101st Airborne Archive of Keith V Organ with his WWII Paratrooper Jump Jacket

World War II

Archive includes Keith V. Organ's 1942 Jump Jacket with 101st Airborne shoulder patch, and jump wings, accompanied by his display of medals, period photographs, and his veteran's cap. The display includes both medals and appliances, including a Presidential Unit Citation, Purple Heart, Belgian Fourragere, Dutch Lanyard, WWII Victory Medal, Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign, and the American Campaign Medal. Also included in the lot are a Paratrooper's wrist compass, post-war shoulder patches, a copy of "D-Day Plus 20: 1944-1964", a photo album including a tribute to President John F. Kennedy, and "The Epic of the 101st Airborne: A Pictorial Record of a Great Fighting Team". These older documents are joined by some commemorative stickers and flags attesting to a pride in his unit that never faltered.

Born on Christmas Day, 1925, Keith Verniel Organ registered for the draft in 1943 at the age of 18. On March 15, 1944, he enlisted with the United States Army, eventually joining the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Dispatched to Camp Mourmelon, France, in 1944, Organ's first contact with the enemy came during the Battle of the Bulge, where he fought to the north of Bastogne until he was seriously wounded by enemy fire in January of 1945. After the end of World War II, he relocated to Michigan, and worked as a truck driver. In 1954, he married Neva Ilene Wahley, in a union that was to last until his death in 2010 at the age of 84, and after 56 years of marriage. He was survived by his wife, three children, ten grandchildren, and seventeen great grandchildren. He now lies in Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, Michigan.

The Collection of Jonathan Liebrandt

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Very Good. Jacket shows some age discolorations and stains, light repairs, and some loose stitching. His veteran's cap is much more worn down, with sweat stains, some dust and residue, and a faded color. All photographs and paper items exhibit light age toning, and some show light scratches and creases.

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Mr. Tim Carey

Associate Vice President, Head of Department, Arms, Armor and Militaria

timcarey@freemansauction.com 513.666.4984

Mr. Carey joined Cowan’s, a Freeman's company, in 2021 and is a 40-year veteran of the sporting arms and outdoor recreation industry. Carey joined Cowan’s from Griffin & Howe at Hudson Farms in Andover, N.J., where he was responsible for the acquisition, appraisal, and consignment of top-tier firearms consignments from important makers such as James Purdey & Sons of London, Beretta, Caesar Guerini, B. Rizzini, Bertuzzi, Renato Telo, and Anderson Wheeler.

Mr. Tim Prince

Senior Consulting Specialist, Arms, Armor & Militaria

timprince@freemansauction.com 312 280 1212

Tim Prince has more than 30-years of experience in the field of antique and collectible arms and is a nationally recognized expert in the area of Civil War small arms. A long-time researcher and author, Tim has been a contributing author to two major books about Civil War firearms, including The English Connection: Arms, Material and Support Furnished to the Confederate States of America by Great Britain (2014) and Confederate Shotguns and Southern Agent Marked Shotguns (2017). He was also a major contributor to the recently updated Blue Book of Antique American Firearms & Values – 2nd Edition (2019) as well as the 2010 updates to the Civil War Collector's Price Guide - 12th edition. Over the last decade Tim has authored more than 50 articles on 19th century collectible and military arms, which have been published in such varied publications as Civil War News, North-South Trader, and Military Antique Collector. Since 2016 has appeared as a featured appraiser in the field of Arms & Militaria on the popular PBS television series Antiques Roadshow. He is a member of the American Society of Arms Collectors and currently serves on the board of directors of that organization. He is also a member of and formerly served on the board of directors of the Society of American Bayonet Collectors. Tim is a life member of the Ohio Valley Military Society, the Tennessee Military Collectors Association, the Alabama Military Collectors Association, is a member of the Company of Military Historians and is a member of numerous other colleting groups and societies. He is the owner of College Hill Arsenal, a web based antique and collectible arms retail web site, specializing in the American Civil War and related military items. Tim has engaged in the business of buying, selling, researching, and appraising antique and collectible arms and associated military items for some three decades. Since 2016 he has also served as a senior Consulting Specialist in the field of Arms, Armor & Militaria for Cowan’s Auctions, a Freeman's Company.

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101st Airborne Archive of Keith V Organ with his WWII Paratrooper Jump Jacket

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