Signed Pre WW1 1914 Photo USMC Marine Hero Belleau Wood Blanc Mont Capt Hamilton for Sale

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Signed Pre WW1 1914 Photo USMC Marine Hero Belleau Wood Blanc Mont Capt Hamilton For Sale

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Signed Pre WW1 1914 Photo USMC Marine Hero Belleau Wood Blanc Mont Capt Hamilton:
$449.99

A great opportunity for the ultimate Belleau Wood or USMC collector. A significant unpublished historical Marine Corps photo.

This is a signed original photo of a famous Marine officer in his dress blues that has been subject of multiple books including a full biography entitled \"George W. Hamilton, USMC America\'s Greatest World War I Hero\". Hamilton was one of the first Marines in France, served in every campaign and is most famous for his leadership on 6 June 1918 at the Battle of Belleau Wood where he led the attack and capture of Hill 142 overlooking Belleau Wood by the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, the charge across the wheatfield into Belleau Wood and later in the war, is credited for single handedly saved the entire 5th Regiment from being annihilated at Blanc Mont Ridge on 4 Oct 1918.

Leatherneck Magazine included Hamilton as one of its \"Top 10 Badass Marines\" of all time. He earned the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Croix de Guerre, the Silver Star citation and was subject of two Medal of Honor recommendations (Belleau Wood and Blanc Mont). No Marine officer received a Medal of Honor in WW1, which was purposefully done by General Pershing, who never wanted Marines to fight in France. Before a review of his actions could be accomplished, Hamilton\'s service came to a tragic end when, after leaving the service, he returned to the Marine Corps as a pilot and died in a crash at Gettysburg in 1922 during one of the Marine Corps reenactments. Had he lived his actions would have most certainly been reviewed and given greater credit. Here is a link to an article on him photo appears to have come from his personnel folder, was signed and submitted, as required, for promotion to the next rank. I bought a stack of a couple hundred photos of Marine officers that somehow made their way out of their files. Many of these have been used for reference works and books on Marine history, uniforms and equippage.

The photo is silver gelatin has two holes to the top that do not affect the main image, a crease across the top and is signed and dated in Hamilton\'s hand to the rear \"George W. Hamilton, 2nd Lieut, U.S.M.C. March 25th 1914\". It has HQMC acceptance stamp to the lower rear.

There are no color lines on the photo, this is done to prevent jpeg thieves from stealing the image. The other photos shown are for historical reference.

Measures 3-5/8” x 5-3/8”.