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IDENTIFIED WWI VETERAN GROUP – WILLIAM J. BUERGER – 30TH INFANTRY, 3RD DIVISION, AEF – SEVERELY WOUNDED
Offered here is a remarkable identified World War I veteran grouping associated with William J. Buerger, U.S. Army veteran of Company F, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Division, American Expeditionary Forces.
The centerpiece is Buerger’s pair of WWI-era aluminum identification tags, stamped:
WILLIAM J. BUERGER
1340697
US
The tags remain together on an old cloth/twill-type neck cord and show honest age and wear.
WILLIAM J. BUERGER
Research associated with this grouping identifies him as:
Born: October 16, 1891
U.S. Army service: 1917–1919
Unit: Company F, 30th Infantry Regiment
Division: 3rd Division
Service: American Expeditionary Forces, WWI
Severely wounded in action
Died: February 25, 1977
Buried: St. Mary Cemetery, St. Bernard, Ohio
Section 11, Lot 144, Grave 7
The 30th Infantry served with the famous 3rd Division in France, participating in major combat operations during World War I. Buerger survived the war but was documented as severely wounded, making the Disabled American Veterans material in this collection especially relevant.
1922 ULYSSES S. GRANT CENTENARY
One of the most interesting pieces is an original Grant Centenary Memorial guest ticket dated:
Point Pleasant, Ohio – April 27, 1922
The ticket is numbered 579 and handwritten to William Buerger.
It was issued for the Steamer “Morning Star,” Foot of Broadway, 10:30 A.M.
The reverse states that the ticket was issued to the guest named on the face and was not transferable.
Included with it is the original patriotic ribbon and Ulysses S. Grant Centenary medal, commemorating Grant’s birth, 1822–1922.
The medal is maker-marked:
THE WHITEHEAD & HOAG CO.
NEWARK, N.J.
The named ticket provides an excellent connection between the Grant material and William Buerger.
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS MATERIAL
The group contains multiple early pieces from the Disabled American Veterans of the World War, now known as DAV.
Included are two large early DAV medals with five-point star and wreath designs and blue enamel centers reading:
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS – WORLD WAR
Both retain original period ribbons.
Also included is an impressive convention badge reading:
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS
WORLD WAR
8th NAT’L CONVENTION
MINNEAPOLIS
JUNE 25–29, 1928
It retains its red-white-blue convention ribbon and upper name holder.
An additional early DAV screw-back lapel pin is also included.
AMERICAN LEGION MATERIAL
Included is a large vintage American Legion convention badge from the:
22nd National />
It retains its striped ribbon, upper identification holder and large lower pendant with American Legion emblem and Boston imagery.
Also included is an early Ohio/Cincinnati American Legion-related commemorative medal honoring a past national commander.
OTHER ITEMS INCLUDED
Also included in the grouping are:
• Early Fraternal Order of Eagles F.O.E. enamel screw-back pin reading “HAVE DONE MY BIT”
• Additional veterans/fraternal screw-back pins
• Vintage IKE campaign button
• 1939–1940 New York World’s Fair souvenir pocket knife
• Vintage Washington, D.C. Capitol souvenir bracelet
• Hobart’s Aspirin Tablets tin
• People’s Savings Association ephemera
• Additional period pins, badges and small memorabilia shown in the photographs
• Modern informational display card summarizing Buerger’s military history
The modern display card is included for presentation only and is not an original period document.
CONDITION
Everything is being sold as found.
These items show normal age, wear, patina, tarnish, oxidation, ribbon fading, discoloration, staining and areas of verdigris. Paper items show age toning, creases and handling wear.
Nothing has been aggressively cleaned or polished.
Please examine all photographs carefully as they are an important part of the description.
PROVENANCE
The WWI identification tags are directly named to William J. Buerger, service number 1340697.
The 1922 Grant Centenary ticket is handwritten to William Buerger.
Research identifies Buerger as a Company F, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Division AEF veteran who was severely wounded in action during WWI.
Because not every individual object is engraved with his name, the remaining pieces are being offered as part of the grouping in which they were found rather than with an absolute claim that every item can independently be proven to have been personally worn by him.
Taken together, however, the DAV, American Legion and veteran-related material is historically consistent with the life of a wounded WWI veteran.
This is a compelling named WWI veteran grouping spanning Buerger’s military service and decades of postwar veterans’ organizations, conventions and commemorative events.
Sold as one complete group.
