Original Items: One-of-a-kind. This is a fantastic collection of items that belonged to 2nd Lieutenant John Hunter Platt of the 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment who also fell under the command of the 10th Mountain Division. Platt took part in the Allied Invasion of Kiska as well as the Italian Campaign during WWII. We have not been able to locate any service information but fortunately the photos speak volumes on his service.

The 87th Mountain Infantry Battalion was activated on 15 November 1941 at Fort Lewis, Washington, with Lieutenant Colonel Onslow S. Rolfe as the commanding officer. This unit was the first American unit of mountain troops. On 12 May 1942, the regiment was reorganized as the 87th Mountain Infantry, with the remainder of the regiment activated there on 25 May 1942. It was expanded into a regiment in the summer of 1942 and moved to Camp Hale, Colorado, where it joined the 10th Mountain Division. On 29 July 1943, the regiment sailed to the Aleutian Islands as part of Amphibious Task Force 9. Also included in Task Force Force 9 were the First Special Service Force and the 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade. On 24 December 1943, it returned to Camp Carson, Colorado, and returned to the 10th Mountain Division on 22 February 1944, replacing the 90th Infantry Regiment. The regiment was part of the Italian Campaign from January 1945 to the end of the campaign, and remained as part of the occupying force until August 1945.

The Items In This Lot:

- Scrapbook: To say this scrapbook is incredible would be an understatement. Lieutenant Platt took the time to organize a timeline of sorts for his service on the pages of the book. It starts off as Platt being a enlisted man during and after training. There are documents pasted inside the pages and one of them is an Officers Candidate School completion cert which states him having been at the school from August 15, 1942 and graduating November 10, 1942. There are hundreds of photos, postcards, documents, telegrams and much more. Some of the most interesting images are of Platt visiting the ruins of Pompeii and personal images of the Kiska landing. Most of the pages are marked as are the backs of the images, with brief descriptions written on the backs of them.

Uniforms Insignia and Devices:

- Combat Infantry Badge: The original, World War II–model CIB was a silver and enamel badge, consisting of a 3-inch-wide (76 mm) rectangular bar with an infantry-blue field upon which is superimposed a Springfield Arsenal Musket, Model 1795. The composite device is superimposed to an elliptic oak-leaf wreath, symbolizing steadfast character, strength, and loyalty. During World War II, there existed metallic, composite models of the CIB composed of a separate EIB rectangle-badge and oak-leaf wreath that then was pinned to the blouse, as a Combat Infantryman Badge. Later, a matte-black subdued metal badge was created for wearing on the fatigues in the field. Since World War II, the CIB has been made in cloth (colored and subdued) for wear, like the matte-metal model, on the fatigue field uniform, and, a miniature (1.25 inches long) lacquered-metal CIB model is available for wearing on the mess dress uniform and civilian clothes.

- X3 Ski Troops Devices: The devices are all in similar appearance consisting of crossed skis or ski with a pole. Much of the original finish is still present but there are areas of color loss.

- X2 Distinctive Unit Insignia: A silver color metal and enamel device 1+1⁄4 inches (3.2 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure, on a mountain issuant from base Argent, an ice axe, and ski pole in saltirewise, points to base Proper, a mule shoe, points to base Gules. Attached below the shield is a silver scroll inscribed "VIRES MONTESQUE VINCIMUS" in red letters. The snow-capped mountains is where the organization first received its specialized training and the normal home of mountains troops. The crossed ski pole and ice axe are symbolic of the tools used by mountain troops and the mule shoe indicates the pack element of the organization. The 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment was the only organization of its kind indicated by the single red horseshoe. The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment on 21 October 1942. It was redesignated for the 87th Infantry Regiment on 13 December 1948.

- 10 Mountain Division Stick Pin: The Tenth Mountain Division was activated in July 1943 at Camp Hale, Colorado. The blue background and the bayonets are symbolic of infantry while the position of the bayonets in saltire simulates the numerical designation of the organization.

- X2 First Special Service Force Amphibian Training Force 9 Sleeve Insignia (second one located in scrapbook): The troops of the First Special Service Force faced a strong wind and choppy seas as they headed for their assigned beaches. Starting at 0130 hours, the campaign to oust the Japanese from the Aleutian island of Kiska, Operation COTTAGE, got underway. It was to be the first combat for this unique Canadian-American unit.

These shoulder sleeve insignias are extremely rare to come across and this grouping has two of them!

- Ribbons and Collar Discs: The discs are the standard “US” and “Crossed Rifles”. The ribbons are for EAME (2 Stars), Asiatic Pacific Campaign, American Defense and Good Conduct.

- Dog Tags: This is a pair of dog tags that belonged to Platt and have all of his information present and legible. The Army Service Number present is from when he was enlisted (32181751) and not his Officer’s one (A-01299568).

- X2 10th Mountain Division Shoulder Sleeve Insignia With Rockers: Both sets are in wonderful condition and still retains their original (separate) matching rockers!

- Aluminum Block “Lift Arm” Lighter Engraved With “ITALY” and the 10th Mountain DIvision Insignia: The lighter is in good condition but the flint striker no longer moves and will need to be freed if you would wish to use it.

- 10th Mountain Division Camp Funston, Kansas Sweetheart Handkerchief: The kerchief is in wonderful condition and measures approximately 11 ½” x 11”.

This is an incredible group of items filled with some rather rare items and never before seen images of the Kiska landings! Comes more than ready for further research and display.

Operation Cottage

Operation Cottage was a tactical maneuver which completed the Aleutian Islands campaign. On August 15, 1943, Allied military forces landed on Kiska Island, which had been occupied by Japanese forces since June 1942.

The Japanese, however, had secretly abandoned the island two weeks earlier, and so the Allied landings were unopposed. Allied forces suffered over 313 casualties in total during the operation, due to stray Japanese landmines and booby traps, friendly fire incidents, and vehicle accidents.

The Japanese under Captain Takeji Ono had landed on Kiska at approximately 01:00 on June 6, 1942, with a force of about 500 Japanese marines. Soon after arrival, they stormed an American weather station, where they killed two and captured eight United States Navy officers. The captured officers were sent to Japan as prisoners of war. Another 2,000 Japanese troops arrived, landing in Kiska Harbor. At this time, Rear-Admiral Monzo Akiyama headed the force on Kiska. In December 1942, additional anti-aircraft units, engineers, and a negligible number of reinforcement infantry arrived on the island. In the spring of 1943, control was transferred to Kiichiro Higuchi.

After the heavy casualties suffered at Attu Island, planners were expecting another costly operation. The Japanese tactical planners had, however, realized the isolated island was no longer defensible and planned for an evacuation.

Starting in late July, there were increasing signs of Japanese withdrawal. Aerial photograph analysts noticed that routine activities appeared to greatly diminish and almost no movement could be detected in the harbor. Bomb damage appeared unrepaired and aircrews reported greatly diminished anti-aircraft fire. On July 28, radio signals from Kiska ceased entirely.

On August 15, 1943, the U.S. 7th Infantry Division, 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment of the 10th Mountain Division and the 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade from the 6th Canadian Infantry Division, landed on opposite shores of Kiska. Canadian regiments landed included the Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment); the Winnipeg Grenadiers; the Rocky Mountain Rangers; and the Saint John Fusiliers. The invasion also involved the first combat deployment of the First Special Service Force, an elite special forces unit consisted of American and Canadian commandos.

Both U.S. and Canadian forces mistook each other, after a Canadian soldier shot at U.S. lines believing they were Japanese, and a sporadic friendly fire incident occurred, which had left 28 Americans and 4 Canadians dead, with 50 wounded on either side. Progress was also hampered by mines, timed bombs, accidental ammunition detonations, vehicle accidents and booby traps. A stray Japanese mine also caused the USS Abner Read (DD-526) to lose a large chunk of its stern. The blast killed 71 and wounded 47.