I found this jacket at a warehouse sale today.
https://imgur.com/gallery/hPedd
Can anybody help me learn a little about it? Does it seem authentic?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Are there any identifying marks, particularly on the inside? The wearer seems to have been rather well-decorated.
The patch on the right shoulder indicates that the wearer served with the 78th Infantry Division; the distinctive unit insignia on the collar are those of the 311th Infantry Regiment. Later, possibly post-war, service with the 1st Infantry Division is also indicated based on the patch on the left shoulder.
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|
| -- | Combat Infantryman Badge | -- |
| Bronze Star Medal | (badly faded) Army Good Conduct Medal | American Campaign Medal |
| European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars | World War II Victory Medal | Army Occupation Medal |
The wearer of the jacket also served in unit(s) that were mentioned in dispatches enough times to receive both the fourragère aux couleurs de la Médaille militaire (yellow and light green) and the fourragère aux couleurs de la Croix de Guerre 1914-1918 (red and green), as well as three Distinguished Unit Citations. They also served for two years overseas, based on the four Overseas Service Bars on the left sleeve.
Hello there! As your question is related to looking for identification/information regarding military personnel, our Guide on Military Identification may be of use to you. It provides a number of different resources, including how to request service records from a number of national agencies around the world, as well as graphical aids to assist in deciphering rank, unit, and other forms of badges or insignia. While the users here may still be able to lend you more assistance, hopefully this will provide a good place to start!