WWII USMC Raider Coat Named to Marine in 2nd Marine Raider Regt. Bougainville For Sale

This World War II USMC winter service coat belonged to Corporal Homer J. Finley Jr., service number 411836. Finley was a dog handler in the 1st Marine War Dog Platoon, H&S Company, 2nd Marine Raider Regiment, during the battle for Bougainville in 1943. He was later trained as an explosive ordnance expert, blowing up pill boxes and caves. He was badly wounded and evacuated during the battle for Guam. I have owned the coat for over ten years. I was lucky enough to have received three letters from Mr. Finley describing his wartime service from 1942 to 1946. The letters are as significant as the coat, and need to be preserved together. He describes two campaigns and the full-scale invasion of Emirau Island, where the Japanese garrison had previously slipped away undetected. I am including the letters, with an original photo of Mr. Finley in uniform, and a copy of a photo with his dog, taken on Bougainville. I have also seen a film about war dogs on Guam, on the TV History Channel, with footage of then Pfc Finley in camouflage utilities, with his dog, on Bougainville. The uniform coat is in excellent condition, with no moth damage or signs of wear. The Marine Raider shoulder patch is machine sewn on the coat, is excellent, and is the desirable full jaw version. Finley\'s name is stamped three times on the right shoulder lining. The left side has a 1942 contract date and size 2M stamps. Mr. Finley could not locate all of his ribbons, but sent me the two-ribbon bar with two battle stars. He would have also qualified for a purple heart, good conduct and WWII victory ribbons, and probably the Presidential Unit Citation ribbon. Besides the rifle marksman badge, he would have had a basic weapons badge, with bars for the Thompson sub-machine gun, carbine and pistol. Please see my other sales for more original military items from my 50+ year personal collection. Be sure to add me to your favorites list!PAYMENT AND SHIPPING:
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