Description

The grouping belonging to James D. Jones, Pharmacist Mate First Class on board LST 372 « Landing Ship Tank 372 » during D-Day on Omaha Beach. LST 372 is listed under « ASSAULT GROUP 0-2 » under the Command of Captain Bailey, USN and Captain Wright, USN. US Navy discharge papers from Jones all confirm service and theater of operations. Of special interest is a copy of the local newspaper clipping from and still retained by the family about Jones participation in the Invasion on D-Day June 6th 1944. 

US Grouping of items consists of the following: Early USM1 fixed bale navy blue painted helmet. Smaller size Red Cross is nicely hand painted on the front of the helmet. In the same red paint the number « 131 » is also seen, must likely a roast or LST crew number. Normal wear around the edges with no major condition issues. The liner is in excellent shape and remains untouched. The same red cross and number can be seen on the liner as well. US medic corpsman bag is in very good condition and retains the same number in black painted on the back « 131 » along with Jones name. Multiple pieces of gear all stamped with the initial « J.D.J » to include the following items: US M-36 web belt, canteen, first aid pouch, blue USN Hood, two pairs of leggins, two US duffle bags which all the items original came in and both nicely named, amongst several other items. There are also two USMC overseas caps and one wool USMC overcoat with the Pharmacist insignia on the sleeve both belonging to Jones for service shortly after leaving the ETO. In the photocopied newspaper clippings that are included in this group James D Jones is said to have been photographed on board a hospital ship treating a « Captured German Youth » these are the items he acquired from the captured soldier. This photograph is said to be in the US news paper at the time « Stars and Strips ». The captured German grouping James Dale Jones brought back from Normandy, France include the following: Battle damage M40 Heer SD helmet with original factory issue net period applied. Nicely named on the leather liner with blood staining from a concussion along the back of the helmet. This is the only original US veteran bring back netted helmet with provenance we are aware of that can be pin pointed to Omaha Beach sector. Y-Straps in very good condition and named in ink along the top strap. Pony fur backpack with a field made wooden tag with the german soldiers name inked on and attached with a cloth strap. Standard issue clothing bag found folded in the other backpack with his name written along the front. German enlisted mans overcoat in battle worn condition, infantry shoulder boards piped for private. Attached to the overcoat is a standard US Army medical tag that is who Jones treated on board the hospital ship. All the above listed items are named to the same solider « Gefr Liebrecht », we have not done any research about this solider but are sure he is a captured POW on D-Day/ Omaha Beach Sector. The group also has copies of several important documents from the family including his discharge papers, a letter right after D-Day that Jones writes back to his father on the farm in Iowa. Several other letters from his two brothers that are serving in the Pacific - one as a chaplain and the other a mortar machinist.

This is the only set of original untouched items all belonging to one individual we are aware of with specific D-Day provenance that includes German items of some significances. An extremely rare and once in a lifetime grouping of this caliber in its entireness that features some of the most incredibly historic items that we have recovered from the real « woodwork » personally. Grouping was purchased in the Mid-West in 2015.

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