Original Items: Only One Grouping Available. This is a wonderful group of items attributed to Private First Class Francis Arthur Lamontagne. PFC Lamontagne was born on February 6, 1925 in Lawrence, Massachusetts. He enlisted in the United States Army on July 6, 1943 and after basic training was assigned to the 18th Corps, 569th Anti-Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion. During the course of the war he was attached to General Patch, Montgomery and Patton and was wounded multiple times.

The Items Featured In This Group:
Battle Damaged Musette Bag: The bag has a small hole caused by shrapnel from German artillery just above the left buckle (as you’re looking at it). All buckles and straps appear to be present and are in functioning condition. The bag has heavy fading and the look of “being there” and shows signs of heavy use. Besides the shrapnel holes there is no other extensive damage visible.

M1936 Pistol Belt: The belt is faintly stamped US on the front and there are other markings still faintly visible on the inside. The brass grommets and buckles do have some verdigris present. There is no extensive damage to the belt, but it is faded and shows signs of heavy use and wear.

European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal With Box: The medal and box are in great condition and show signs of slight fading. The European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces which was first created on November 6, 1942 by Executive Order 9265 issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The medal was intended to recognize those military service members who had performed military duty in the European Theater (to include North Africa and the Middle East) during the years of the Second World War.

Soldier’s Individual Pay Record: There are no pay records filled out. The only pages filled out are pages 2 and 3 which contain personal information such as name, ASN, grade, years of service, next of kin etc.

X2 Pictures: The first picture is a 4” x 2 ½” photo of an American cemetery in Belgium. On the back there is writing present:

“Trip to Liege
American Cemetery
In Belgium
8/14/44”

The second picture is a smaller photo 3 ¼” x 2 ¼” and appears to be a picture of PFC Lamantagne in front of a statue, location is unknown

Army / Navy “Hit Kit”: This 5 ½” x 3 ½” booklet was printed by the U.S. Government Printing Office in accordance with the 20th Century Music Corporation. The booklet features the lyrics of popular songs from 1945.

X2 Ticket Stubs: The ticket stubs are one transportation ticket from Lincoln Transit Center for traveling from New York to Camp Kilmer while Lamantagne was on furlough. The second ticket is labeled as a New Zealand Army Canteen Coupon 1d. and on the other side is says M/S Sobieski SweetRation / Coupon.

Dog Tags: This is a set of dog tags for Lamantagne which features his name and personal information.

X3 Handwritten Notes: These are written notes by Francis Lamantagne sometime before he died in 1983.

The First Note:

31348430
“P.F.C. Francis LaMontagne
18th Corp. 569th AAA A.W. Bn.
Attached to General Patch,
Montgomery, Patton”

“Carried by me overseas
through 5 battles.
Musette bag has shrapnel
Hole left side over buckle.
Cause by German artillery
Shelling.”

Second Note:

“Small cribbage board
Carried by me during my
Stay in ??? (1 year)
Second set of dog tags
Issued to me”

Third Note:

“First wounded by artillery fire on Nov 1944 in my back
??? France sent
To open? Hospital in
Heidelberg first worked on by
German doctor. Recovered
Enough to be sent to front
Lines and was again
Wounded Jan 10, 1945
At Saarbrücken, Germany
In the left leg and
Sent to Liege, Belgium to
Field hospital and sent
To general hospital in Paris.
Wallet was made by me about
May 1945 in Paris in the
Rehabilitation center”

The last two items in this grouping are the wallet and cribbage board he mentioned in his notes. The leather wallet measures 7” x 3 ½” while folded. There are pockets on both sides of the wallet and in one of the pockets is a small mirror. The cribbage board is in a leather sleeve and measures 3 ½” x 2”. The board is in worn condition but is undamaged. The best part of this cribbage board is that all 4 tiny pegs are still inside the leather storage pockets inside of the board!

These are all amazing items with amazing first-hand accounts and descriptions by the veteran himself! All items are welcomed into your WW2 displays and comes ready for further research!