Description:

LT. COL. WILLIAM B. GARA'S DRESS VISOR CAP
(1917-2001) American Army Lieutenant Colonel, commander of the 1st Engineer Combat Battalion, 1st Infantry Division. Gara was a genuine war hero by any definition. He led his 700 men from North Africa to Sicily, he landed among the very first soldiers on Omaha Beach, was heavily engaged at the Battle of the Bulge, and fought into Germany until the end of the war. His most valiant service was at Omaha Beach in the initial assault fighting while they cleared obstacles where the 1st Engineers were tasked with landing to allow more landing craft to safely arrive, and continuing to clear barbed wire, mines, anti-tank obstacles and ravines, etc. from the beaches to a point a few miles inland to clear the path for infantry, tanks, and then truck transports. Under intense enemy small arms and anti-tank fire, Gara's engineers, along with elements of the 37th Engineers Battalion, opened the first and most important exit from Omaha Beach, E-1, allowing American GIs to flank the German defenses and begin their drive inland. By war's end, Gara had received two Silver Stars and two Bronze Stars, and two Purple Hearts. Offered here is Gara's colonel's dress visor cap, OD green fur felt construction, with a checkered pattern on the band. The black leather visor is covered with black felt, bearing embroidered bullion oak leaves. The bright gold chinstrap is held in place by two gilded brass buttons depicting the Great Seal of the United States on either side, with a gilded brass screw-back badge in the shape of the Great Seal affixed to the front. The interior is lined with yellow rayon and fitted with a brown leather sweatband bearing the size label ‘7', further marked ‘The Wales U.S. Army Approved Cert. NO. 1-089-b'. The plastic sweat shield features a pouch bearing a card giving the owner's name ‘Çol. W.B. Gara' and his address and phone number. At the center of the lining is a sewn-in maker's tag for ‘Bancroft' of Framingham, Mass. A minor hole to the plastic shield and light oxidation to the brass hardware, else in near pristine condition.

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August 15, 2024 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, 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 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000