As we are currently in the process of re-renovating the historic house I work at in Perth Amboy, we decided to clean out one of the closets last week, and hanging in the back, completely out of sight, were two World War II uniforms, each one on a wooden hanger inscribed, “October 31, 1942″. Because I will be teaching a weekly class on this war starting in a few weeks, I wanted to learn more, so I took some pictures and posted them on Facebook, with an open request asking for any information, and hoping one of my history buddies would be able to tell me something. Within a few hours, I received some comments, until a friend sent me more information than I thought I would ever be able to find out about two simple uniforms.

An actor and historian who I have known for a few months, Ed Mantell, who has appeared in nearly 30 films and television specials, such as The Hunt for John Wilkes Booth, Stealing Lincoln’s Body, and Sherman’s March, was kind enough to send me the following information:

Both are USMC, the single stripe chevron designates PFC, Private First Class and the other is a Corporal. The unit patch designates “Marine Forces Afloat.” The Corporal’s blouse also has the “Ruptured Duck” which was a cloth insignia depicting an eagle inside a wreath. It was worn on uniforms above the right breast pocket by WWII servicemen and women. It was issued to service personnel who were about to leave the military with an Honorable Discharge. It also allowed them to continue to wear their uniform for up to thirty days after they were discharged since there was a clothing shortage at that time. This showed the MP’s that they were in transit and not AWOL. There’s a good chance this Marine was in the Pacific Theater attached to the 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division or the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF). The cording on the Corporal’s blouse is a World War II Marine Corps Fourragere and only certain units in the Corps. were designated to wear them, the 5th. Marines being one of them. After the outbreak of war, the 5th Marines deployed to Wellington, New Zealand in June 1942. During World War II they fought on Guadalcanal, New Britain, Eastern New Guinea, Peleliu and Okinawa. Immediately following the war in September 1945 they deployed to Tientsin, China and participated in the occupation of North China until May 1947. They were redeployed to Guam in May 1947 and reassigned to the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade. In 1949 they were relocated to Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton.

A bit more on the Fourragere, it’s a carry over from WWI. The 5th Marine Regiment and the 6th Marine Regiment of the United States Marine Corps, were awarded the fourragère for having earned the Croix de Guerre with palm leaf three times during World WarI for their actions at the Battle of Belleau Wood, (1–26 June 1918) on the Western Front. One of the most famous quotations in Marine Corps legend came during the initial step-off for the battle when Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly, a recipient of two Medals of Honor who had served in the Philippines, Santo Domingo, Haiti, Peking and Vera Cruz, prompted his men of the 73rd Machine Gun company forward with the words: “Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?” Also, Gunnery Sergeant Ernest A. Janson—who was serving under the name Charles Hoffman—repelled an advance of 12 German soldiers, killing two with his bayonet before the others fled; for this action he became the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor in World War I. The first waves of Marines—advancing in well-disciplined lines—were slaughtered; Major Berry was wounded in the forearm during the advance. On his right, the Marines of Major Meyer’s 3/6 Battalion swept into the southern end of Belleau Wood and encountered heavy machine gun fire, sharpshooters and barbed wire. Marines and German infantrymen were soon engaged in heavy hand-to-hand fighting. The casualties sustained on this day were the highest in Marine Corps history to that time. On 26 June, the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines—supported by two companies of the 4th Machine Gun Battalion and the 15th Company of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion—made an attack on Belleau Wood, which finally cleared that forest of the enemy. On that day, a report was sent out simply stating, “Woods now U.S. Marine Corps entirely,” ending one of the bloodiest and most ferocious battles U.S. forces would fight in the war.

It is moments like this when history really comes alive. All I wanted was to walk into my classroom saying something other than, “These are two WWII uniforms”, and now I have a fountain of information. We will definitely have to do some more digging around the house, because who knows what else we might find. Though built during the French and Indian War and rising to prominence during the American Revolution as Governor William Franklin’s mansion, the house has been privy to witnessing many historical eras, and even served as a hospital during the Civil War in 1863. We do know that soldiers frequented the house during WWII, for a wide variety of reasons, and also because of its close proximity to New York, as it borders both the Raritan River and the Arthur Kill along the shores of Staten Island. Ed also provided me with additional background info which I will save as a part of the research. I just wanted to share this with all of you, because every lover of history looks forward to the day when they may uncover something special.

These uniforms are currently on loan to me for educational and research purposes and I do not own them. They remain property of the Proprietary House in Perth Amboy. I am going to search the linings to see if I can find any identification as to who these may have belonged to. Either way, upon their return to the house, we might have to make a nice display for these, including the information that Ed has provided.

Advertisement