Item:
ONSV25OAC276

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Original U.S. WWII 501st PIR “Geronimo” Grouping with Presidential Unit Citation Booklet & Oval with Sterling Paratrooper Wings - Charles Lee Gasper

Regular price $1,395.00

Item Description

Original Items. One-of-a-Kind Group. This is the tremendous ephemera grouping of Charles Lee Gasper, who served in the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment during World War II. There’s a tremendous letter written on 501st PIR letterhead, a great oval with sterling paratrooper wings, and a broken 501st pin.

This group includes:
- Tremendous 501st PIR 101st Airborne “The Presidential Citation” booklet with “BASTION OF BASTOGNE” at bottom. It is missing the original middle pages so someone printed out the missing pages. Cover is printed in France.
- Gasper’s Sterling marked Paratrooper wings on a period original 501st PIR red & blue oval. 
- Gasper’s plastic 501st “Geromino!” Pin on which the pin and pin plate have broken off. The front still looks great for display but the pin is in two pieces.
- Letter from Gasper to his mother dated April 27th, 1943 stating that he was transferred to the 1st Parachute Training Regiment after being injured so that he could complete his training later and meet back up with the 501st. Comes with envelope.
- June 9th, 1943 issue of GERONIMO newspaper, Volume 1 Number 5.
- “The New Infantry March” pamphlet with paratrooper’s song, heavily folded with “to a friend” paratrooper note on the back. 
- “The Parachute School” Fort Benning Ga. Student Text, training on how to pack a parachute, with faux parachute school certificate on last page. 
- 1943 Parachute Training picture book sold at Fort Benning, Ga. so family members could see what the men were getting up to.

Charles Lee Gasper was born on November 15th, 1921 in Bingham County, Idaho. Gasper first enlisted in the Army on November 10th, 1942, and volunteered for the Paratroopers. He was assigned to the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, but was temporarily reassigned to Company I, 1st Parachute Training Regiment after being injured so that he could complete his training later and meet back up with the 501st. He traveled overseas with the 501st and fought through every bit of combat with them, being wounded by shrapnel in June of 1944, during Normandy. He appears to have been also wounded in August 1944 and September 1944, so Gasper certainly saw his fair share of combat. He returned to the states and was discharged on October 11th, 1945. 

This is a tremendous grouping with some scarce items, ready for further research and display.

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