One aspect of war that is not normally discussed is the transportation of temperature sensitive material. Blood, meat, and some chemicals needed to be kept cool for use in the field and needed special trucks to deliver the goods. Here is a set of photos showing the trucks of the unit! Try finding these anywhere else! Scanned from original negatives.
A nice selection from my 388th Bomb Group negative collecting. Showing some of the more laid back facets of life on base.
One of my favorite WWI studio photo types is the patch photo. Doughboys loved showing off their divisional pride! Here is a super example of a pair of 41st Division doughboys from Oregon showing off their uniforms.
And a nice close up of the SSI for patch collectors out there.
This will be a constantly updated theme here at Portraits of War so please check back often.
Today’s posts are from the 89th Medium Tank Battalion taken in 1952 during the middle of the Korean War.
The 89th Medium Tank Battalion was with the 25th Division (insignia seen in the slide below) from between 1951 through the armistice.
One of my favorite WWI photo tropes is the mascot dog pose. This photo caught my eye due to the presence of the medics with visible red cross armbands but was further enhanced by a little Jack Russell Terrier mascot. Taken in France in early 1918, this image is a wonderful representation of the lighthearted antics that kept front line medics sane during the horrors of WWI trench warfare.
Alva must have loved painting murals! He used Red Cross girls and local WAC’s as models…….
Two great shots of some of Alva’s work while stationed in England. Note the 388th Bomb Group insignia in the background of the painting.
From the depths of my collection comes a series of amazing negatives taken by a member of the 388th Bomb Group stationed at Knettishall England in 1944. I have over 300 images from this collection and will slowly be posting them over the next few months. Keep checking back for updates. The medium-sized negatives are in immaculate condition and came to me rather inexpensively from an eBay auction. Enjoy!
Alegre was a Phillipino born artist who passed away in the early 1950s at the early age of 40. I one day hope to find a piece of his art!
Earl Denzil Reese
April 13th, 1945 – A combat engineer snapped this series of photos while riding on back of a truck during the Battle of the Ruhr Pocket. A member of the 395th Infantry Regiment , the photographer captured an amazing scene through the lens of this camera in these images. A group of German soldiers surrenders while riding a motorcycle, waving a white flag in a desperate attempt at self preservation. A cigarette dangles from the hand of sidecar rider.
Over 300,000 German troops were taken prisoner during the March and April battles in the Ruhr Valley of Germany.
Portraits of War 
