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GENERAL (GENE) GRAZZINI : ARCHIVE LOT OF DOCUMENTS, DIARY, EPHEMERA AND ARTIFACTS RELATIVE TO SERVICE IN WWII AND POST WAR OCCUPIED JAPAN INCLUDING ADS BY PRESIDENT HARRY TRUMAN

8 x 5 Inches. Super archive lot of WWII ephemera and documents including soldier's diary and memorabilia from 1935 to 1955. Serving in IE SHIMA JAPAN and includes a signed document letter From Harry Truman. The group comes directly from the Brookfield, Illinois estate of General Gene Grazzini born 1919. He served in the Armed Forces 1944 - 1946. (Due to the extensive contents we inventory the group as items 1 thru 8. Item 1 - Folder and mailing envelope (as found) containing all the memorabilia included in this auction. The detailed map on the cover was hand drawn by Gene. Map is titled "51 Days Aboard The U.S.A. T. Aconcagua - Seattle to Ie Shima. Map depicts a U.S. soldier surrounded by battle ships, bombers, aiming fire at Japan. Gene appears to have been somewhat of an amateur artist specializing in "line ink" drawings. Map is intricately detailed, very good condition, measures 8.5 x 11". Item 2- Pencil and ink drawings done by Gene during his high school years, signed and dated by Gene 1935/36. The four ink drawings are titled and identified by authors: Christmas Eve by Christopher Morley, The World Is Full of Roads by Lucy Spraque Mitchell, Woodland Whispers by Clinton Scollard, The Fishermen by John Greenleaf Whittier. Also included is a pencil drawing of Geoffrey Chaucer who wrote The Canterbury Tales. Item 3 - 4 Documents: 1) 9 page, manually typed day by day personal diary (written by Gene) of Gene's departure from Washington to Japan. Excerpt from first page: Then came the great day May 30, 1945, Memorial Day. We piled all our stuff in duffel bags and full-field packs and lined them up in platoon formation in the usual falling-out area. Around 1000 hrs. we picked up our packs, rifles, steel helmets and took off for the train. An unforgettable sight during that long march was the long train of cars carrying the wives of some of the men. They edged along with the men and the tears flowed as they got that one last look at their soldier-husbands. They waved and threw kisses until we finally started moving to the tune of "Don't Fence Me In" played by the Fort Lewis military band. We completed the 50 mile trip to Fort Lawton, Washington, our Port of Embarkation. This was IT. Remaining 8 pages speak of his time aboard ship, Seattle to Honolulu. 2) Gene's Personal IE SHIMA DIARY - Manually typed 27 pages ( each page is typed front and back). Beginning January 24th ending Sept. 2. This diary is rich in very detailed historical encounters with the enemy! Excerpts: April 4 - Sixth Marine Division moves onto Motobu peninsula, 4000 yards off Ie Shima, thereby denying the peninsula as a support position for Ie Shima resistance. April 16 - Terrific aerial and navel bombardment was laid on Ie Shima from 0730 to 0800. At 0801 the 305th and 306th U.S. Infantry Regiments landed on Green and on Red One and Two beaches. The Japs opened fire with rifles and machine-gun's....................3) The Battle of Okinawa dated Feb. 12, 1946 written by Sgt. H. Goodhew. OPERATION ICEBERG - 5 page (manually typed, front and back of each page) documentation by a Sgt. including hand drawn map & documentation of bombardments by day, Japs final retreat. 4) FINAL SOUVENIR EDITION NEWSLETTER by USS Adm. Rodman, Monday May 13th, 1946, 25th Day Out. Back side of newsletter shows a map titled "Cruise of the U.S.S. Admiral Hugh Rodman - Trip Mileage: Okinawa to Hawaii 4104, Hawaii to Balboa 4483, Balboa to Colon 48, Colon to New York 1974. Front of newsletter sends Good Luck and thank you to the soldiers. Photo 4 - Seven of Gene's personnel documents from the Armed Forces: 1.Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, Brigadier General U.S. - Congratulatory Letter upon completion of military mission. 2.Application For Servicemen's Readjustment Allowance 3/4.Gene's Honorable Discharge Certificate/Documentation (Negatives of originals). 5. Commendation Certificate Oct. 18, 1945, for especially meritorious and outstanding service with Army Garrison Force. 6/7. Selective Service System 1946 Welcome Home Veteran letter & insurance coverage. Item 5 - Signed, authentic letter addressed to Gene from the White House, signed by Harry Truman. Excerpt: "To you who answered the call of your country and served in its Armed Forces to bring about the total defeat of the enemy, I extend the heartfelt thanks of a grateful Nation. Certificate is in excellent condition. Items 6 & 7 - Hand drawn artwork by Gene: includes his own Christmas card templates "Holiday Greetings From Ie Shima", Merry Christmas & Happy New Year, Yuletide Greetings depicting a Hawaiian Island, Merry Christmas From Ie Shima 1945 with Gene's rendition of Donald Duck and Donald's nephew. Two sheets of military stationery "A World Apart, United In Heart, Seasons Greetings 1945/46. Item 8 - 1955 Gene's continued dedication to his country, 8 x 10" black and white photos of V.F.W. dedications/parades.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Very Good+

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