World War II MemorabiliaA collection of the author’s WWII memorabilia: medals, regiment patches, dopp kit items, bible, Ft Deven’s training camp Thanksgiving dinner menu; honorable discharge document, telegram home, 45th Infantry hat, and more.His dopp kit shaver, lighter, pen knife.Missives home, to the author’s father. Thinking about his “post bellum” future.The bible gifted Joe by his parents once he enlistedFt Devens soldier demobilization (or “separation”) center.Honorable discharge. Ft Deven’s Thankgsgiving dinner menu?The soldier moves on post war, post Harvard graduation.Closer zoom on the front of his new career identity cardsOpting in…Patches, pins and medals. Famed Bill Mauldin, WWII soldier and cartoonist (his characters Willie and Joe were weary, unshaven infantrymen). We don’t know where the pipe came from. A Mauldin character’s replica?One of the author’s I&R platoon maps, no doubt unfolded on the hood of the jeep, in the thick of it…Soldier Joe’s war kit.Top: Platoon mates still standing gather for a reunion at the author’s (far left) home in Gloucester MA., 1979, proud of their 157th Regiment flag. Note the photo caption detail. Bottom row: Joe the Soldier…Garland’s dog tags.
