Here is a grouping I picked up several years ago at an ASMIC convention. This is a grouping of items that was liberated and brought home by PFC Sam Duke who was assigned to HQ Company, 2nd Battalion 357th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division. It appears the PFC Duke was an avid souvenir hunter and he picked up some nice pieces. Also included in this grouping was the 90th Infantry Division unit history book, several newspapers from the regiment and some reunion pictures. I am currently doing more research on Mr Duke and hope to have his files. The vendor unfortuantley had split this grouping up, and I missed out on a large Third Reich flag that he sold seperatley but I was able to keep this grouping intact.
Inside the cover of his Bible he listed what countries he was in and when. He laned in France 10 days after the invasion.
In the grouping was a 90th Infantry Division patch, his combat infantry badge, a ribbon bar and his collar brass. Also included were his dog tags and a photo of Duke somehwere in Europe.
I am honored to be the caretaker of this grouping and I display it on Memorial and Veterans Day each year. I hope to add his records to this grouping this year to help tell his story a little more.
Here are some pictures:
Smitty