Original U.S. WWII Identified Tank Destroyer Ike Jacket with Photographs of Soldier Wearing it in 1945-6 and 2013
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Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is one of the greatest Ike jackets we have ever offered, not only being a scarce Tank Destroyer’s uniform, but with photos of the soldier, Wilbur “Bill” Hallie Schu, wearing it in 1946, and again in 2013, 67 years later! The uniform has two beautiful bullion patches, enamel tank destroyer pins on both epaulets, his ribbon bar, and his medals! The only wear on the uniform is from him wearing it for so many years post war!
The Jacket is in fantastic condition with a size marking of 38R. It has 3 collar discs for US, Motorized Infantry, and Infantry, with a Ruptured Duck discharge pin in place of a 4th. There is a French Fourragere award cord on the left shoulder. There are Sergeants chevrons on both sleeves with five bullion overseas stripes and one service stripe on the left cuff! The right shoulder has a gorgeous bullion Tank Destroyer patch featuring a Panther crushing an armored tracked vehicle, which is in fantastic condition and is stitched directly onto the uniform. The left shoulder has a great U.S. Constabulary patch which is worn and frayed, but it is just as worn and frayed in the photograph of him wearing it in 2013, so it is from him having worn it for so long!
The uniform has Schu’s original 6 ribbons sewn directly onto the jacket above the left breast pocket. The ribbons are the Army Good Conduct Medal with device, the US Victory Medal with star, the Army of Occupation Medal, the VFW Medal, the American Campaign Service Medal, and the African European Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three campaign stars. His original medals are also pinned onto the left breast pocket, those being his Good Conduct Medal (which he can be seen being pinned with in the 2013 newspaper article), his US WWII Victory Medal, his Army of Occupation Medal with a clasp for Germany, and his African European Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two stars.
The colorized photograph of Schu in his uniform measures 8x10” and is stamped on the back for a photography studio, Hal Campbell Photos in Rochester, New York. There is a laminated version of the 2013 photo sent to Schu by Senator Patty Ritchie of New York, which measures 8¾ x 11¾”. The original 2013 newspaper is also included, for the Watertown Daily Times of Watertown, New York.
Wilbur “Bill” Hallie Schu was born on October 14th, 1925 in Rochester, New York. As a teenager, he was charged with third degree burglaery and petit larceny, given a suspended sentence and placed on 3 years probation. But nothing ever came of this as Schu enlisted in the Army. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served overseas in a Tank Destroyer Battalion, seeing combat in three campaigns. After returning stateside, he worked as a television technician in Rochester for many years. In 2013 at the age of 87 he participated in the Memorial Day celebration in Henderson, New York which is where he was photographed. Schu passed away on August 7th, 2015 at the age of 89, and is buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester, New York.
This is a phenomenal WWII uniform jacket with some of the best provenance you could EVER hope for in a uniform! If the photographs are framed it will make for a tremendous unmatched display. This uniform comes ready for further research and display, don’t miss it!
Approximate Measurements
Collar to shoulder: 9"
Shoulder to sleeve: 25”
Shoulder to shoulder: 15.5”
Chest width: 18.5”
Waist width: 16.5"
Hip width: 16.5”
Front length: 23.5"
- This product is available for international shipping.
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