Item Description
Original Items: One-of-a-kind-set. Brigadier General Cornelius M Daly, many reading that name may think General who? No, his name wasn’t Patton, or Bradly, or even Gavin. Yet, he was one of those men from the Greatest Generation that did the work that needed to be done, as a tank group commander during World War Two who was wounded in action, yet, unheralded would be an apt description.
This entire collection comes to us from the American Armored Foundation, Inc. Tank and Ordnance Memorial Museum. The AAF Tank Museum was a living memorial dedicated to the Tank and Cavalry soldiers of the world. Before 1981 some of the artifacts that make up the AAF Tank Museum was a private collection belonging to Mr. William Gasser. Mr. Gasser felt that his collection would be beneficial in educating present and future generations to the sacrifices made and the technologies gained during war. Therefore, in 1981 the AAF Tank Museum was established as a non-profit charitable organization, and Mr. Gasser's donated his private collection to the Tank Museum. Mr. Gasser is still active as Volunteer Director and Curator of the Tank Museum and his knowledge of military history has been a great asset to the museum. Unfortunately after 20 years of operation it had to close its doors, which is when this uniform grouping was acquired.
Cornelius M Daly was born in Washington DC in 1891, the son of well to do Irish Immigrants, who wanted to enter a service academy after matriculating through high school. For reasons lost to history, this goal was put on hold until 1914, as he entered the workforce. Daly once again heard the call to join the service, being from a nautical family, his father, a shipbuilder, attempted to get his son, Cornelius, a direct commission in the Marine Corps. Many letters written by Senators and Representatives, recommending him were sent, several of which survive and are included in the group. However, the requests fell on deaf ears. The future General applied to The Revenue Cutter Service Academy, now known as the Coast Guard Academy, to which he was accepted in 1914. While attending the Academy, he continued to ask for a direct commission in the Army, which was finally granted in 1916. This paperwork survives and is also included in this group.
Cornelius moved through the ranks and was deployed overseas as a member of the 3rd Cavalry Division in 1919, for occupation duty in France. Daly remained in the Army, and moved through the ranks with stops along the way to command a company in the CCC, Civilian Conservation Corps, and the famous, now mechanized 7th Cavalry. I
In 1941, Daly was promoted to the rank of Colonel, and tabbed to become the Chief of Staff to the Commander of the newly formed 20th Armoured Division, which was deployed in March of 1943. It was at that time, Colonel Daly was given his Star and the command of Combat Command A. He would remain there until being injured in combat. The Jacket he was wearing at the time is part of this group, along with his Purple Heart and Bronze Star, which he received for the same engagement. General Daly remained in the Military until 1946, when he became a victim of the draw down to pre wartime numbers of Generals. He was reduced in rank to Colonel and then retired. General Daly was interned in Arlington upon his death in 1974, a true, unheralded American Hero.
There are many highlights in this massive and comprehensive group. Several pieces stand out such as his name engraved medals, the B3 Jacket General Daly was wearing when he was wounded, his M1 Helmet with the Flag Officer Follow me Stripe. We have taken a total inventory and the group includes the following Items:
- 1 Pair of Vintage athletic Shoes
- Pocket Sized Notebook with several small notations
- 20 Loose Misc. Photos
- A notebook containing 42 Documents all about General Dalys Post War work
- A folder with 43 letters of congratulating Daly on his promotion to General
- A folder of 7 documents all relating to provenance of the B3 Jacket that General Daly was wearing when wounded
- 2 Photos of General daly during his time at the War College
- 2 IG Tags Officer
- Folder with 32 letter and Photos all WWII Era
- Note book Containing Letters of Introduction
- Purple Heart Medal and ribbon in Coffin Case Named
- Bronze Star Medal and Ribbon in Coffin Case Named
- 5 Miscellaneous. Medals Including WWI Victory Medal
- Book 1907 Ship and Gun Drills
- 1 Riker Mount contains 25 Misc Rank, Insignia and Patches, including General Stars
- Black Medal enamel box for shoulder boards, including 2 General shoulder boards
- 2 Dogtags on cord
- 1 Dogleg on chain, next of kin
- 1 Whistle Brass Acme thunderer
- 1 Stainless steel sword hanger for officers belt
- 1 Gold shoulder cord, general officers
- 1 Pair of boot jacks
- 1 Clothing brush
- 1 Star General license plate, green medal
- 2-1 Star General license plate, red in sleeve
- 1 Jacket, standard beaver, field with full Colonel rank and 20th armor patch
- 1 Jacket, standard beaver, field with Captain rank and 20th armor patch
- 1 Pair pink slacks, with web belt and brass buckle
- 1 Star General officer’s jacket, green, 2nd Army with 20th armor combat patch
- 1 Overseas cap, size 7
- Horse Feed grain bucket
- 1 Pair of riding boots with spurs
- 1 Pair of riding boots with spurs, triple bucket riding boot
- 1 Pair of felt upper winter boots
- 1 Riding Crop
- 1 General officer’s modal 1903 belt
- 1 Parade sword, made by FJ Heiberger and Son, Washington DC, with cover and sword knot
- Green IKE jacket, 2nd Army, General officer’s rank, ribbons present including bronze star and Purple Heart
- 1 Pair riding breeches, tan, with web belt and brass buckle
- 1 Pair riding breeches, pink, with web belt and brass buckle
- 1 4-button green jacket, General officer’s rank, 20th armor patch with ribbon, including bronze star, Purple Heart and trench whistle
- B3 Jacket, leather sterling, General officer’s rank, worn at the time of his wounding
- Scrapbook brown with damaged cover, named to General Daly, with 20th armor DUI insignia, with 127 misc. pictures outlining career from Cadet to Brigadier General
- 1 Tan shirt and tan field scarf
- 1 Short sleeve tan and 1 Black field scarf
- 1 Tan long sleeve, black field scarf, private purchase
- Helmet M1 complete with Kapac liner, General star and interesting follow me stripe shown as flag
- Helmet liner Kapac complete with laundry number and General star
- Hat campaign, named on inner sweat band chin strap intact
- 1 Framed copy, Ordinance automobile school certificate
- 1 Framed Copy Of Dalys’ Purple Heart Order
- 3 Framed 8x10 General daly
- 1 Framed War College Certificate
- 1 Framed photo of 20th Armored Tank rolling Into Munich
- 1 8x10 Framed US Cavary Association certificate
- 1 framed Amrour School certificate Fort Knox
- 1 Framed 7th Car Brigade Basic Motor Course Cert
- 2 Framed Cavalry certificated from Fort Riley Kansas 1926-1927
- 1 Framed Cert. of Command of of General Staff School
- 1 Framed 1927 Advanced Cavalry Course Cert
- 1 Promotion Cert 1919
- 1 7th Cat Officers School Ceret.
- 1 Signed Photo from Jack Herd Brig General
- 20th Armor Division Unit History
- 1 Cigar Box of Misc Photos -79 Photos
- 1 Damaged 1912 Landing Force and Small Arm Instruction Book
- 1 Date Book Embossed
- 6 Miscellaneous “Yard Long” Photos Framed Including WWI 3rd Cavalry machine Gun Company and Depression Era CCC Company Commanded By A Young Daly
- 1 Pristin 1943Field Jacket With General Stars and 20th Armor Patch
- 1 Coast Guard Academy Cadet Uniform
- 1 WWI Era Red Cross Sleeveless Sweater
- 1 General Officers Dress Sword Belt, Buckle, and Sword Hanger
- 1 Sam Brown Belt and frog Named
- 2 Painted US Army Collapsible Water Buckets Both Named to Daly
- 1 Leather Hat Cord
- Painted Canvas Horse Feed Bucket
- Pained Named to General Daly Foot Locker
- 1 Steaner Truck Painted to General Daly
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