PFC Sam Duke 2nd Battalion 357th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division

[Rakkasan187]

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

 

[Rakkasan187]

More pictures...

Smitty

[ScottG]

   Great grouping Smitty! Another underappreciated unit that saw a lot of hard combat. Hope you can get more info on Duke.   Scott

[Rakkasan187]

Thank you Scott..

Will keep you posted..

Smitty

[WAHOOMAN]

Nice grouping and display.  Thanks for sharing. 

[Fearless Leader]

Along with the documentation, this makes a very good display to help the average viewer get an idea of the service of the ordinary foot soldier. Very nice!!

[Skyline Drive]

What a great grouping! They took over the sector Mon. Schumann/Berlé,  from the 26th Infantry Division, on January 5th/6th 1945. Tomorrow I will visit that battlefield with a group of the 26th Division Veterans Association, among them 2 WWII veterans.

[Tom E. Gunn]

I met a "Tough Ombres" vet in the Roosevelt Café just behind Utah Beach. A splendid old gentleman...we spent some time over a coffee whilst he told about landing on the beach and fighting his way in land. Finished his war in Czechoslovakia...thankfully unscathed!

[Rakkasan187]

I met a "Tough Ombres" vet in the Roosevelt Café just behind Utah Beach. A splendid old gentleman...we spent some time over a coffee whilst he told about landing on the beach and fighting his way in land. Finished his war in Czechoslovakia...thankfully unscathed!

Always wonderful to hear stories from our Vets.. Thanks for talking with this man..

Smitty

[Tom E. Gunn]

I met a "Tough Ombres" vet in the Roosevelt Café just behind Utah Beach. A splendid old gentleman...we spent some time over a coffee whilst he told about landing on the beach and fighting his way in land. Finished his war in Czechoslovakia...thankfully unscathed!

Always wonderful to hear stories from our Vets.. Thanks for talking with this man..

Smitty

It was an honour Leigh. We went outside and stood by the "TO's" memorial whilst he remembered his fallen comrades.  There's a wall in the Roosevelt Café which all visiting vets are invited to sign. He proudly showed me his signature!