December 15, 2020 Edged Weapons, Armor & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/15/2020
Nice small medal and ephemera grouping that is ID'D to Russel Stevens who was a member of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. Stevens was born in Middlesex, Massachusetts in 1921. Just over a month after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Stevens enlisted in the US Army on January 22, 1942 and after training would volunteer for the US Army Paratroopers and be assigned to HQ Co. 2nd Battalion, 504th PIR. Stevens was a seasoned combat veteran and served with the 82nd Airborne Division throughout Italy. He is credited with 4 campaigns including, Rome-Arno, Rhineland, Sicilian, and Naples-Foggia. He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in Italy on December 15, 1943. Stevens was discharged as a technical sergeant on October 31, 1945 by reason of the desire to accept an appointment as a Warrant Officer, Junior Grade. For his service during the war Stevens was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart, and EAME Theater medal with 4 bronze stars. The lot includes Stevens' uncased, unengraved crimp brooch Purple Heart as well as his unnamed GCM and EAME with 4 stars that were never attached to the medal. Also included are his pin back sterling jump wings hallmarked "A.E. CO Utica NY" and his clutch back sterling marked Combat Infantry Badge. There is also a beautiful theater made bullion jump wings patch that measures 3 - 5/8" x 2 - 1/8". The ephemera includes an 82nd Airborne pocket guide unit history, two discharge papers stamped "Nov 18 1988" on the back, various letters from the VA, 1939 dated CCC discharge, WWII era discharge papers, and two copies of photos of Stevens in uniform. There are also several letters that are condolences for Stevens' death in 1988. CONDITION: All items range from good-excellent. JD
Item Dimensions: 16" x 13"