Help on this Picture

**klinger** · 05-06-2010, 11:35 PM

i find this photo is a bit strange
1. the massiv tattoos on the handy of the us army guy - was this not a bit weird to have so many tattoos in this time (never seen this bevor)
2. the dots on his hand
3. the couple on the other side (ohlala)

on the back is written 1945 wilmersdorf (sounds like germany)

**jimpy** · 05-08-2010, 01:22 AM

Hi Klinger.

A quick google shows that "Wilmersdorf" was/is an area of Berlin.
It was/is not unusual for troops to have tattoos, what is the unusual thing about them is the fact that they are visible on the hands.

Regards etc

Ian D

**RedArmyCollector** · 05-08-2010, 01:38 AM

I too find it odd that he has tattoos on his hands. I thought that you couldn't have tattoos on a visible part of the body.

**cricketchris1944** · 05-08-2010, 01:53 AM

It is odd ,you could have tattoos but not visible part of your body like hands and face.Is it possible his hands were burn?

**RedArmyCollector** · 05-08-2010, 02:08 AM

by cricketchris1944

It is odd ,you could have tattoos but not visible part of your body like hands and face.Is it possible his hands were burn?

Either that or some kind of scars...

**Walkwolf** · 05-08-2010, 04:11 AM

The tattoos are odd ? Seen on Naval personel more often.

Just a thought, but could he possibly be an 'interpretor' or some other
type of foreign personel assigned or temporary to the US Army,
and issued US uniform? Anyone recognise the patch?
(Berlin district HQ ?)

I know they had DP's (Displaced Persons) or civilian workers
(hence the tattoos) who were given US clothing.
I don't see any rank or awards of any kind, like the fellow
beside him with the CIB, although he does have
DI on his collar and a regulation tie...... ? ! ?

Again, just a thought.........

Regards, Steve.

**cricketchris1944** · 05-08-2010, 04:25 AM

walkwolf could be right I do not see any purple hart award.so burns? so scars? so foreign soldier?
the Russian had in their troups gangters from the prisons and they had tattoos on their hands?

**klinger** · 05-08-2010, 09:13 PM

on this zoom is it possible to see the tattos good and clear, it looks like an indian head or girls head, i have over 3000 us army pictures but never seen one tattood on them.

**bikerboyzx6r** · 05-08-2010, 09:51 PM

Strange but look at it like this... he is obviously a hard nut .... he has 3 beers!!!

If he was some kind of american indian apache or the like, would they reject him at a time of need???

**lee edwards** · 05-08-2010, 10:29 PM

it could be possible that he had the tatoos before he joined up i know the army could be picky at times but i cannot see them turning someone down esp during a war for having tatoos