Mr. Bittle comes home

**Krakow1** · 02-28-2021, 03:56 PM

I love that picture of Him holding a Cavalry saber. Without scabbard impossible to tell model. Great group.

**MAP** · 02-28-2021, 05:22 PM

by tank destroyer

Michael,
Thank you for the link. I my have to mail the PH to you for pictures at the monument. LOL

If you are serious. I will happily do it. Wait for late spring or summer.

Send a photocopy of the paperwork too. A difficult composition though. Large statue and small medal. Can add a helmet and uniform maybe

.

Ok...I'm getting carried away...

Or you can drive up for the grand opening of the new War Bunker in a few months and then take it yourself

**Rakkasan187** · 02-28-2021, 05:43 PM

Marty,

Very nice to be able to complete the journey for this young man. The Purple Heart completes his voyage.

Well done and I am happy that you are the caretaker of this prestigious decoration.

The icing on the cake is the Bailey Banks and Biddle maker of the heart.

Best regards and Blessings

Smitty

**AZPhil** · 02-28-2021, 06:03 PM

by Krakow1

I love that picture of Him holding a Cavalry saber. Without scabbard impossible to tell model. Great group.

I'm not a sword expert, But that has the looks of a M1860's type.
Maybe that sword was Grandpa's from the War of Northern Aggression!!!

Semper Fi
Phil

**08SMLE48** · 02-28-2021, 10:08 PM

Very cool Marty!

I think the sword looks like an M1906 cavalry saber.( Just my two cents)

**Pauls1970** · 02-28-2021, 10:18 PM

Fantastic thread !
Regards
Paul

**Tank Destroyer** · 02-28-2021, 10:50 PM

For the saber and pistol guys.
Thank you for the honor bestowed to Mr. Bittle.

**Tank Destroyer** · 02-28-2021, 10:54 PM

His PH should’ve had a large oak leaf due to two wounds.
Yes Smitty the PH maker B.B.&B is really nice and I believe they were the one to make the first of the Purple Hearts, this one is a really early one.

**MAP** · 02-28-2021, 11:55 PM

Agree, a B.B. & B is icing on the cake!

**Politefaun** · 03-01-2021, 06:08 AM

Fantastic pick up! I always like to see items go back to their home state. The medal, documentation and box are amazing to see all together.

by MAP

Fantastic Marty! Glad you got it.

You know...the 42nd Rainbow Division was stationed/trained in my hometown (and I still live there too) at Camp Mills. My parents house was built in the early '30's on the Camp

The monument in the attached link is just a hundred or so yards from where I grew up. I would pass by it every day walking to school.

The 42nd Rainbow Division; One Man’s Quest to Shed Light On A Forgotten Aspect of Long Island’s WW1 History | LongIsland.com

Surrounding Camp Mills is also Mitchell Field (a WW2 airbase) and Hazelhurst Field (a WW1 and post WW1 airbase). Hazelhurst was renamed Roosevelt Field after Teddy Roosevelts son, Quentin who was a WW1 pilot who was shot down and killed. And for those who remember Roosevelt Field was where Lindbergh took off on his famous transatlantic flight.

Well learn something new everyday, I had no idea the 42nd was trained in LI. I do remember hearing about this camp and Upton a long time ago in an LI history book, but didn't look into it further as the book said something like there was a parking lot built over it and nothing else. Glad to see a memorial is there one day I'll have to go visit it.