I like how impressive this young man looks in his cap and overcoat, shined shoes under it all, gloves on his hands and scarf tucked inside his coat. I also like how the shadows fall across the field from left to right yet leave his face in sunlight. I hope his service was touched with sunlight and he returned home safely to those who loved him.
This little snapshot shows an Army man and a woman. The hairstyle on the woman looks more motherly than wife-like, but since there was no information on the photo I can’t say for sure how these two are related. The back of the photo was stamped “Cunningham Studio, Gainsville, TX, February 24, 1946.”
I don’t know much about the vintage of this photo. Someone in the front of the boat took a snapshot of the liberty party and sent it off to someone else, with the inscription “just the liberty party Chifoo China see all the old timers in the boat with all the stripes on there [sic] sleeves each one means 4 years”
Maybe site readers Iggy or Ed will have some insight?
There are very insightful updates in the comments, be sure to click over!
On Memorial Day – a day that began as a voluntary Decoration Day in 1868 – we honor our military living and dead who have sacrificed their lives for our continued freedom. The decoration of graves and the marching in parades is one way civilians can show their support and appreciation. Another is through the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) donation program. The VFW was established in 1922 as a completely volunteer program of military personnel either discharged from duty through normal courses or through disability. They work to raise money to support veterans who need assistance, both financial and otherwise. The poppies they distribute are made by disabled veterans at Veterans Administration hospitals throughout the US and are an expression of thanks to the many people who make a donation to their cause. You might find a man in a brown, red or blue cap sitting outside your local grocery store on Memorial Day weekend or Veterans Day weekend with a handful of these poppies. I encourage you to make a donation, no matter how small, and thank that man for what he did to keep you safe and free. Your donation will go to support orphans of veterans, the VFW Rehabilitation Service, scholarships, and more in your own community.
This is a snapshot of VFW members marching in a parade, displaying the American flag. Thank you, gentlemen.
We can date this photo after 1947 because of the acronym USAF. The United States Air Force was formed in 1947 and previously had been called the US Army Air Corps or the US Army Air Services. Prior to the Air Force being established as an independent branch of the US military, air operations were jointly handled by the Army for land based operations and the Navy or Marine Corps for sea based operations. My uncle and my father in law were in the Air Force, although they never knew each other. This photo shows two men at the doors of what is obviously a flight school.
Who Were They? 