Lot 670

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Description:

DENTAL BRIDGE FROM A JAPANESE SOLDIER K.I.A. AT IWO JIMA
A particularly gruesome souvenir of World War II, a partial dental bridge, approx. 1" square, consisting of three glass artificial teeth, fastened to two real human teeth, one at each end, by means of a metal connector. The assembly would likely have replaced the wearer's lower front teeth, and would not have been removable except in the case of serious periodontal disease or death. Present with the item is a Silver Star commendation letter, issued to Marine Corps ambulance driver Louie F. Vickers for his actions on Iwo Jima, in part: "... Proceeding to the front lines to remove casualties, Corporal Vickers encountered a heavy mortar barrage and stopped to take cover in a cave. Inside the cave, he came upon seven Japanese, one of whom shot him in the leg. Quickly firing his .45 caliber pistol, Corporal Vickers killed two of the Japanese in rapid succession and, covering the remaining five, took them prisoners. With the aid of another Marine, he delivered the captured enemy to his Commanding Officer before having his own wounds treated..." The letter is signed at the conclusion by Secretary of the Navy JOHN L. SULLIVAN (1899-1982), indicating that the award was granted postwar. The two items were found together in a brown cloth wallet, and it is our belief the dental bridge was taken by Vickers as a souvenir, either from one of his prisoners, or more likely, from one of the two soldiers he killed.

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July 31, 2018 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000