Blouse is identified by laundry number P4719 to John C. Place of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania whose serial number was 33464179.

The blouse is a four pocket with a 1942 date on the cloth tag in the right front lower pocket. The collar discs are “US” and engineer. The “US” disc is clutch back with the proper smooth faced clutches while the engineer disc is screw back. Each sleeve has Tec-Sergeant stripes while the left shoulder has an 11^th Airborne patch with “AIRBORNE” tab. Lower left cuff has three overseas bars. Above the right pocket is the “Ruptured Duck” discharge emblem and above the left pocket are three ribbons and glider wings. The ribbons are Good Conduct, Pacific Theater with 3 campaign stars and the Philippine Liberation with 2 battle stars. Wings are sterling marked and have a glider within a wreath. Wings are pin backed.

The blouse has scattered tiny moth nips here and there. The only appreciable moth action is at the bottom of the right skirt where there is a 1.50 x 1.00 inch hole with one or two small satellite holes. When the blouse is buttoned up for display these are not visible.

All buttons are present.

Interior is in good condition.

With the blouse is a period money belt in good condition. It has one large and one small pocket and a “CONMAR” marked zipper that works properly. Fastening strap and buckle are also present.

John Charles Place was born in Middle Smithfield Township, Pennsylvania on September 28, 1923. He was drafted into the Army on February 25, 1943 and was assigned to the 127^th Airborne Engineer Battalion of the 11^th Airborne Division. He was sent overseas on May 3, 1944 and participated in campaigns on New Guinea, Leyte and Luzon. He returned to the US on September 6, 1945 and was discharged on the 14^th following.

After the war he married, raised a family and worked as a carpenter until his retirement in 1988. He was a member of American Legion Post #346 and the Thomas P. Lambert Veterans of Foreign War Post #2540, both of East Stroudsburg. He died on December 9, 2014 and is buried in Middle Smithfield Presbyterian Burying Ground in Monroe County, Pennsylvania.

With the item are Xerox copies of Mr. Place’s obituary, WWII Veterans Compensation form and a picture of his gravestone copied from the internet.  [AD]

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