Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is a fantastic piece of WWII D-Day Commemorative Trench Art, in the form of a large ashtray, marked to a specific ship the U.S. Navy! The U.S.S. Quincy (CA-71) was a heavy cruiser of the Baltimore-class of the United States Navy. She was the third ship to carry the name, and was launched on 23 June 1943. After being commissioned on 15 December 1943, she went on a shakedown cruise in the Caribbean, and then proceeded to Great Britain in preparation for the D-Day Invasion. The Quincy was to assist the invasion by bombarding targets on the coast.

At 0537, 6 June 1944, she engaged shore batteries from her station on the right flank of Utah Beach, Baie de la Seine. During the period 6 through 17 June, in conjunction with shore fire control parties and aircraft spotters, Quincy conducted highly accurate pinpoint firing against enemy mobile batteries and concentrations of tanks, trucks, and troops. She also neutralized and destroyed heavy, long range enemy batteries, supported minesweepers operating under enemy fire, engaged enemy batteries that were firing on the crews of the ships USS Corry (DD-463) and Glennon (DD-620) during their efforts to abandon their ships after they had struck mines and participated in the reduction of the town of Quinéville on 12 June.

After this, Quincy then steamed to Portland, England, 21 June, and joined TF 129. She departed Portland, 24 June, for Cherbourg, France. Most likely it was during this period that the components to make this great commemorative item were acquired.

The main body of this ashtray began life as a U.S. Navy WWII large artillery shell, which measures 6 3 1/6" across the base. It has shell stampings on the bottom, including the U.S. Navy "Anchor", as well as maker mark M.M.C and date 7 1943. There is also the 5in. MARK / 38 CAL marking, indicating it was for one of the 12 Mark 12 5"/ 38 caliber Anti-Aircraft guns that the U.S.S. Quincy was equipped with.

The shell then had the bottom was cut off, and the central portion threaded. Attached to this is a small post, with a 1937 dated British King George VI ONE PENNY coin, used as a central platform. This was probably for use to tap off ash, or possibly to rest a lighter on. Also, four circular cuts were made around into the edge, and four bent British HALF PENNY coins were soldered into place as cigar / cigarette holders. Two are dated 1942, and two 1943. Overall the ashtray measures approximately 6 3/16" W x 2 3/4"H.

To tie things together, there are lovely inscriptions on either side of the shell. One side has the ship's name along with the D-Day attribution:

The other side names the sailor who made it to send to his father back home:

This really is a great piece of trench art, from a known Heavy Cruiser that participated in the D-Day invasion. Even after that, the famous exploits of the U.S.S. Quincy were not over, as she returned to Boston for installation of equipment needed for an Official PRESIDENTIAL CRUISE. She would serve as transport for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who with his party embarked on Quincy on 23 January 1945, at Newport News, Virginia, for passage to Malta, arriving 2 February. He then went by Air to Crimea for the famous Yalta Conference.

After Roosevelt returned to Quincy, she then hosted King Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, and the "Quincy Agreement" was made. After a call at Alexandria, and a final meeting between President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill, Quincy steamed for Algiers, arriving on 18 February. Following a presidential conference with the American ambassadors to Great Britain, France and Italy, the cruiser steamed for the United States, arriving Newport News, 27 February. Truly a ship with an incredible history!

This wonderful ashtray is full of history and research potential! Ready to display, or even use!