A First War American Purple Heart Group to the 28th "Keystone" Division AEF

Purple Heart (bronze gilt and enamels, numbered "26474" on the edge, engraved "SAUL MELTZER" on the reverse, 34.5 mm x 43 mm, bronze gilt oak leaf cluster clasp on the ribbon); WWI Victory Medal, 4 Clasps - DEFENSIVE SECTOR, MEUSE-ARGONNE, YPRES-LYS, OISE-AISNE (bronze gilt, engraved "SAUL MELTZER" and "28th DIV. 1917-19" on the edge, 36 mm); and State of Pennsylvania National Guard 28th Division World War Service Medal (bronze, 35.3 mm). Un-mounted, original ribbons, scattered gilt wear, light contact, near extremely fine. Accompanied by an "E" Battery Artillery Collar Disk (blackened bronze, 25.7 mm, screwback); a 28th Division AEF Pin (bronze with red enamels, 13.7 mm x 17.5 mm, vertical pinback); and a 107th Field Artillery 28th Division Veterans Association Commemorative Medal (bronze, maker marked "HEEREN BROS. & CO PGH, PA" on the reverse, 29 mm x 30.5 mm). Footnote: Saul Meltzer was born in Cleveland, Ohio and had a brother, Paul Meltzer. He was a resident of 1415 Homewood Avenue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he enlisted with the 28th Division on March 1, 1918 in Pittsburgh. The Pennsylvania National Guard units were called into Federal Service on July 15, 1917. They were re-designated collectively as the 28th Division, nicknamed the "Keystone" Division, on July 18th, formed and trained at Camp Hancock, Georgia between August 19, 1917 and April 20, 1918. 1251044 Private First Class Meltzer went overseas on May 18, 1918, with the movement of the Division overseas completed by June 1, 1918. The Division was composed of the 55th Infantry Brigade (109th Infantry Regiment, 110th Infantry Regiment, 108th Machine Gun Battalion), the 56th Infantry Brigade (111th Infantry Regiment, 112th Infantry Regiment ,109th Machine Gun Battalion), the 53rd Field Artillery Brigade (107th Field Artillery Regiment (75 mm), 108th Field Artillery Regiment (155 mm), 109th Field Artillery Regiment (75 mm), 103rd Trench Mortar Battery) and Divisional Troops (107th Machine Gun Battalion, 103rd Engineer Regiment, 103rd Field Signal Battalion, 103rd Train Headquarters and Military Police, 103rd Ammunition Train, 103rd Supply Train, 103rd Engineer Train, 103rd Sanitary Train (Ambulance Companies & Field Hospitals 109, 110, 111, 112)). Private First Class Meltzer was wounded twice: on August 17, 1918 and on September 20, 1918 ans was awarded the Purple Heart. His brother, Paul Meltzer (1250996) was also wounded while in combat, on September 10, 1918. Private First Class Meltzer returned from overseas on May 9, 1919 and was honourably discharged on May 21st. The 107th, 108th and 109th Field Artillery Regiments, 28th "Keystone" Division, qualified for four of the five clasps to the Victory Medal available to the Division: Defensive Sector, Meuse-Argonne Ypres-Lys and Oise-Aisne. Other Regiments in the Division qualified for the same four clasps, in addition to the Champagne-Marne clasp. The State of Pennsylvania National Guard 28th Division World War Service Medal was awarded to officers and enlisted men that were commissioned or enrolled in the Pennsylvania National Guard, on active service prior to August 5, 1917. On July 14-15, 1917, the 28th Division was mobilized with 26,000 men or about ninety-five percent of its authorized strength. The Division, except for later replacements, was almost entirely comprised of Pennsylvania National Guard troops and saw considerable action during the war. The medal was manufactured by Joseph K. Davison and Sons Inc. of Philadelphia.