Cased WWII Numbered Purple Heart Named to a U.S. Marine Wounded at Cape Gloucester

The Purple Heart is a slot brooch suspension, with the edge numbered “135838”. The reverse was privately hand engraved on two lines “Francis J. Reardon Dec. 26. 1943”. The medal is contained within the titled black leather case together with a clutch back ribbon bar and an enamel lapel badge. The Purple Heart, being a numbered example with a slot brooch suspension, would often be referred to as an “Army style” Purple Heart, and it likely reflects the fact that in 1944 (when Reardon would have been given his Purple Heart), the stocks of “Navy” Purple Hearts had been depleted, with some Marines then receiving the “Army style” Purple Hearts. It would have been presented to Reardon unnamed, almost certainly in the theater of operations, and subsequently engraved by Reardon. The decoration is accompanied by a photocopy of a page of the U.S. Marine Corps Muster rolls, reflecting Reardon’s service and his wound. The medal shows some wear and age as to the gilt finish. The case exterior shows spots and scuffs.