WWI KIA USMC RPPC 47 Co. 5th MARINES BELLEAU WOOD HILL 142 GORDON ODONNELL PHOTO For Sale

WWI KIA USMC RPPC 47 Co. 5th MARINES BELLEAU WOOD HILL 142 GORDON ODONNELL . PHOTO POSTCARD.

MUSEUM-GRADE, HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT, AND DEEPLY POIGNANT PIECE OF UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS HISTORY. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL WW1 REAL PHOTO POSTCARD (RPPC) DEPICTING FOUR UNITED STATES MARINES POSED IN A PORTRAIT STUDIO IN FRANCE, RETAINING METICULOUS UNIT INSIGNIA TRACES AND A VERIFIED HANDWRITTEN NOTATION ON THE REVERSE.

THE FRONT OF THE POSTCARD SHOWS FOUR MARINES OF THE 47TH COMPANY IN CRUNCHY, PRISTINE P-1917 SERVICE UNIFORMS, POSED WITH THEIR M1912 CAMPAIGN HATS. EACH SINGLE HAT FEATURES THE ENLISTMENT-PERIOD BRONZE EAGLE, GLOBE, AND ANCHOR (EGA) INTACT.

EXTREMED HIGHLIGHT VARIANT: ALL FOUR MARINES DISPLAY AN INCREDIBLY RARE INDIVIDUAL BRONZE "47" NUMERAL MOUNTED DIRECTLY BELOW THE HIGH BASE SEGMENT OF THE EGA EMBLEM EYELET PIN PINNED TO THE FRONT CENTER SEAM OF THE FELT HATS. PER 1917 USMC EXPEDITIONARY CODES, ASSIGNED RECRUITS COULD AFFIX SEPARATE BRONZE NUMERAL UNITS DIRECTLY RESTING AGAINST THE EDGE BAND BENEATH THE CENTERING EYELET LINE TO ANNOUNCE FIELD FORCE PRIDE. FOR FOUR MATURED RIFLEMEN TO DISPLAY THE COMPLETE MATCHING SET IN TACT WITHIN A SINGLE RECOVERED STUDIO PORTRAIT MAKES THIS PIECE A CRITICAL RARITY IN THE FIELD OF EXPEDITIONARY MILITARIA.

THE REVERSE IS PRODUCED ON GENUINE FRENCH "CARTE POSTALE" PHOTOGRAPHIC STOCK, PROVING BEYOND DOUBT THE PORTRAIT WAS STRUCK IMMEDIATELY UPON THE SHIP'S ARRIVAL IN FRANCE AS THE BOYS PROUDLY EMBARKED TO RE-EQUIP FOR ACTION.

THE REVERSE OFFERS A HEARTBREAKING INSCRIPTION PENNED IN PERIOD LIQUID INK WRITTEN BY THE COMPASSIONATE SENDER TO HIS HOUSEHOLD STAGED BACK IN NEW ENGLAND:

"FOR MOTHER FROM GORDON."

VERIFIED HISTORICAL RESEARCH & PROVENANCE

EXTENSIVE CROSS-REFERENCE ARCHIVAL RECORDS TRACKED THROUGH WAR DEPARTMENT ROLL LOGS FOR THE 47TH COMPANY (COMPANY M), 5TH REGINAL RIFLES FULLY IDENTIFY THE EXACT SENDER AND SCRIPT HAND INVOLVED:

• SOLDIER: CORPORAL GORDON S. O'DONNELL
• SERVICE NUMBER: 121544
• HOMETOWN: EAST HOLDEN, MAINE (THE VERIFIED OLDEST ELDEST OF NINE HOUSEHOLD SIBLINGS)
• ENLISTMENT DATE: APRIL 18, 1917
• DATE OF DEATH: KILLED IN ACTION (KIA) ON JUNE 6, 1918
• BATTLE CONTEXT: CORPORAL O'DONNELL WAS KILLED DURING THE INFAMOUS OPENING HOURS OF THE ASSAULT UPON BELLEAU WOOD. HIS RIFLE PLATOON ASSIGNED TO THE 47TH COMPANY SPEARHEADED THE REVOLTING, CASUALTY-HEAVY ASSAULT ACROSS WHEAT FIELDS DIRECTLY INTO EMPLACED EMEMY MACHINE GUNS TO TAKE THE HIGH TACTICAL ADVANTAGE GROUND SURROUNDING HILL 142.
• FINAL RESTING PLACE: ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY (SECTION 18, GRAVE 4543)

THIS POSTCARD MARKS THE ABSOLUTE FINAL ARTIFACT CORPORAL GORDON S. O'DONNELL SIGNED AND MAILED HOME TO HIS AGING FAMILY BEFORE ENTERING COMBAT AND EARNING THE LEGENDARY CORPS NICKNAME "TEUFEL HUNDEN" (DEVIL DOGS).

THE ARTIFACT EXHIBITS SPECTACULAR, GENUINE PERIOD SURFACE AGING. ACCENTS OF CORNER SILVERING ARE VISIBLE UNDER REFLECTIVE NATURAL LIGHT, CONFIRMED VALID OVER A CENTURY IN CAREFUL STORAGE. EDGES SHOW MINOR VINTAGE WEAR CONCURRENT WITH AGE. INK REVEALS EXCELLENT DENSITY AND READABILITY. UNPOSTED WITHOUT CANCEL AND NO ADHESIVE GLUE EVER APPLIED.

(please see pictures)

THIS IS NOT A REPRODUCTION

PLEASE SEE MY 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACK AND BUY WITH CONFIDENCE.