Item Description
Original Items: One-of-a-kind set. Looking through this grouping feels like taking a step back in time into the Pacific Theater during World War Two! 2nd Technician 4th Grade George Day ASN 37141826 was a member of the famous 158th Regimental Combat Team known as the Bushmasters. A 1943 article in Popular Mechanics recorded the abilities of the individual Bushmaster jungle soldier:
One of America's most colorful and least known soldiers of World War II is the Bushmaster...His tactics are borrowed from native jungle fighters, the American Indian, British commandos, exponents of judo and the Shanghai underworld...(He uses) machetes, curved knives, tommy guns, high-powered rifles, and hand grenades...His average age is 22 and his favorite weapon is the long-bladed machete...With his fellow Bushmasters, he disappears from civilization for weeks at a time. The men know how to sustain themselves on wild fare supplemented by (jungle rations) carried in their packs. When they are not testing their camouflage against aerial observers, making camp in a swamp, or working out an intricate code of communications, they are practicing jujitsu or improve on the native's technique with the machete. The Bushmaster bows to no man in the art of hand-to-hand fighting and any unwary (enemy) who crosses his path would probably never know what hit him.
Sent to Wakde, Netherlands New Guinea to relieve the 163rd Regimental Combat Team of the 41st Division arriving at Toem on 21 May 1944. The regimental combat team tasked with taking Sarmi, fought a major battle at Lone Tree Hill against the Imperial Japanese 36th Division between 17 May to 12 June, before being relieved by the 6th Infantry Division.
On 2 July, the regimental combat team went ashore as part of the battle of Noemfoor on Noemfoor Island, Netherlands New Guinea, to capture the airfields and to provide security for the engineers upgrading the airfields to operational use. As part of General Douglas MacArthur's return to the Philippines, the regimental combat team under the command of the much respected and admired General Hanford MacNider landed at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon as part of the invasion of Lingayen Gulf on 11 January 1945 and suffered heavy casualties from well dug in Japanese forces along the Damortis-Rosario road. Company G, was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation after destroying a Japanese 14-inch coastal gun which was directing heavy fire on the Allied ships. The entire regiment would be awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its fighting in the Philippines.
The next objective tasked to the regimental combat team was Batangas, Luzon where they cleared the area around Balayan Bay and Batangas Bay, which took three weeks to subdue. The aided by the Filipino ground troops of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary were welcomed to helped by the regimental combat team was engage or the liberated areas in Southern Luzon and Bicol Peninsula against the Japanese Imperial forces. Then on 1 April, the regimental combat team invaded the Bicol Peninsula, landing at Legaspi. F Company was made up most of Native Americans from the main tribes of the Salt River Valley, but was led by white officers. Many of these officers, who survived combat, later recounted participating in Native American rituals; such as becoming blood brothers and purifying their warrior's spirit before battle. Although these rituals are not today performed by the majority of the unit's soldiers, they still use Japanese saki to toast with in reference to the supply captured by the regiment during its time in the Philippines. After being relieved in Philippines campaign, the regiment was selected as part of the planned Operation Downfall, the invasion of Japan, the Bushmasters were chosen to attack the island of Tanegashima to capture the island's air warning stations two days prior to the Allied assault on Kyūshū. Japan surrendered after the Soviets took north China in two weeks, and also the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. On 13 October 1945, the regimental combat team landed in Yokohama, Japan to be part of the Occupation of Japan. The 158th Regimental Combat Team was deactivated at Utsunomiya, Japan, on 17 January 1946.
General MacArthur gave the Bushmasters the accolade, "No greater fighting combat team has ever deployed for battle".
T-4 George Day was wounded in action in Luzon in April, 1945 and was transferred to the MPs because of his wounds.
Contained in this amazing grouping are the following:
- Class A Uniform four pocket tunic with 158th Regimental Combat Team Bushmasters patch on right shoulder, 6th Army patch on left shoulder, sterling silver Combat Infantryman's Badge, Medal ribbons Purple Heart, Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal Ribbon with three battle stars, WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation, Philippine Liberation Campaign Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Technician 4th Grade Chevrons, infantry lapel pins and 4 overseas service bars on left sleeve indicating 24+ months of overseas service. Inside jacket in ink reads Geo. Day- Infantry overseas garrison cap with enamel Distinctive unit insignia for the 158th Infantry Regiment.
- 2 x overseas garrison caps in khaki.
- Shirt, neck tie, and trousers labeled Made in Australia 1942.
- Dog Tags that read DAY, GEORGE E. 37141826 T42-4360
- 60+ original photos many with notations on the reverse including some front line shots of wounded and dead Japanese soldiers.
- Original theater printed 158th RCT newspaper publication
- Incredible engraved theater made watch. The watch band is engraved KYOTO JAPAN and LUZON.
- Japanese cigarettes.
- Japanese made cap with original tag attached.
- Small handmade pipe.
- Loads of original documents, pamphlets, books and much more.
- Badges, pins, medals.
- WWII Japanese paper currency and coins
- Copy of his Final Pay - Work Sheet dated December 1945 which verifies 3 years of service and overseas pay.
- Various wartime souvenirs, mementos, and more!
Overall a fantastic grouping from a soldier in the most famous of U.S. infantry regiments in the Pacific Theater during WWII.
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle
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