in pairs. Elements of the 17th SS Panzergrenadier conducted the final assault on the town with a force of about 2000 men, which would have outnumbered the Americans 10-1. At the end of the battle on June 11th, The SS entered the town church, which was being used by the paratroopers as an aid station. In the aid station were 14 wounded Americans along with Captain Abraham Sophian, who was the 3rd battalion surgeon, and two medics. The Americans surrendered, and should have been protected by the Geneva convention, but were instead murdered by the men of the 17th SS. One group of five wounded paratroopers were forced to the edge of a nearby pond, where they were bayoneted and dumped in the water. The other group of nine were forced to march at gunpoint to a field and were forced to dig a pit. After the SS deemed the hole to be deep enough, they shot each of the wounded men through the head and pushed their bodies into the pit. At some point, Captain Sophian and the two medics were also murdered. Out of the 182 men that defended Graignes, 150 made it to US lines. Lucas was declared killed on June 11th, 1944, but it unknown if he is one of the men who were murdered by the SS. He was only 23 years old when he was killed and his remains were returned to the United States in 1948. CONDITION: Overall excellent. The cardboard box does show stains and wear from age. The case is in excellent condition with no blemishes. The medal has a few loose threads on the reverse but is very well held together. The engraving is crisp and the medal shows no major blemishes. The certificates are in excellent condition, as they are still rolled in the original shipping tube and were probably only opened by Lucas' mother when she received them in the mail. The cardboard shipping tube was torn open by Lucas' mother but is in otherwise good condition. The mailing label from the war department is still legible. This is an incredible documented posthumously awarded Purple Heart group from a renowned unit and a notable World War II battle that would be one of the centerpieces of any medal collection. JD
Item Dimensions: Larger: 14 - 1/4" x 2 - 1/4" x 2 - 1/4".