us-005578-irn42331-irn43398
type: RecordSet
physical characteristics and technical requirements: a. Angled rectangular blue cloth military gorget with insignia embroidered in silver metallic thread. The design consists of a column of 3 stylized open-winged birds in flight above stylized oak leaves. The border is trimmed with twisted silver metal thread. The patch is glued around stiff brown cloth backing. The diagonal ends are cut to fit on a uniform collar point. The badge is soiled and worn, with loose threads on the back. b. Angled rectangular blue cloth military gorget with insignia embroidered in silver metallic thread. The design consists of a column of 3 stylized open-winged birds in flight above stylized oak leaves. The border is trimmed with twisted silver metal thread. The patch is glued around stiff brown cloth backing. The diagonal ends are cut to fit on a uniform collar point. The front is worn and lightly stained, the back is soiled.
biographical history: David C. Porter (1926-2010) was born in Abington, Pennsylvania. He was the second of seven children born to Mary C. and William J. Porter. His parents were both born in Pennsylvania, and married in 1921. William worked as an iron clerk, and Mary was a secretary at a construction company. Soon after the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States entered World War II. In spring 1944, David completed high school. On September 11, he enlisted in the US Army and was assigned to the 102nd Combat Infantry Division, nicknamed the Ozarks Division. He was deployed to Germany in February 1945 and advanced with his unit through central Europe to the Rhineland and then toward Berlin. David rose to the position of mortar crew chief for Company A, 26th Infantry Regiment. On April 15, the Division was placed on patrol along the Elbe River. On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered. The 102nd was placed on occupational duty in Gotha, Germany. In August 1945, the United Nations War Crimes Commission authorized a military tribunal to be convened by eighteen Allied Nations, and conducted by the four major powers, the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union in Nuremberg, Germany. The purpose of the International Military Tribunal was to seek justice for crimes against humanity, evidenced by the Holocaust, perpetrated by Nazi Germany. Twenty-four defendants were indicted in October 1945 for the first trial, the Major German War Criminals trial. There were four counts: crimes against peace, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and conspiracy to commit these crimes. The trial began on November 20, 1945. The verdicts were delivered on October 1, 1946: twelve defendants were sentenced to death; three to life imprisonment; four to prison terms ranging from 10-20 years; three were acquitted. The 1st Infantry was assigned the task of guarding the defendants. There were three types of guards: Special, Regular and Prison. Initially, David was responsible for guarding…
conditions of use: No restrictions on use
identifier: irn43398
conditions of access: No restrictions on access
has record set type: Item
archival history: The collar tabs were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2011 by Ethel P. Kemmerer, the sister of David C. Porter and executor of his Estate.
results or resulted from: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/units/us-005578-irn42331-irn43398/acquisitions/1
is or was included in: us-005578-irn42331
has or had holder: us-005578
scope and content: Two collar badges with birds and oak leaves from a Luftwaffe Hauptmann's uniform acquired by 19 year old David C. Porter during his service as a soldier in the US Army in Germany from February 1945 to July 1946. The tabs would have been worn in pairs on the collar points of a uniform shirt or jacket to distinguish military branch and rank. David deployed in February 1945 to join the 102nd Infantry Division in combat in Germany. By the end of the war in May, he was a mortar crew chief for Company A, 26th Infantry Regiment. David and others of the 102nd were selected to serve as guards for the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg. David was assigned to guard prisoners during the Trial of Major German War Criminals. He guarded defendants in their cells and then was assigned to stand guard in the courtroom during the proceedings. David returned to the US and was honorably discharged in July 1946. The trial lasted from November 1945 to August 1946. Verdicts were delivered on October 1, 1946: twelve defendants were sentenced to death; three to life imprisonment; four to prison terms ranging from 10-20 years; three were acquitted.
has beginning date: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/dates/1945-01-01
has end date: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/dates/1946-12-31
record resource extent: a: Height: 2.625 inches (6.668 cm) | Width: 1.625 inches (4.128 cm) b: Height: 2.625 inches (6.668 cm) | Width: 1.625 inches (4.128 cm)
has or had identifier: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/units/us-005578-irn42331-irn43398/alternateIDs/1
title: Pair of blue and silver collar tabs for a Luftwaffe Hauptmann [Captain] acquired by a US soldier