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George S. Patton Typed Letters Signed with KIA Archive

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:25,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
George S. Patton Typed Letters Signed with KIA Archive

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Auction Date:2020 Dec 09 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:15th Floor WeWork, Boston, Massachusetts, 02108, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Historic archive of materials from the family of Pvt. Sam Reichstein, who was killed in action during World War, highlighted by two TLSs by Lt. Gen. George S. Patton. Includes:

TLS signed "G. S. Patton, Jr.," one page, 8 x 10.5, December 5, 1943, to Viola Reichstein, in part: "At the present time, the 180th Infantry is not under my command, but I am inclosing a copy of a letter which I have written and to which you will unquestionably receive an answer. However, to reassure you, I will state that the War Department is very quick and accurate in giving notice of fatal wounds; therefore, since you have not heard anything for three weeks I am sure that it is a good sign and that your son is probably well on the road to recovery."

TLS signed "G. S. Patton, Jr.," one page, 8 x 10.5, January 12, 1944, to Viola Reichstein, in part: "It is perfectly futile to try to comfort anyone for the loss of a son, but I do think that you should be proud to be the mother of one of our heroes who gave his life in the defense of his country. I can never look on one of our wounded soldiers or on the corpses of one of our men without my eyes filling with tears and my throat choking up, but we should not, as I often say, regret that such men have died, rather we should thank God that men like that have lived." Includes the original mailing envelope, signed in the lower left corner, "Censored, G. S. Patton, Jr., Lt. Gen."

Among Reichstein's personal property included is his named Purple Heart with case (case broken at hinge and heavily worn), and his cased WWII Victory and Defense Medals; his dog tag with lead seal attaching it to the aluminum tag that accompanied his body when shipped home to Philadelphia; two garrison caps; two small photographs; five war-dated letters to his sister; and the personal address book which accompanied his personal effects.

Additional letters, documents, and telegrams include: Reichstein's March 14, 1941 draft notice; a letter to Viola from a general on White House letterhead advising that the War Department had been notified to act on her request; a November 26, 1943 letter from Adjutant and Maj. Gen. James Alexander Ulio advising of Sam's death and apologizing for the delay in the notification; a carbon copy of a letter December 5, 1943 letter sent via Gen. Mark Clark (no doubt instigated by Patton) seeking information on Reichstein; a December 14, 1943, letter from his first sergeant ("Sam was wounded in action and sent to a hospital. I haven't heard from him since"); a November 7, 1944 letter from his staff sergeant ("I am writing you this letter…because of a promise I made your son Slim, I was his platoon Sgt, and was with him in the end…So I am keeping my promise by writing you…he was the only man that followed me in taking a hill"); plus dozens of letters, documents and telegrams concerning locating the private, support by Jewish and other support groups, his insurance policies, his resting place in Italy, repatriation of his body, pensions, and the final insult—a letter of apology for the man's exclusion from the 180th Infantry 1945 year book. Remarkable, tragic content from one of America's unknown World War II heroes.

In overall fine condition. Accompanied by full letters of authenticity from Beckett Authentication Services for all three Patton autographs.