Posted 8 years ago
highlander56
(79 items)
I found these sterling Airborne Jump Wings stuck in a baggie with an old sterling belt buckle about 15 years ago at a thrift store. The cost? One buck.
First and foremost, I was angry and troubled that somebody had relegated someone's hard earned jump wings to the donation bin. I'm a girl and recognized what they were. Does nobody have a sense of history?
Knowing they were not from recent years, I sent pictures to a contact who was an Airborne Specialist of past years and he said they were WWII issued between 1943-1944.
Somebody worked very hard at jump school for those wings. I keep them on display in a case. We have many friends who were Paratroopers and Rangers - the last one at Grenada. When we're together we often take another look at this unidentified vet's wings and wonder what stories he had to tell.
It's possible that the owner of these jump wings passed away and there were no relatives with whom to leave the items.
Efesgirl, thank you for that comment. That roiled around in my head too, which made me even sadder. There were also many vets from that era, including all my great uncles, who participated in that war that never spoke about it period. But boy as they got older, it was like a spigot opened! Many younger relatives may have been clueless. Thank you for looking and your kind thoughts.
Nice WW2 era jump wings!
Airborne!
scott
You are most welcome. I'm a USAF vet (1974-1984) so understand how these somehow abandoned items can make someone feel when that person purchases these items from a second hand shop.
Thanks scottvez!
Hooah!
Efesgirl, first and foremost thank you for your service! I'm glad you understand how I feel about finding these items tossed aside. But as you pointed out earlier, there may have been no living relatives, etc. In the interim, I see these items daily and thank their owners, who ever they were, for their service!
My Dad was an Army Field Artillery Commander. He had been ill for a very long time before he died in 2009 and had been toying with his captain's bars. When I got his flag case, we hunted all over for those bars and couldn't find them. My Mom was distraught as was I. We didn't know what he did with them because we had seen him with them and a bunch of old pictures. Eight months later, my Mom found them. She thought for sure she had accidentally donated them to Goodwill.
Could be the same thing happened to these jump wings!
I collect militaria and vintage/ antique photographs and have been in a position several times where family members didn't want a relatives items.
We (collectors) usually have no insight into family dynamics or character flaws. We don't know what kind of spouse, father/ mother the veterans was. We see veterans as noble men/ women who set aside their lives to answer a higher calling.
I remember a purchase of WW2 items from a recently deceased veterans daughter. The vet was a sgt in an Army Air Corps Recon unit, so there were many photos in the grouping, including many of the vet.
I set aside one of the vets photos, assuming the daughter wanted to keep one of her father during the war. When I told her why I had set it aside; her response was-- "What would you pay me for it". I told her I wasn't interested in it and that she may want to keep it for her son. I left the photo there but suspect it may have ended up in the trash after I left.
Bottom line for me is that collectors APPRECIATE and PRESERVE items that otherwise would have been lost or trashed.
scott
I agree with Scott, you never know the family dynamics, and can only guess at the backstory. Abandoned dog tags always make me pause. Once in a second hand shop, I saw a "son in service" banner with a gold star that might have been WWII era. It was before 9-11, when the tradition was revived to some extent. I would rather think it was abandoned because it came into the hands of someone who didn't know the significance than one who didn't care.
Chris
scottvez
Chrisnp
Thank you for putting this into perspective. I am probably guilty of believing everybody that came out of that war were like the men of Easy Company in Band of Brothers. Although scarred, they each found their way after the war. I do realize everyone doesn't do that.
My Mom and I were discussing these wings and comments and she reminded me of my cousin, Donald. He did 6 tours in Viet Nam as a Medivac pilot because he loved it. Shot down several times and still went back! It's only been in the past 10 years that his life has finally straightened out, but he left a trail of destruction behind him. Terrified my brother and me more than once while riding in a car with him and loud noises occurred. Then we wouldn't ride with him anymore! My Mom thinks at least 4 of his exes would have gladly had a bonfire vs donating his stuff to a thrift shop.
That all happened so long ago, and a different war that I had not truly put them together until now. I should have. I will continue to collect these treasures in honor of the men who served, and not judge as to why they ended up at a thrift shop! They are also a good tool for teaching kids, as we found out our kids learned all about WWII in high school in less than a week. NOT! So we expanded on that "education" (or lack thereof) starting with the jump wings, old ration books, etc. Maybe that's why the youngest is now a Marine...year 6.
Thank you again Scott and Chris!