Original Item: Only One Available. This shoulder holster is a remarkable piece of history. At first glance, it may appear to be a basic shoulder holster, but upon closer inspection, it reveals intricate details that make it truly remarkable. The leather surface is adorned with beautiful imagery including the Tank Destroyer insignia, a Native American Indian head, a revolver, and a leaping rabbit. The name "Arviso" is etched across the top, and after conducting research, we discovered that it belonged to Raymond Willetto Arviso, a Native American from the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. Although Arviso was not a Code Talker, he played a crucial role during the war as a Sergeant with the 813th Tank Destroyer Battalion of the 79th Infantry Division, serving as a Gun Commander.

Arviso was a cherished and enduring member of the Crownpoint community, having lived there his entire life. He pursued his education at Fort Wingate Boarding School and later demonstrated exceptional bravery as a highly decorated World War II veteran. His acts of valor on March 26, 1943, in Germany earned him the prestigious Silver Star and a Purple Heart. Arviso led a rich, traditional Dine lifestyle, dedicated to nurturing his family, caring for livestock and land, and actively participating in the Native American Church.

Silver Star Citation:

“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Raymond Arviso (ASN: 38011540), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving in the 813th Tank Destroyer Battalion, in action against the enemy on 26 March 1945 in Germany. When Sergeant Arviso, tank destroyer gun commander, observed enemy troops firing on a friendly medical quarter-ton truck, he immediately called for high explosive fire on the enemy position. Despite heavy mortar fire in the area, he unhesitatingly manned the machine gun on top of the destroyer turret and from this exposed position fired on the enemy. Although the bulk of enemy fire was immediately directed on the tank destroyer, the medical vehicle was not able to escape immediately, and Sergeant Arviso continued his fire. One mortar shell landed so close to the destroyer as to a blow Sergeant Arviso from his position. Disregarding painful injuries, he crawled back to his position and immediately resumed fire. Another mortar shell again wounded him severely, but his continued fire enabled the vehicle to make its escape. The courage and tenacity of purpose displayed by Sergeant Arviso reflect high credit on himself and the armed forces of the United States.”

The holster is in generally good condition with some structural integrity, but it does show signs of wear and tear, including areas of cracking and material loss that give it a fragile quality. Despite this, the stitching is fully intact, and the length adjustment buckles remain in place. Overall, the holster still retains its distinguishable details and maintains a pleasing appearance.

Comes more than ready for further research and display.