A thank you to a helpful Rogue

Now that is one rare plaque. My friend gave me a small grouping from a 473rd vet who used to cut his hair. He was a barber after the war. The single scroll I posted belonged to him. I just always thought it was very unusual and couldnt find a lot of info at first. I found the unit history and then I wrote Gen. Yarborough and he sent me a lot of info. Then I finally found a uniform group and got to interview the vet. I think this stuff is probably more rare than the FSSF as they werent in existence that long or that many of them.

 

I saw that some time ago and didnt remember his name until now. Thanks for the link.

 

Lou, earlier you posted the following picture. My father kept a small box in one of his dresser drawers with small items from the war. In that box there are two metal "Bayonet and Ribbon Scroll" emblems identical to the one on the top of you picture. Does anyone know where this emblem would have been worn? Also in that box is his 5th Army ring. Does anyone know the history/info behind these types of items. Were they "official" military issue? Were they handed out to the solders by the individual units? Thanks, Ron

 

Lou,
Thanks
Ron

 

Hi 82nd Trax
Do you know the name of the 473rd vet?
ciao
m

 

The 473rd insignia was designed and made in Italy. Col (temp) Yarborough is credited for the design of the little bayonet and scroll device. A dies set was contracted to an unknown Italian firm, probably in Florence or Pisa, which was also provided with a number of spent artillery shell casings as part of the deal. The so obtained die struck brass bayonets had a small strip (very fragile) of brass soldered to the back and were silver plated and painted. The insignias were never authorized by the competent Heraldic commission and were made in batches, issued between March and April 1945. Another small (?) batch was probably struck by another firm in Genova in May 1945 to complete the order. Most men only received one insignia. After redeployment to Rome for inactivation, more insignias became available and some of the men that were not going to be rotated home got three.
In 1998 I found a jar full of unfinished insignias on a flea market stall in Genova. A small marking on the back led me to a small "coin and medal making" company. Here I found one half of the die.
In 1999 473 insignias were struck using the refurbished dies and made available to the 473rd Infantry Regiment Association (many of the former members of the Regiment had complained that they never received the original ones).
ciao
m

 

I believe that the insignia mounted on the shield was made after the war by one of the (then) 4 vet associations (434th, 435th, 532nd and K/473rd) active up to the early 1990s. Vet F. M. told me he had several made as souvenirs of the vet reunions in the '70s.
ciao
m

 

Hi Lou
The 473rd liberated my hometown in 1945. Much of what they did over here is not known so I thoght I could restore some... credit by researching and writing their story.
That got me involved with the 473rd Association and eventually became the unofficially appointed unit historian/Italian branch (!!!), battlefield guide and logistical support for visiting vets and their families...
Also have a pictorial history in the works (about 500 photos) covering Operation Second Wind and the first weeks of occupation
ciao
m

 

I still have a few of the re-struck insignias. Let me know if you would like to have one (or more than one).
ciao
m

 

Yup..!
I guess that's me. Clifford (Pat's dad) was the luckiest battlefield "investigation" ever done.
Will PM you with my email contact.
ciao
m