Exceptional grouping that belonged to Second Lieutenant Vaughn Earl Allen of the 757^th Tank Battalion.  He received a battlefield commission for leading a Sherman tank platoon in sustained combat in Italy and earned the Silver Star for destroying “three enemy tanks, two self-propelled guns, four anti-tank guns, fifteen trucks, and motor transports” during a two-day period in 1945.  Allen was also wounded in battle.

The grouping includes an excellent German P.35(p) Radom Pistol that Allen brought home as a war trophy, as well as his cased/boxed decorations and medals, original photograph of Allen receiving the Silver Star from Brigadier General Raymond E.S. Williamson commanding the 91^st Infantry Division, original award citations for his Silver Star and Purple Heart, two tank battalion patches, Allen’s type-written 14-page summary of his WWII experiences, and a research binder with information on Allen and the 757^th Tank Battalion.

The P.35(p) pistol, manufactured by the German occupied Fabryka Broni in Radom, Poland, was made in March 1942 (based on the serial number).  The gun, serial number “E9829,” has matching serial numbers and remains in excellent condition with 96 percent of the high polish blue remaining.  If the pistol did not have some minor holster wear on the right side of the slide, it would rate in mint condition.  The slide is marked “F. B. RADOM VIS Mod. 35. Pat. Nr. 15567” (manufacturer and model) and “P.35(p)” (German model designation meaning Pistol Model 1935 Poland).  The pistol also bears small German military eagle acceptance stamps “WaA77” and “623.”  The gun is fully functioning and the bore is excellent.

Allen etched his Social Security Number on the front strap of the pistol and the magazine.  Normally, this would be a detractor, but in this case, it is desired because the SSN establishes provenance to Allen.  The research binder includes documentation that this number is indeed Vaughn Earl Allen’s SSN.

Lieutenant Allen’s awards include:

1. Silver Star, ribbon bar, lapel pin, and extra ribbon swatch housed in the original leatherette covered “coffin” case.  The Silver Star is serial number “31703.”

2. Purple Heart, ribbon bar, lapel pin, and extra ribbon swatch housed in the original leatherette covered “coffin” case.

3. Good Conduct Medal, two ribbon bars, and extra ribbon swatch housed in the original cardboard box.  Allen served most of WWII as a noncommissioned officer, so he received this award prior to earning his officer’s commission.  The award box is dated 1945.

4. American Defense Medal, two ribbon bars, and lapel pin housed in the original cardboard box.  Allen qualified for this medal because he entered the US Army prior to Pearl Harbor.  The award box is dated 1945.

5. European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three campaign stars and two ribbon bars housed in the original cardboard box.

6. World War II Victory Medal and two ribbon bars housed in the original cardboard box.  The award box is dated 1946.

All of the awards and cases/boxes remain in excellent condition.  There is an extra ribbon bar in each medal box; these appear to be the ribbon bars that Allen wore on his uniform.

Inducted into the US Army on March 21, 1941, Vaugn Earl Allen was assigned to Company A, 757^th Tank Battalion.  After attending the Desert Training Center in 1942, the battalion departed for North Africa and landed in Casablanca on March 18, 1943.  After several months in Morocco and Algiers training with the French Expeditionary Corps, the battalion was transported to Naples in December 1943.  Once in Italy, the battalion transitioned from light M3 Stuart tanks to medium M4 Sherman tanks.  The battalion entered combat on May 12, 1944, and supported the French 2^nd Moroccan Infantry Division during the advance to Rome and the US 91^st Infantry Division during subsequent operations in Northern Italy.  Allen participated in the Rome-Arno, Northern Apennines, and Po Valley campaigns.  As a staff sergeant, he served as the acting commander of 3^rd Platoon following the injury of his lieutenant prior to the commencement of combat operations.

On October 1, 1944, Allen was wounded when a mine exploded on the right side of his tank and fragments entered his right arm below the elbow breaking a bone.  After spending three months in a Rome hospital and one week in Pisa for rehabilitation, Staff Sergeant Allen returned to acting command of 3^rd Platoon in January 1945.  In April, near Florence, he received a battlefield commission as a second lieutenant and earned formal appointment as the commander of 3^rd Platoon.  Second Lieutenant Allen was awarded the Silver Star on June 18, 1945; the citation reads in part: “For gallantry in action on 27 and 28 April 1945 from Legnano to Vicenza Italy.  Lieutenant Allen commanded the leading tank platoon of a Tank-Infantry task force that was assigned the mission of penetrating into the enemy lines and cutting a vital route of retreat open to enemy forces near Vicenza...His platoon was repeatedly taken under fire by enemy tanks and self-propelled guns, but by cool judgment and daring action Lieutenant Allen was able to lead and direct his platoon so as to destroy three enemy tanks, two self-propelled guns, four anti-tank guns, fifteen trucks, and motor transports.”

Such groupings of highly decorated and documented WWII combat veterans rarely come on the market.   Lieutenant Allen’s items will make a wonderful addition to any collection; they also preserve the legacy of a true American hero who lost comrades in battle and contributed significantly to the defeat of Hitler’s Germany. [SK] [ph:L]

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