Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. Private Ralph Piacciao served in the 377th Airborne Field Artillery Battalion, 101st Airborne Division during WWII. This Ike jacket and Overseas Garrison Cap are offered in very good condition.
The Ike jacket is named to Ralph Piacciao and offered in excellent condition and is a size 34S. Notable features are as follows:
- Extremely rare 101st Airborne Division Distinctive Unit Insignia Lapel Pins.
- Sterling pin back jump wings
- 101st Airborne patch on left shoulder.
- Allied Airborne patch on right shoulder
- Ribbons and awards as follows:
- Three overseas service bars (on left sleeve cuff) 18+ months of combat service
- Purple Heart Ribbon
- Presidential Unit Citation
- European-African-Middle East Campaign Ribbon (with Invasion Star and 4 battle stars)
- Ruptured Duck (Honorable Service/Discharge)
- Presidential Unit Citation
-The "Belgian Fourragère 1940"- composed of one round smooth cord, partially braided, and of TWO other cords, of which one is terminated by a knot and a brass ferret - it is made of wool and cotton for NCOs and EM, and of silk for Officers - all threads are tinted in colors resembling the ribbon of the Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 (i.e. basic red, dotted with green threads) - the Fourragère encircles the LEFT shoulder and passes under the armpit, and is fixed by 2 tiny loops onto the button of the shoulder loop
- "Order of the Orange" shoulder cord awarded by the Dutch government for surviving Operation Market Garden.
- Overseas infantry garrison cap in excellent condition with glider/parachute patch with desirable cross stitched pattern.
History of the 377th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion
World War II
First activated on 16 August 1942 at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, as the 377th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion (377th PFAB). The 377th PFAB, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Weisberg, participated in the development of doctrine for the employment of Parachute Artillery. After training in the United States, the battalion sailed to England, arriving in Liverpool on 18 October 1943. During late 1943 and early 1944, the battalion participated in training in preparation for Operation Overlord.
Normandy
On 6 June 1944, the 377th PFAB participated in Operation Overlord, the Normandy Invasion, parachuting onto Drop Zone A east of St. Mere Eglise in support of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment. The drop went poorly, and the battalion lost 11 of its 12 75mm pack howitzers. The Paratroopers of the battalion fought as infantrymen until replacement howitzers arrived on 14 June 1944. The battalion executive officer, Major Louis H. Cotton, was wounded during the drop and had to be evacuated.
Operation Market-Garden
During Operation Market, the 377th PFAB landed on 19 September 1944 (D+2), occupied firing positions at the landing zone, and supported 1/506th PIR's defense against a German counterattack near Zon, as well as the 502nd PIR's attack from Best toward St. Oedenrode. The battalion remained near St. Oedenrode until it was withdrawn with the division to Camp Mourmelon in France.
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
