What an honor and absolute privilege! Sure was a very, very nice gift. I would have been surprised too.

I sometimes feel that way when I receive packages in the mail from "my vets". I surely do treasure all of it.

Hey thanks for sharing that! How did you meet this fellow?

Interesting he ended up in the 42nd div, my great uncle Tom served in that one too. I think it was called the Rainbow Division, I think Tom was in the 7th Infantry. Not sure tho, I can ask my grandpa.

Great art work.

Brooke

Thanks, Marion, it is already in my display case together with the Purple Heart and his uniform.

Brooke, many "moons" ago, I wrote to the chairman of the 26th Infantry Division Association (Paul D'Angelo at that time) and asked if there were Veterans who remembered being in Wiltz, Luxembourg as I was studying that battle.

James was one of those who replied.

After a long time of exchanging letters, he invited me over to New Mexico.

That was back in 1992 (I was 21 then).

I spent a whole month there and enjoyed every second of it.

We went on a trip with an RV and I saw a nice part of the Southwest.

While there, he showed me some of the stuff he had (uniform, medals, paperwork, German souvenirs, etc).

And at one time, he wrote if I was interested in some war stuff.

Of course, I didn't say no.

And that's how I got this stuff; whenever he feels like it, he sends me a package.

I am a researcher in first place, collecting comes second or third place (well, actually, my girlfriend comes first place, but don't tell her .... ).

Erwin

Here are the pictures of the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and cases:

Both medals are engraved with the man's name.

I am honored being able to receive these from James.

Erwin

Here's to preservation and keeping the memory alive and kicking!