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GEN EICHELBERGER SIGNED WWII LETTER & 8TH ARMY PATCH
On 31 July 1945, Lt. Gen. Robert L. Eichelberger sent Master Joseph Sergi of East Cambridge, MA, a US EIGHTH ARMY SHOULDER PATCH, and signed a typed letter to him with letterhead of 8th Army Headquarter, Office of the Commanding General.
This letter (8 x 10.5”) with the original patch preserved, is written as follows:
Headquarters Eighth Army United States Army
Office of the Commanding General
APO 343 San Francisco
IN THE PHILIPPINES 31 July 1945
Master Joseph Sergi, 474 Cambridge Street, East Cambridge 41, Mass.
Dear Joseph:
Here is the shoulder patch you requested in your V-mail letter of July 8. The other day I received a request for one of the patches from a boy who is sewing them on a blanket for his bed. I would say that your idea of sewing them on your jacket compares very favorably with his project.
With all best wishes,
Sincerely,
R L Eichelberger (signed)
Lieutenant General, USA
Guess Joseph never sewed the patch on his jacket as it is attached to the top of this letter with a small period staple. There are small, discolored bits of period plastic tape on the letter paper behind this staple and on the four corners of the letter (where it was probably originally pasted into a scrapbook or album—see scan). Lightly creased. Lightly toned. Otherwise the letter is in quite good condition on sturdy paper of good rag content.
Included is the original envelope (4 x 9”) addressed to Sergi from Eichelberger’s 8th Army Headquaters, which is ALSO SIGNED BY R. L. EICHELBERGER, Lieut. Gen. USA in the lower left corner as “General Officer’s Mail” so as to be “free franked.” Marked “Free” in upper right corner, with a passed by Army censor stamp also in the upper right corner. Dated (mailed) on 1 August. Envelope is opened and a bit ragged along the top edge (see scan), but otherwise good condition.
Quite an interesting grouping—two nice Wartime Eichelberger signatures tied to an 8th Army patch with great provenance sent to a young collector in Massachusetts. JUST FIVE DAYS AFTER THIS LETTER WAS MAILED, A B-29 DROPPED THE FIRST ATOMIC BOMB OVER JAPAN.
“Robert Lawrence Eichelberger (1886 – 1961), “MacArthur’s Patton,” was a general in the United States Army, who commanded the US Eighth Army in the South West Pacific Area during World War II. His Army was among the very first to engage the Japanese in the Pacific Theater of Operations.”
“Eichelberger graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1909, and saw service in Panama and the U.S.-Mexico border before joining the American Expeditionary Force Siberia. After further overseas duty in the Philippines and China, Eichelberger returned to the U.S. attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth and the Army War College, progressing through promotions to Brigadier General in October 1940. He became Superintendent of the Military Academy in 1940 but left West Point for active duty in 1942.”
“In October 1942 Eichelberger was promoted to Lieutenant General. General Douglas MacArthur told Eichelberger to assume direct control of the 32nd U.S. Infantry Division in the Allied offensive against Buna the major Japanese beachhead in New Guinea, famously stating: “I want you to take Buna, or not come back alive.”
“Soon, some of the 32nd Division's officers privately denounced Eichelberger as ruthless, Prussian. The men of the 32nd called their division cemetery “Eichelberger Square.” Eichelberger concentrated decisive power, set an example by moving among the troops on the front lines, sharing their hardships and danger. Despite the risk, he purposefully wore his three silver stars while at the front, even though he knew enemy snipers targeted officers. He rewarded effective officers with increased command responsibilities and removed ineffective commanders.”
“Eichelberger led the Australian-US Advanced New Guinea Force to victory over the Japanese at Buna, in early 1943. In 1944, Eichelberger also had notable victories at Hollandia and Biak, in Dutch New Guinea.”
“As Commanding General of the newly formed Eighth Army, he led the invasion of the Philippines clearing the islands of Mindoro, Marinduque, Panay, Negros, Cebu and Bohol. By July 1945, Eichelberger's forces had defeated the Japanese on Mindanao. He was slated to lead the 8th Army in the assault on the main Japanese island of Honshu scheduled for March 1946, but was instead aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Harbor and attended the Japanese surrender there.”
“In August 1945, Eichelberger's Eighth Army began a three-year stint as part of the Occupation of Japan, where he was also responsible for the review of sentences passed to Class B or C war criminals at Yokohama. After nearly 40 years service, he retired in September 1948. He wrote Our Jungle Road to Tokyo, the story of the army's ground war in the Pacific. Congress, in recognition of his service, promoted Eichelberger to full General in 1954. Eichelberger died in 1961, and was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery.”
Price= $295.00
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