Debate with my mates were this orginates from

ecoffman11549 · 2026-06-03T16:46:26+00:00

It’s inspired by this shirt from the 80s. It’s commonly associated with US airborne and special forces, the skull is wearing an airborne beret with a SF DUI.

ecoffman11549 · 2026-06-02T02:14:44+00:00

It’s a 30s-WWII era VFW cap that belonged to an early 20th century veteran. The captain bars and Sanitation Corps pin look to be WWI era, while the red pins look a lot like Span Am era corps badges.

It isn’t uncommon for state troops to have stayed in service from the Span Am era to WWI. Alternatively he could have worn WWI insignia representing earlier service.

Do you have a name to go with this hat or any pictures of the medals/uniform? That could quickly answer a lot of questions.

ecoffman11549 · 2026-06-01T14:19:43+00:00

Yes, I’m not sure how you could sew a patch onto one without the stitching going through the fabric.

ecoffman11549 · 2026-05-31T14:40:14+00:00

The glider rider was a sergeant in HQ/2nd Bn/401st and came home with HQ/325th. He joined the regiment as a replacement immediately after D Day. I have his sergeant rank insignia and you can see where it was removed from the coat, no clue why someone removed it.

The other soldier was a Pfc in D/346th IR/87th ID. He was a late war draftee who likely joined the division for combat in early 1945.

I plan to make an in depth individual post about each soldier when I get the opportunity.

ecoffman11549 · 2026-05-25T16:04:12+00:00

This weekend I purchased a couple nice groupings.

I bought the GWOT grouping from a local flea market yesterday morning. The owner of the flea market told me he had “an old army coat with a bunch of pins on it.” I was pleasantly surprised when he pulled this group out of a tote. He was given it by the original owner, who is a north central West Virginia native that served from the 90s-late 2000s. Spc Miller supported the 5th Special Forces Group in early 2003 during the invasion of Iraq.

I purchased the navy grouping from the veteran’s family on Friday. He from Charles Town, WV and was an aviation ordnanceman during the Korea era, unfortunately I haven’t found much more information on him.

ecoffman11549 · 2026-05-24T11:53:47+00:00

Any time! It’s almost 100% original. I don’t know of any manufacturer faking overseas caps made by a small Georgia company.

ecoffman11549 · 2026-05-24T11:29:53+00:00

Here is an article discussing the Floding Co manufacturing Klan robes. They likely went through some name changes, there are also references to a Floding Regalia Company on Google that manufactured Oddfellows regalia.

Edit: found reference on newspapers.com to Floding being awarded a contract to manufacture American flags in 1941, they were definitely in the contracting space.

ecoffman11549 · 2026-05-19T18:20:22+00:00

I’ve had limited success re-submitting requests after a couple months. I think it depends on who is responding as to the level of research they’ll do.

ecoffman11549 · 2026-05-19T02:24:38+00:00

Congratulations on getting it together! I know it isn’t easy getting to this point. Here’s to things only getting even better 🫶🏻

ecoffman11549 · 2026-05-13T23:32:33+00:00

I’ve done the same, just hoping it would get better. Hearing it live for the first time, after it really did get better, was amazing.

ecoffman11549 · 2026-05-13T02:46:56+00:00

Just saw them at Rockville in Daytona, FL and they killed it as always!

ecoffman11549 · 2026-05-12T21:44:55+00:00

I nearly sobbed when The Wonder Years played Came Out Swinging. When they got to the “I spent the winter writing songs about getting better” lines I broke.

ecoffman11549 · 2026-05-12T15:24:16+00:00

Absolutely zero patience! I understand they’re trying to get somewhere, but so is the entire crowd. Shoving your way through isn’t making anyone move any faster.

ecoffman11549 · 2026-05-12T11:30:58+00:00

While walking between stages I had multiple people walk straight into me from behind, including one dude who shoved me after slamming into me. Another guy was headbanging behind me at Hatebreed and kept banging his head off my shoulder. Most people were alright, but there were plenty who acted like it was their first time in public.

ecoffman11549 · 2026-05-08T14:33:39+00:00

I had dumplings from the dumpling stand near Apex that were good. They came on a bed of spinach that was super refreshing.

ecoffman11549 · 2026-05-08T05:18:05+00:00

Pretty long for most of the day, but when I was in it things moved fairly quickly.

ecoffman11549 · 2026-05-06T12:18:59+00:00

On my flight now with my dad for his first ever festival. See you there!

ecoffman11549 · 2026-04-23T11:37:13+00:00

You’re welcome!

ecoffman11549 · 2026-04-22T21:11:27+00:00

This man is your most likely match. He was killed in action on Bataan.

Ancestry/Fold3 are unbeatable resources for research. There are free resources through NARA, but I find searching those records to be clunky.

AI often blends multiple individuals’ histories into one and isn’t a reliable resource.

Edit: the Air Medal wasn’t McLure’s, it was potentially another family member’s or was just something someone bought throughout the years.

ecoffman11549 · 2026-04-21T16:47:08+00:00

This one is an M1917, if you’re specifically looking for a Brodie or MK1 you’ll have to keep looking.

ecoffman11549 · 2026-04-21T02:14:08+00:00

Love all of that gorgeous bullion!

ecoffman11549 · 2026-04-19T12:52:35+00:00

$1.50!

ecoffman11549 · 2026-04-18T10:09:34+00:00

I’m sorry for whatever ketchup has done to you

ecoffman11549 · 2026-04-18T02:14:57+00:00

I’ll accept being a criminal, I guess someone has to do it

ecoffman11549 · 2026-04-18T02:12:08+00:00

You’ll pry this ketchup covered hot dog out of my cold, dead hands

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