December 14-17, 2021 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/15/2021
Rufus B. Burrus is an example of an Army officer with an extensive and successful career who is overlooked in the history books, but is historically significant, especially in association with President Harry S. Truman. Burrus' military career begins in 1918 when he starts out as a student in the Army Training Corps. During his training, he would become acquainted with field artillery, much like his later friend, Harry Truman, who was the commander of the Battery D, 129th Field Artillery during World War I. In 1927, Burrus was serving as a private in Battery A, 443rd Field Artillery. 1 year later Burrus was commissioned as a second lieutenant and throughout the late 1920s and early 1930s, he would serve with the 443rd, and 381st Field Artillery, as well as the 327th Ammo Train. Intertwined with the years of his pre-World War II military service, Burrus practiced law and met the future President when Truman was running for Eastern Judge of Jackson County Court. They quickly became friends, and their relationship grew when Truman appointed Burrus to be assistant county counselor in 1927. During the 1930s, Burrus and Truman also served in the same Army Reserve regiment. When World War II broke out, Burrus was serving as a Captain in the 6th Division and was commander of Battery C, 51st Field Artillery Battalion. Throughout the rest of the war, he served with the Transportation Corps in the North African and Italian theaters in which accompanying paperwork states he is authorized to wear the EAME ribbon with two battle stars. After the war, Burrus became President of the Missouri Bar Association and was promoted to colonel in the Army Reserve. Burrus and Truman's friendship continued to grow in the post-World War II era and Burrus became on of Truman's personal attorneys. According to a newspaper article regarding their friendships that is included with this lot, "Burrus performed several legal services for which he never charged. Truman wrote two or three times asking Burrus for a bill, which Burrus never sent. Truman finally sent a $1000 dollar check. Burrus returned it, and Truman sent it back. Burrus finally accepted it, but never cashed it." The check still exists to this day, as a symbol of their friendship. This lot containing Burrus' memorabilia is quite extensive, and features both uniforms and ephemera. The lot consists of: (A) Burrus' interwar 1930s second lieutenant's uniform that features a 7th Corps patch and artillery collar insignia. The uniform is complete with matching trousers and leather riding boots as well as two Sam Browne belts. (B) Very nice theater made Ike jacket with bullion lieutenant colonel rank insignia and theater made sewn ribbons and field artillery collar insignia. This uniform comes with a high quality wool officer's shirt and black tie. (C) World War II era chocolate officer's tunic with bullion colonel insignia which was most likely worn by Burrus towards the end of the war and into the 1950s when he was promoted to colonel in the reserves. This uniform includes a short sleeve officer's khaki shirt, tie, and 2 fur felt officer hats. (D) Post-World War II Army dress blue uniform including a tunic with appropriate red trim and colonel insignia on the shoulders, trousers, and officer's visor hat. (E) Cold War Army dress green uniform tunic and officer's visor hat exhibiting pinback colonel insignia, field artillery collar insignia, and Burrus' decorations. Most uniform pieces are named to Burrus on tags or written in various areas on the interior of the jackets, trousers, and hats. (F) Wood desk plaque that is named to Burrus. (G) Bag of Burrus's medals neatly kept in plastic envelopes. (H) Binder of ephemera relating to Burrus including newspaper articles, Army documents, hand written notes, and various other papers that Burrus saved as keepsakes from his military service. (H) The book "Harry S. Truman His Life and Times" by Brian Burnes. CONDITION: All uniform pieces have been very well taken care of but exhibit small scattered moth nips. The medals are nicely preserved. Most pieces of ephemera are well preserved but exhibit blemishes typical of old paper including but not limited to yellowing, foxing, creases, small tears, and wear around the edges. Overall very good. This is an excellent archive of a successful Army officer, lawyer, and friend of Harry Truman that would fit nicely into a military collection, or perhaps even the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum. JLD
Item Dimensions: 20" x 20" x 20"