Miscellaneous Items
Found on the Internet

This is a very rare original photograph of the officers of the 366th Infantry Regiment taken at Fort Devens, Massachusetts on May 16th 1941. The 366th was the first all African-American fighting unit with all black officers, and unprecedented event in the history of the United States. Prior to the 366th, all of the Negro army units had been commanded by white officers. The 366th Infantry Regiment was activated a year prior to the outbreak of World War II at Fort Devens and subsequently fought in North Africa and Italy. This is an orignal large panoramic photograph (26.5 inches long and 10.25 inches high), purchased directly from the estate of one of the officers. It is framed under glass and is ready for display. Also included is the hat of one of the officers with the 366th uniform insignia pin. Photographs and artifacts relating to the 366th Infantry are very rare, and do not often come up for sale! An important piece of military and African-American history. Authenticity guaranteed. 

Lieutenant John R. Fox, one of the members of the 366th who was killed during the war went on to receive both The Distinguished Service Cross, and the nation's highest military award: the Medal of Honor. 

On May, 15, 1982, after almost 38 years, the nation’s second highest medal for valor in combat, The Distinguished Service Cross, was presented to Mrs. Arlene Fox in honor of her late husband, First Lieutenant John R. Fox, who was killed in action during World War II. Lt. Fox, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio and a graduate of Wilberforce University, was a forward observer with the 366th Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division. On 13 January 1997, Lt. John R. Fox was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, fifty years after his sacrifice. His story follows: 

Shortly after midnight on December 26, 1944, Lt. Fox with ample time to withdraw prior to a German attack maintained his position on the second floor of a house directing defensive artillery fire until only a handful of defenders remained. As a large number of Germans closed in, Fox called artillery fire close to his position, and after continuing the attack and surrounding the house, Fox “called for fire directly on the house.” The artillery unit questioned Fox as to whether the mission was safe to fire and he replied, “Fire it! There’s more of them than there are of us.” 

When American troops retook the position, the bodies of Fox and others in his unit were found. The Army credited his actions with killing at least 100 Germans and delaying the attack until forces could be organized for the attack. 

The award was presented at Fort Devens, Massachusetts by Major General James F, Hamlet, who also served in the 92nd during World War II. The citation presented to Mrs. Fox read as follows: “Lieutenant Fox’s gallant and courageous actions, at the supreme sacrifice of his own life, greatly assisted in delaying the enemy advance until other infantry and artillery could reorganize to repel the attack.” 

“His extraordinarily valorous actions were in keeping with the most cherished tradition of military service and reflect the utmost credit on him, his unit, and the U. S. Army.” 

All lots are sold without reserve and with very low starting bids in the spirit of a true auction. The value of these items are many times the starting bid, but I leave it to the eBay bidders to decide the final price!

Original WW2 Army 366th Infantry Regiment (Colored) blue piped OD overseas cap with wartime pin-back unit crest. The 366th Infantry Regiment was activated in 1941 at Fort Devens, MA and assigned to the Eastern Defense Command in 1942; 1943 attached to the 1st Service Command and to XIII Corps; 1944 overseas to North Africa and attached to the 15th Air Force for airfield security duties from Sardinia to the Adriatic coast; late 1944 assigned to Fifth Army attached to the 92nd Infantry Division; 1945 disbanded and personnel transferred to the 224th and 226th Engineer General Service Regiments. Campaigns include Rome-Arno and North Apennines.

photograph depicting men from the 92nd Infantry Division engaged in a bitter firefight with German defenders near Lucca, Italy on September 7, 1944.

Here is a WWII 1944 Christmas card From Parnelle Parson, from Parkersburg, West Virginia while he was in Italy, serving with the 92nd Infantry Division.

 An Original & Authentic 7 x 9 Inch World War II WWII Period Original Signal Corps Captioned World Wide Press November 28, 1944 Dated News Photograph.

 This is a great shot of a platoon of the all-Negro 92nd Infantry Division (Colored) "Buffalo Soldiers" standing in line, waiting for a chance at a shower between battles.  Note the "gunslinger" holster rig on the man at the center, and the Buffalo patch evident on several sleeves.

An Original & Authentic 7 x 9 Inch World War II WWII Period Original Signal Corps Captioned Press Association September 12, 1944 Dated News Photograph.

This is a great shot of a light weapons platoon of the all-Negro 92nd Infantry Division (Colored) "Buffalo Soldiers" with their Browning M1919 machine gun and 81mm mortar rounds, getting ready for action on the way to Pisa, Italy.

Barrage of Lucca, Italy by the 92nd Division

photograph of a group of Italian Partisans fighting side-by-side with the American GI's of the 92nd Infantry Division. These two Italians had joined up with A Company, 365th Infantry Regiment where the Americans put them on anti-sniper duty. During an attack in the Serchio Valley at Monte Della Tessa, the men had their hands full trying to pin down or kill numerous German snipers and stragglers who ended up behind the company's front lines. They are seen here staling a German sniper and waiting for him to pop his head back up over the side of his foxhole. The photo was taken on January 10, 1945.