Lot 643

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Description:

UNIFORM AND RELIC GROUPING OF A LEDO ROAD C.B.I. VETERAN
World War II uniform, map, medals and 'blood chit' grouping of Lt. Robert Finkel, 181st Signal Repair Co., 4011 Signal Battalion, which was crucial in the operation of the important Ledo Road. The Ledo Road was an all-weather overland route between India and China, built during World War II to enable the Allies to deliver supplies to China, after the Japanese cut off the Burma Road in 1942. Of the 1,726 kilometres long road, 1,033 kilometres are in Burma and 632 kilometres in China with the remainder in India. The road was constructed in record time during the autumn of 1943. Included in this grouping is: Finkel's dress uniform jacket and garrison cap, silver wire sewn-in Signal Corps and U.S. insignia, theater-made cloth and wire C.B.I. patch on left shoulder, and a very rare Ledo Road theater-made cloth shoulder patch on right; a special wall hanging medal plaque with five medals with four ribbons, lieutenant's bar, and Meritorious Service ribbon, including U.S. China War Memorial Medal (numbered), American Campaign Medal, Asian-Pacific Campaign medal, Good Conduct Medal, and a World War II Victory Medal. The plaque with an engraved plate citing Finkel's war service record; a lucite tablet encasing Finkel's chest ribbons, second lieutenant's bar and Signal Corps insignia; and Finkel's 'blood chit', 10.5 x 8.75, silk multi-part construction displaying flags of USA and the Republic of China, along with with C.B.I. insignia and handwritten text in Chinese: 'Americans who came to China to help win the war soldiers and civilians united together to save and protect. 34th year of Republic of China', on a wooden plaque with perspex cover. Of particular interest is a blueprint map of the Ledo Road, from Kunming (China) to Ledo (India) through Burma, 31 x 17 in., signed 'Lt. Finkel' at lower right, annotated with gas depots at Waingmow and Mangshih, stamped 'SECRET' in two places. Mounted, a closed, clean tear from left margin, else very good. Robert Finkel enlisted in the Army Signal Corps in Los Angeles in April 1942, and was sent to the South Asian Theater after training. In late 1944 he joined the 4011th Signal battalion. He saw action in the field from January to September 1945, was promoted to Second Lieutenant, and received a Unit Citation and two Bronze Battle Stars. After the war back in Los Angeles, he had a career as a TV producer and director, including The Eddie Fisher Show, Bob Newhart Show, Andy Williams Show, and many more, and famously produced a TV comeback concert for Elvis Presley in 1968.

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December 7, 2021 10:00 AM EST
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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$100 $499 $20
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$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