dalbert Posted November 30, 2012 Report Share Posted November 30, 2012 I recently acquired this file photo of Marines posing with a Johnson LMG. Does anyone notice anything unique about the soldier on the left? I will post details after this has had time for comment... http://www.sturmgewehr.com/dalbert/Misc/JohnsonLMG_1942_web.JPG David Albertdalbert@sturmgewehr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted December 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2012 Anyone...Anyone...Bueller? There's something very unique about the soldier on the left... David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmagee1917 Posted December 4, 2012 Report Share Posted December 4, 2012 I think I've seen his face before , but I can't place it.Perchance , is he missing his left hand ?Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted December 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2012 Chris, His left hand is visible by the trigger guard of the Johnson LMG. It's something else about this soldier that is very unique. Any other guesses? David Albertdalbert@sturmgewehr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmagee1917 Posted December 5, 2012 Report Share Posted December 5, 2012 Well , he's in dress blues , dk blue jacket , lt blue pants with the stripe , seargent , old school as the 4 stripes means 16 years , 2 medels and four ribbons .BTW , I ment his other left . :>) . Looked dark to be a hand and white gloves would be propper for the blues , so I figured a replacement. Looking closer , It just appears to be in a shadow .Don't see anything special.Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted December 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Well , he's in dress blues , dk blue jacket , lt blue pants with the stripe , seargent , old school as the 4 stripes means 16 years , 2 medels and four ribbons . Chris You're getting warm...There is something very special about this soldier...Click on the photo, and examine the uniform closely... David Albertdalbert@sturmgewehr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron_brock Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 I was going to guess he was missing his right hand as well, but it seems to be a shadow or black glove. Beats me, but it is now driving me nuts.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted December 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Anyone give up yet? David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron_brock Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 (edited) Is he related to you? Almost seems to be some resemblance.. His ribbons look to be wide, more like the Naval style. I'm still drawing a blank. - Ron Edited December 6, 2012 by ron_brock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted December 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Is he related to you? Almost seems to be some resemblance.. His ribbons look to be wide, more like the Naval style. I'm still drawing a blank. - Ron No relation to me whatsoever... Ribbons are standard size...Though now we've gone from cold, to warm, to hot... David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron_brock Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 I thought the first ribbon on the lower row was Korean service, at least its a similar striped ribbon. Are the ribbons the hot lead, or Naval? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmagee1917 Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 MOH ?Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted December 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2012 MOH ?Chris Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!! Yes, this photo is dated April 19, 1942, and features Sergeant Donald L. Truesdale, who at the time was the only enlisted man in the Marine Corps to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. He received it for action in Nicaragua. I had not read the citation until now...only the photo caption, which was brief. It turns out the missing hand you mentioned is correct. He lost his right hand while throwing away a rifle grenade during the course of the action that led to the award. Looks like he might have had a prosthetic with a glove on it in the photo. Thanks! David Albertdalbert@sturmgewehr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron_brock Posted December 7, 2012 Report Share Posted December 7, 2012 Very cool. but I am too blind to make out stars on that top ribbon. At least that is over, now what do you have for us??? That was fun. - Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted December 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2012 Ron, It's hard to make out the MOH stars on the ribbon in the photo I posted, but the color and position of the ribbon were good indicators. I have another one...I'll post it in the "What Is It?" Forum... David Albertdalbert@sturmgewehr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmagee1917 Posted December 7, 2012 Report Share Posted December 7, 2012 Yep , I could not see it clearly either . Top center , all alone , matched only the MOH mounting . The B&W shade looked to match the light blue pants . I now know a LOT more about Marine Dress uniforms that I did Monday .Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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