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.
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…….
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.
The bulk of my collection has been culled from endless pages of ebay listings, but I occasionally have the opportunity to discover hidden gems at flea markets and trade shows. Today I attended a Antiquarian Book and Ephemera show at the Sheraton in South Burlington, VT. I attached a link below to help plug this great organization. Anyway, I eagerly searched through thousands of postcards and photos looking for military related images. I saw a few overprices Civil War images, and a number of lack luster WWII photos. My WWI radar was in full swing and I left with a handful of great images. Please enjoy reading about my favorite find!
This wonderful image depicts two band members of the 102nd Field Artillery of the 26th Division. Taken in France in 1918, this RPPC (real photo postcard) has everything going for it. The two doughboys are wearing French style caps with unit designation affixed. Their collar discs are a mix of MASS National Guard insignia and 102nd Field Artillery band discs. The details on the M1911 pistol grips is superb. Even the embossed leather US is visible on the holster.
Vermont Antiquarian Booksellers Association Website
Check it out!
Lee Marvin is hands down one of the greatest action movie stars of the post-WWII generation. Starring in such films as Attack, The Killers, The Professionals, The Dirty Dozen, Hell in the Pacific, The Professionals, The Iceman Cometh, and The Delta Force, Lee Marvin was a true action star.
The attached photograph was purchased directly from the son of a 4th Marine veteran who served with Marvin during WWII. Lee was a combat sniper with I Company, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division and was wounded in action on Saipan. He received the Purple Heart for his wounds. References say that he was one of only 9 survivors of a Japanese attack on his unit http://www.jodavidsmeyer.com/combat/military/lee_marvin.htm. Outside of personal photographs, this is one of less than a handful (literally 3) wartime photographs of Marvin available for view on the internet.
I hope you enjoy. This is one of my favorite WWII film actors, and now a part of my collection! 
A nice close up of Marvin – check google images for other shots of him…………..Keep in mind he was only 17 or 18 when this photo was taken.
A few formal portraits I found on the web:
Lee Marvin Formal Portrait Photo
Source: http://www.bongoludo.com/war-stories/
Lee Marvin’s War Record Mug Shot
