A wonderful set of negatives from a family in Pennsylvania shows the lighthearted side of aging WWI veterans. An elderly member of the 316th Infantry Regiment of the 79th Division pals around with friends and family while showing off his war medals. A Purple Heart medal was awarded to our subject for wounds received in battle, and was likely delivered to him in the early 1930s when the current medal was officially created. Enjoy the images!
Legs Wraps and All!
June 22nd, 2022 UPDATE
Incredibly, an ancestry geek like myself whose husband is related to the WWI veteran above was able to positively identify the veteran after searching online and finding this site. Special thanks to Amanda who provided me with the name of Elmer Brandt Sweigart to pin to the name of the elderly WWI vet.
Portraits of War 
Do we know the name of the WWI soldier? He looks so like the pictures in my Grandfather’s album!
I don’t know the name of the soldier, but I do know that he was from the pennsylvania area. Is he wearing a military uniform in your grandfathers album?
The jacket and pants are the same, but the soldier (Mac) in G’s album has tall boots… cavalry? May I post a photo of my grandfather in uniform? He was with the 79th. I have his uniform with the Cross of Loraine shoulder patch.
Please do! I would love to see it.