307th Medical co. 82nd Airborne Grouping

[BOB COLEMAN]

At this year's SOS, I was fortunate to pick-up a wonderful airborne medic's grouping. The grouping belonged to Corporal Dale E. Gillespie, 307th Medical Company, 82nd Airborne Division. Corporal Gillespie enlisted on 26 March, 1942, eleven days after his 18th birthday. Before being shipped to North Africa, Corporal Gillespie was trained on gliders. He received jump training in North Africa, being certified on 24 June, 1943. Corporal Gillespie jumped on all four jumps with the 82nd-Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Normandy, and Holland. He received six battle stars and one arrowhead for Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Normandy, Rhineland, Central Europe and The Ardennes. Corporal Gillespie was also awarded the Bronze Star.
The grouping is large and I will post it over a period of a few days. It includes his Ike jacket and trousers. The jacket displays his jump wings with four battle stars, his combat medic's badge and ribbons for The Bronze Star, National Defense, European Campaign Good Conduct & the WW2 Victory Medal. It includes the jump jacket he wore on all four jumps, jump trousers worn on D-Day and Market Garden, an overseas cap, his medic's armband, his M-43 field jacket worn at the Ardennes and Central Europe, a dress shirt, a field shirt, the jjump boots he wore on all four jumps, a like new pair of jump boots for dress, his jump knife, a M-1 carbine bayonet, photographs and copies of his personal military record documents.

[Chuck Locke]

Nice grouping Bob. It's always nice to know there is still some good stuff out there. Chuck

[BOB COLEMAN]

Several images of Corporal Gillespie. The first image is a studio portrait taken in Palermo, August, 1943. The second shot was taken later in 1943 in Southern Italy. The quality of this picture is poor so I apologise for it. The final studio portrait was taken in England, less than a month before Corporal Gillespie jumped in to Normandy at the age of 20.

[militarynut]

hi bob
wow a dynimite 82nd airborne grouping god bless might i say that most of the 82nd jumped in north normandie and holland am i correct i met a great old 82nd trooper last year and he told me how he landed in north normandie and then holland his landing was right in the middle of a lake he said boy was i mad he then said he had wet feet ever since and by the way hes still mad as he was telling me the story great talking to the greater generation not many of them left god bless all of them thanks for showing us such a historic grouping best andy militarynut

[BOB COLEMAN]

Gillespie's M-42 jump jacket worn on all four jumps. The collar is worn through and patched with medical tape.

[BOB COLEMAN]

M-42 jump pants worn on d-day and operation market garden. The pants still retain large blood stains. A somber reminder of Corporal Gillespie's job.

[BOB COLEMAN]

The resoled jump boots worn in the field by Corporal Gillespie from North Africa until VE Day

[BOB COLEMAN]

The M-43 jacket worn by Corporal Gillespie in the Ardennes and in to the final campaign in Central Europe. As with his jump jacket, the collar shows heavy wear, most likely from his helmet.

[BOB COLEMAN]

Although Gillespie never landed in a glider, he received and complete glider certification training in July of 1944.

[Chuck Locke]

Damn Bob, what a great grouping!!! Chuck

[stonemint]

Wow--I totally missed this (have to get out of the headgear forums more often). A set that speaks volumes with regard to not only our country's history, but that of world history. If only those "fetid woolens" could talk...:thumbup1:

[patrick1974]

A truly amazing grouping Bob with so much history and those guys were responsable for liberating my country.:thumbup1::thumbup1:

[Marcus Hatton]

Hi Bob,

That's a great group, mate!!! As a former army medic myself I really can appreciate this mans exploits, and at that I can but only imagine.

However, I noticed on the Bronze Star ribbon - in the central vertical blue strip - a hole! I wonder could this have been for the V device perhaps once upon a time?

I know they're only pennies to purchase, but I have a period example spare and if indeed he did earn that distinction and you require the device you can gladly have mine for this medic of past.

Kr

Marcus

[Will]

A great grouping, Bob.

But on the Ike jacket the positions of the Combat Medic Badge and the jump wings should, technically speaking, be reversed.

The Medic's badge was an award, just like the Combat Infantry badge, and was to be worn above the ribbons. The jump wing was a qualification badge, and was to be worn below the ribbons.

[BOB COLEMAN]

A great grouping, Bob.

But on the Ike jacket the positions of the Combat Medic Badge and the jump wings should, technically speaking, be reversed.

The Medic's badge was an award, just like the Combat Infantry badge, and was to be worn above the ribbons. The jump wing was a qualification badge, and was to be worn below the ribbons.

Will-
You are correct. I am going to be talking with Mr. Gillespie in a couple of days. I will ask him if this is how he wore the badges on the jacket.

[FG42]

A fantastic grouping! Thanks for posting it.
FG42