Virtual Museum

Lieutenant Colonel Don B. Clark Biography

April 19, 1919 – September 28, 1990
Biography by Stephen L. Clark

Sgt. Paup’s Story

Souvenir With Two Lives

1944 Original Oil Painting by Otto Bloss

Original Oil on Board, 16” x 20”

M3 Fighting Knife and Screwdriver

The list of all Manufacturers follows:

Aerial Cutlery Co. of Marinette, WI. – 51,784 knives.
H. Boker & Co. of NY, NY – 31,300 knives.
Camillus Cutlery Co. of Camillus, NY – 404,109 knives
W. R. Case & Sons of Bradford, PA – 300,465 knives
Imperial Knife Co. of Providence, R.I. – 854,000 knives
Kinfolks Inc. of Little Valley, NY – 135,548 knives
Pal Blade & Tool Co. of Plattsburg, NY – 121,100 knives
Robeson Cutlery Co. of Perry, NY – 36,575 knives
Utica Cutlery Co. of Utica, NY – 655,000 knives

The first knife is a nice example of an item that has seen service but was well cared for and remains in very good original condition. It was likely brought home by the soldier as a souvenir.

At one time the second knife looked identical to the first knife. In 1999, it was found on a farm near Vielsalm, Belgium, Approx. 15 Mi S.S.W. of Malmedy and 35 Mi N.N.E. of Bastogne, Belgium. It was likely lost or abandoned by an American soldier during the Battle of the Bulge in 1944. During the war years in German occupied territories most things were in short supply, including tools. The farmer obviously needed a screwdriver more than he needed a fighting knife.

This pair, poses an interesting dilemma to collectors. Which is more valuable? The first knife has condition but is common, whereas the second knife has no condition (even for a screwdriver) but is a one of a kind item with a historical association.

You decide, I did.

AAA-O 39th Infantry M1 Helmet

During fighting in Sicily, Italy, the regiment came under the command of the legendary Colonel Harry A. “Paddy” Flint who gave the regiment its famed triple A- Bar Nothing slogan: Anything, Anywhere, Anytime – Bar Nothing. The regiment took great pride in the AAA-O slogan, displaying it on their helmets and vehicles, even in combat. When questioned about the soundness of the practice, Colonel Flint confidently declared, “The enemy who sees our regiment in combat, if they live through the battle, will know to run the next time they see us coming.” General George Patton commented upon Colonel Flint in the following manner: “Paddy Flint is clearly nuts, but he fights well.”

Later in the war, the 39th landed at Utah Beach and fought through France. While advancing on the Saint-Lô-Périers road, Paddy’s outfit was held up by heavy mortar fire. Leading from his customary place on the front, the Colonel and a rifle patrol soon found the trouble. Colonel Flint reported by radio over the walkie-talkie: “Have spotted pillbox. Will start them cooking.”
He called for a tank, and rode atop it in a rain of fire as it sprayed the hedgerows. During the attack, the tank driver was wounded, stopping it, whereupon Paddy crawled down, and went forward on foot with his men. As he led the patrol into the shelter of a farmhouse he was hit by a sniper’s bullet. Aid men soon came up, loaded the Colonel on a stretcher, and as they started for the rear, one of men told him: “Remember, Paddy, you can’t kill an Irishman — you can only make him mad.” Colonel Flint smiled. On the next day, 24 July 1944, he died of his wounds.
The Fighting Falcons joined the 47th Infantry Regiment in capturing Roetgen, the first German town to fall in World War II. The 39th fought valiantly through the Battle of the Bulge, helped secure the Remagen bridgehead and roared across Germany as the allied forces finished off the last of the German resistance.

When the dust settled following VE day, the 39th Regiment held campaign streamers from some of the bloodiest and most hard fought battles of the war – Algeria, Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France, The Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. It was cited twice by the Belgians for valorous actions and awarded the Belgian Fouragerre. It also received two French Croix de Guerre with Palm, the French Fouragerre, and three Presidential Unit Citations.
The AAAO painted helmet pictured here was worn by Norman B. Hopkins Jr, ASN 13185982. (Research Continues)

Japanese Helmet

Souvenir of a U.S.S. Bayfield Crewman

The U.S.S. Bayfield was an attack transport commissioned in 1943 and served the U.S. Navy for 25 years earning Ten Battle Stars. The Bayfield supported the Normandy Invasion at Utah beach, Southern France, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. It’s no wonder that some unknown sailor wanted to commemorate his service by painting footnotes of his service on a captured Japanese helmet shell.

The ship served on after WWII in Korea and Vietnam, finally being decommissioned in 1968.

A very interesting oral history of a WWII Coast Guardsman who served aboard the Bayfield during WWII can be found at: xxx

Bill Hinton’s Sniper Luger

In early June 2006, a small statured man of about 80 walked up to my display at the York, PA gun show carrying a small box. He stopped in front of the 5 Lugers I had for sale and after a brief discussion, I agreed to buy the luger in the box if he would tell me the history of the gun. He agreed and came back an hour later with a box of documents that are included in this history.

The following is his story as best he could remember after sixty years, and the best that I can re-tell after several interviews over the course of the next few weeks.

Early in 1942, Cpl. William H. Hinton, 20320382, was assigned to Hq. Co. 1st Bn. 109th Inf. then located at Camp Livingston, LA. His most memorable experience at Camp Livingston occurred when he was assigned for the day as driver for three Generals: Eisenhower, Bradley and Ord (clearly Bill was mistaken about the third name after 60 years). The Generals wanted to take a flanking route around the maneuver area, composed of rural dirt roads. From the crest of a small rise Bill saw the path went through a wash. Hinton was hesitant to drive through the muddy area, ordered to drive on, the vehicle promptly got stuck. Much to Bill’s surprise, the three Generals got out and pushed the car free with some slips, falls and a lot of laughter.

After re-entering the car and composing himself Ike said, “Well solider, you’ll remember this day for a long time.” At the time, his only thought was that he would have to clean the car.

Hinton landed in France 22 Jul, 1944 and participated in the five major campaigns. The Bronze Star Medal was awarded to Hinton for his actions on 3 Feb 1945 during the attack on Colmar, France.

The Citation says “Private First Class WILLIAM H. HINTON, 20320382, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 109th Infantry, for heroic achievement on 3 February 1945, in connection with military operations against the enemy in France”.

“During the attack on Colmar, France, Private First Class HINTON preferred not to remain in the shelter of the command post, although the fire of the enemy during the attack was very intense, but bravely exposed himself to act a a runner and bodyguard to his Commander. After successfully leading a party of wiremen through enemy fire to the command post, Private First Class HINTON proceeded to the front lines in order to be with the Colonel. Crawling along a dyke which marked one of the flanks of the Battalion, he discovered that a sniper had infiltrated through the lines to a position in the rear of the American troops. Private First Class HINTON, fearing the safety of the Commander if he should attempt to return to the command post, maneuvered into position and killed the sniper thereby clearing the route to the front lines. He then joined his Commander and remained with him throughout the attack. By his heroic achievement he reflects great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States. Entered military service from Pennsylvania.”

Signed by NORMAN D. COTA

After reading Bill’s citation, I asked him where he got the Luger. He said he took it from the German Sniper, along with his binoculars. I asked him why he didn’t take the Sniper Rifle instead, and he said it was too big. If you got captured with a German weapon they would kill you. He kept the Luger in his Thompson Sub-Machine gun scabbard attached to his belt. The Thompson was his favorite weapon, the one he used to kill the Sniper.

Bill wouldn’t sell me the sniper’s binoculars with the Luger because he used them for bird watching. After his death, his wife called me and said Bill wanted me to have them someday.

The sniper’s Luger Pistol became a prized souvenir even though it placed Hinton at great risk if captured by the Germans.

At the war’s end, Hinton was one of three men surviving without injury from the original regiment who landed in France. As a “high points” man, he was among the first to rotate home. He was moved to Le Havre, France and billeted in an old fort high on a hill to await transfer to a ship home. Seeing an inspection team headed his way, Hinton spread his bedroll and arranged his “official” gear for inspection. The sniper’s Luger was placed under the bedroll and luckily not discovered.

William H. Hinton brought this same Luger home in 1945 and kept it until June 2006 when I acquired it.

It was jammed when I got it from Bill. The toggle link was not engaged with the mainspring, it had been that way since Bill was playing with it in 1945, perhaps the reason for its survival.

This Luger pistol remains in excellent condition and is marked “S/42, 1937” and is serial number 8263 n with two matching serial numbered magazines. The second magazine is marked “8263 n +”.

It was a pleasure to meet Bill Hinton, but more importantly, it is my honor to document and preserve this small part of history for future generations of Americans.

Steve Clark

Beaver Creek Antiques and Arms
BCAandA.com

BASEBALL PLAQUE

36A-2716, Not for Sale

Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945, at which time approximately 4 million men found themselves happily un-employed and all wanted to return to the U,S, next Tuesday.

Fortunately, the US Army Chief of Staff, General George C. Marshal had anticipated this. His experience with the demobilization of WWI proved how disorderly the process could be. American divisions had been sent home as entire units, which made for wonderful hometown parades, but this was not an option in WW2. Most divisions were made up of replacements with little service time. In July 1943 a Special planning division was formed to establish an equitable demobilization plan.

The Army ultimately implemented a points system called the Adjusted Service Rating Score. Points were assigned according to the following formula:

• One point for each month in the Army.
• One additional point for each month in service overseas.
• Five points for each campaign.
• Five points for a medal for merit or valor.
• Five points for a Purple Heart.
  Twelve points for each dependent child, up to three.

When the war ended soldiers began calculating their point totals, eighty five was the magic number that got you a quick ride home. By year’s end, the threshold was reduced to fifty points. Between September and December 1945, the Army had discharged an average of 1.2 million soldiers per month.

Existing divisions in Europe that had a large percentage of high -point men, such as the 82nd Airborne Division, were sent home after low point men were transferred out and were replaced with higher point men from other divisions.

Common knowledge since the Roman Legions is that an Army must be kept busy to prevent problems. I imagine that every rock in Western Europe was painted white, but more formal activities were managed as well such as the all-American Sport, Baseball.
This Championship Award Plaque is evidence of such “Get-em-Busy” activity. The team roster is shown on the reverse side and is made up of some very unique names, perhaps your relative is listed?

German Helmet, Maj. John A. Reilly, 0267574

32B-2952, Not for Sale

This WW2 German helmet  was packed in a thin plywood box and sent home. The helmet was wrapped in a March 25, 1944, dated Stars and Stripes, Mediterranean Armed Forces newspaper for protection.

It is addressed to Master Ned Reilley, 5 Butter Place, Ossining NY. The return address is listed on the mailing box lid is Major John A. Reilly, 0267574, Hdqrs. 95th Inf. APO NY NY.  It appears that the Major sent this souvenir home to his son in 1944. There is severe battle damage that I imagine was a more gruesome sight back then. 

The helmet is a model M-40, marked with the manufacturers code SE, and the size 64. The lot number 0094 is stamped on the rear skirt. The helmet shows no Decals, likely they were over-painted by the multi color camouflage paint. 

(Research Continues)

Springfield M1 Garand, SN: 277138, MAIZIE

Not for Sale

Once upon a time, before we bought everything including collectable firearms online, we had the magazine Gun List. An advertisement for an early Garand with some personalized carving in the stock intrigued me. I contacted the dealer by phone, he provided a more detailed description, and we agreed on a price. Several weeks later I had it in hand. Some would say the beautiful condition was ruined by bold carving in the stock. I thought the opposite, it had a story. So, I called to discover it was a consignment piece and that the dealer knew nothing more, but he gave me the consigner’s name and phone number.

It was my pleasure to meet Doris Kersch. She me that her husband, Conrad Kersch had brought it home in Dec.1942 from his war in the Pacific.

I asked her about the carving and she, good naturedly, told me that Conrad said his Australian whore was named “Maizie.” She knew little else about the rifle. When he arrived back in the U.S., he toured San Francisco with the Garand slung over his shoulder. How times have changed !

Doris also had the “ammunition belt” that went with the rifle and Conrad’s leather flight jacket. Conrad had written a detailed diary of his Pacific war and a book about his escape and evasion experience after being shot down on his 6th mission from England. Neither was published because he wouldn’t allow editing. After some tough negotiations with a beautiful lady, I have the whole enchilada.

Conrad J. Kersch entered the military in 1935 and initially served as a machine gunner in an infantry unit. The glamor of the Army Air Corps called, and he transferred. He was assigned to the 19th Bomb Group (H), 93rd Bomb Sqdn. (H). He served as an engine mechanic. In late 1941 Conrad volunteered to attend the Sperry Gun Turret maintenance school in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Prior to the Pearl Harbor attack Dec. 7, 1941, the 19th Bomb Group received orders to move from, Hickham Field, Hawaii, to the Philippian Islands. By mid-November a total of 35 B-17s had moved to Clark Field, P.I.

On Dec. 8 the Japanese attacked Clark field and destroyed 12 of the 19 available B-17s.  The 19th BG commander was very concerned about crowding and dispersal.  Fortunately, on Dec. 6, he transferred the sixteen B-17s of the 14th & 93rd Squadrons to Del Monte Field in Mindanao.  The Japanese had not yet discovered the aircraft at Del Monte field. 

 Having missed the Groups transfer, Conrad became a member of the first flight of three B-17Es, traveling on the new eastward route, to reinforce the 19th B.G. at Clark field arriving mid-Jan. 1941  

In Feb. 1942, Conrad shot down his first Japanese fighter from the tail position of a B-17E.  As the only Sperry trained ball turret mechanic on base, he received stern notice that he was “flight restricted” until replacements were trained.  

On 15 Feb. 1942 they learned of the Surrender of Singapore, two days later their base was attacked.  Conrad arrived at the revetment area and found his aircraft and four others burning. The tail section of his aircraft was not burning yet, so as much equipment as possible was removed through the waist gun ports and piled in a safe area.  Conrad’s diary entry read:

“I went back to the pile of rescued items and selected the Garand rifle and its bandolier of loaded clips. These I will always keep with me, not just for protection but in remembrance of her too.”

“All aircraft in our group had a Garand rifle and shotgun, plus ammunition, stowed in a handy location near the rear door in the event of a survival situation.  It would be certain death to land on any uninhabited island without some protection, however, if one came down in the water the sharks would solve all worries.”

On Feb. 24, 1942 with all serviceable aircraft gone, the stranded air crew men were waiting for pick up.  Conrad writes that he retrieved his rifle from its hiding place.  In seven other places in the diary, he mentions having his Garand by his side including in Sydney, Australia when he was on his way home. 

It’s clear that this rifle was stowed in the tail of a combat aircraft, a B-17E, that was destroyed in the final days of our presence in Java.

The carvings take a little bit of extrapolation.  A B-17E has a nine man crew, the rifle was intended as a survival tool.  If the aircraft went down, the rifle would be used by the unknown survivor crewman: John Doe. 

Conrad wrote, “I will always keep with me, not just for protection but in   remembrance of her too.”  In remembrance of her, the Aircraft is her, her name was “Mac-Mac Maizie.”

In Oct. 1943 with 52 missions under his belt, Conrad shipped out to Molesworth, England to join the 303rd Bomb Group (H), 427th Sqdn. (H).  On his 6th Mission, his aircraft was shot down over France.  He joined the underground and fought the Germans until the war ended.  That’s the story of the second book.  

Betty did drop the hint that, perhaps, in 1947 she and Conrad rented a car and found his downed aircraft.  “His” two Browning .50’s may have been “souvenired” and shipped home as household goods. Although very interesting, I wanted nothing to do with that.  Don’t even ask me, “I know Nothink.”

Stoneware Stein, “REICHSPARTEITAG 1933”

30.1B-2949, Not for Sale

TANK MODEL, “Herrn Major Vester”

30B-2349, Not for Sale

Shortly after occupation by German forces an armored vehicle repair facility was established in Riga, Latvia. A major focus was to recover, and repair captured enemy (Russian) tanks and return them to service with the German army. The service life of these captured tanks was limited due to Spare parts and ammunition supply.
This subject model represents a Russian T-26, designated by the German army as Armored Battle Vehicle T-26 B 738 (r).
The model is all metal, machined parts as well as formed heavy sheet metal. There is a brass plate on the front that names it to a German Officer, “Herrn Major Vester”. Most likely the departing commander of the facility in 26, August 1942.
It was brought home as a souvenir, and purchased at a farm auction around 1980, in Oklahoma. It was found in the barn under the hay. Track links are missing from one side, they may still be on the barn floor, unrecognized. A souvenir that became a great toy for the veteran’s son.
(Research Continues)

AFRICA KORP Camo. Helmet,

(32-2424, Not For Sale)

J.P.D. AIRBORNE Medic Helmet

(32A-2740, Not For Sale)

LAZY MAN’S CAMO. M-40

(32B-2521, Not For Sale)

Autograph Helmet

(32B-2543, Not For Sale)

Fighting a war together forges the strongest bond among men. These twenty men of the 3 ? 3 th (unknown unit). There are three Sgts. and one Cpl. Among the twenty likely survivors of a larger unit that felt the need to autograph this helmet. It is a German Police helmet overpainted in German Yellow vehicle paint, likely done by the U.S. soldiers. Too bad their story will forever be lost, but they have left a footprint in history.

DRUCKER’S MAIL HOME Helmet

(32-2420, Not For Sale)

PAUL SHAYOCK USN HELMET

(32A-2577, Not For Sale)

MEDICAL OFFICER

(32A-2496 Not For Sale)

Folk Art Gas Mask Bag

(36A-2770 Not For Sale)

STUBNER’S AFRICA KORP Helmet

(32B-2427, Not For Sale)

1st Div. 3 Panel Medic Helmet

(32A-2580, Not For Sale)

M-42 Wired Army

(32B-2775)

WINTER CAMO, MEDIC

(32A-2590, Not For Sale)

Naval Beach Battalion

(32A-2559)