SOLD!
The Uniform, with Signed Notes, and World War II Overseas Cap of General James Van Fleet
$1,400.00
The uniform of General James Van Fleet, a West Point graduate, class of 1915 (together with classmates which included Dwight Eisenhower and Omar Bradley). Van Fleet commanded the 4th Infantry Division, the 90th Infantry Division, and the III Corps in World War II; he then later commanded the U.S. Eighth Army in the Korean War from 195 to1953. At the time of General Van Fleet’s retirement from active duty on 31 March 1953, former President Harry S. Truman said, “You want to know about a great general? There’s Van Fleet. I sent him to Greece and he won that war. I sent him to Korea and he won that war. He’s the greatest general we ever had.” Van Fleet then allegedly replied “Well actually Mr. President you never quite let me finish that last one”. Van Fleet was the recipient of three Distinguished Service Crosses, four Distinguished Service Medals, three Silver Stars, three Bronze Star Medals, three Purple Hearts for wounds received in combat, and his most prized decoration: the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. He was also the recipient of numerous foreign awards and decorations, with service the spanned the Mexican Border operation; World War I; World War II; the Greek Civil War; and the Korean War.
The group is comprised of General Van Fleet’s uniform as a four star General of the U.S. Army and commander of the Eighth Army, with the patch of the Third Corps on the right “combat service” shoulder. The tunic bears a Combat Infantry Badge and a clutch back plaque of ribbons reflecting the medals and decorations awarded to General Van Fleet during his career. The interior of the jacket bears the label of a tailor in Tokyo. The tunic is accompanied by the matching trousers. Both the tunic and the trousers are in excellent condition. Together with the uniform is a typed card dated 2 August of 1985, signed by General Van Fleet, with the note informing a collector that he is giving a collector one of his green service uniforms. Also with the group is a World War II wool General’s overseas cap, and there is a second handwritten note on a card in which Van Fleet advises the collector that he is being sent a “WWII hat”. The wool overseas cap is piped in gold bullion for a General, with the nae “Van Fleet” written inside of the hat. The hat has a few tiny scattered holes, none of which is particularly noticeable at all. There is also with the items a copy of a 1951 color photograph of Van Fleet, wearing a khaki uniform, with an inscription that indicates that the original photograph had been presented by Van Fleet to the Chief Signal Officer of the United States Army. Overall a very impressive group from one of the most exceptional modern American military commanders.
Sold!