July 13-15, 2021 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/15/2021
Nice small medal and ephemera grouping that is identified to Herbert N. Buffington who was a member of the 1st Infantry Division. Buffington was born on May 25, 1916 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and enlisted in the Army before World War II, as he is mentioned on several transport documents and base assignments in the late 1930s. He was sent from New York to Hawaii in 1936 by way of Fort McDowell in California and is listed then a 3rd Infantry on transport passenger list. When he comes back in 1938 from Schofield Sector to New York, by way of California, he is in list of men who are a part of the 21st Infantry. During World War II, Buffington was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, a unit with an extensive combat record. He is listed as serving overseas during World War II from August 2nd, 1942, and returning on March 9th, 1945. The First Infantry Division departed the New York Port of Embarkation on August 1st, 1945 in order to prepare for the amphibious assault on North Africa. Buffington is mentioned in a December 16, 1944 newspaper article regarding his actions with the First Infantry Division during the D-Day landings. "Another week of war has brought announcements of more medals and decorations to fighting men from Harrisburg and vicinity. They include: Bronze Star Medals to a group from this section who were among 740 infantrymen of a single battalion of the First Infantry Division so decorated for their heroic achievements on D-Day: Pfc. Herbert H. Buffington, 1923 Moltke street;..." The award for D-Day which was noted in the local paper, mis-transcribed his middle initial as "H" instead of "N", but the street address in the article matches the on his dog tag, ensuring that this is the same man. Buffington was overseas with the unit for most of the war, and appears to have returned to the United States a few months before victory was declared in Europe. He passed away in May of 1983 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The lot includes Buffington's slot brooch, lock catch Purple Heart Medal, which has a thin style, post-World War II engraving. The Purple Heart is contained in a World War II era "coffin" case with a lapel pin and clutch back ribbon bar. The Bronze Star Medal is in a post-World War II box and is adorned with 2 oak leaf clusters and a V for Valor, along with a lapel pin and ribbon bar that matches the medal. The rest of the lot includes Buffington's service medals, Combat Infantry Badge, and marksmanship badge, all of which are 1980s reissues. The medals are complete with corresponding paperwork from the Department of the Army that verify Buffington's awards which is dated 1984. Tying the group together is a portrait photo of Buffington in his 1930s uniform, his ID papers that are dated July 8, 1942, and Buffington's dog tags which verify his address. This is a very nice, documented medal grouping that is worthy of further research. Papers exhibit blemishes that are typical of old ephemera, the medals present well with crisp engravings. CONDITION: Very good JLD