United States. The Chinese Decoration & Uniforms of Captain Theodore H. Brittan, USN

World War II Victory Medal (in bronze, measuring 36.5 mm in diameter, original ribbon with brooch pinback); Army of Occupation Medal (in bronze, measuring 32 mm in diameter, original ribbon with brooch pinback, accompanied by its separate "EUROPE" clasp); Korean Service Medal (in bronze, measuring 31.7 mm in diameter, original ribbon with brooch pinback); National Defense Service Medal (in bronze, measuring 31.8 mm in diameter, original ribbon with brooch pinback); and Republic of China: Order of the Resplendent Banner (AKA Order of the Cloud and Banner), V Class Commander, V Grade (three-piece construction, in silver gilt with blue, white, red and yellow enamels, number impressed "1303" on the reverse, measuring 57 mm (w) x 59.5 mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring, chipping evident in the blue and yellow enamels on the centrepiece insignia, bronze gilt hanger affixed to its original full-length V Grade neck ribbon with snap closure); accompanied by its Miniature (three-piece construction, in silver gilt with blue, white, red and yellow enamels, measuring 16 mm (w) x 17.3 mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring, original ribbon suspended from a hanger with vertical pinback), along with its 35 mm (w) x 10.5 mm (h) ribbon bar with pinback and its 14 mm (w) x 4 mm (h) enameled ribbon bar with button hole attachment, in their wooden box of issue with engraved motifs on the exterior, the lid with a brass disk bearing the red and blue enameled Republic of China flag, the interior lined in maroon velvet, a brass plaque affixed to the inside lid via four pins, raised platform with four recessed beds for the order and its miniature, along with the two ribbon bars, with a protective flap hinged on the right side of the platform, the neck ribbon housed separately below the platform, with a clear plastic pouch with embossed floral design and housing a 46 mm (w) x 58 mm (h) cardboard shield printed in red, blue and black inks, named to "Capt. T.H. Brittan", along with a shortened neck ribbon and miniature ribbon). Near extremely fine. 

Accompanied by a Second World War Miniature Group of Five (Bronze Star with "V" Device (in bronze, measuring 18.8 mm (w) x 18 mm (h)); American Defense Service Medal with Bronze "A" Device (in bronze, measuring 19.2 mm in diameter); American Campaign Medal (in bronze, measuring 19.2 mm in diameter); European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (in bronze, measuring 19.2 mm in diameter); and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze stars (in bronze, measuring 19.2 mm in diameter); mounted to a suspension with dual push pins, original ribbons, in a cardboard presentation box, maker marked "FRANK THOMAS CO. / NORFOLK, VA." on the inside lid); his Four Level Ribbon Bar (First Row: Bronze Star with "V" Device, Army Commendation Medal, American Defense Service Medal with Bronze "A" Device; Second Row: American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze stars; Third Row: World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal; Fourth Row: Korean Service Medal with two bronze stars, United Nations Service Medal for Korea, Republic of Korea War Medal Commendation; cloth backer, measuring 105 mm (w) x 42 mm (h)); a Bronze Star Enameled Ribbon Bar (measuring 17 mm (w) x 5 mm (h), with button hole attachment); a Captain's Eagle Collar Insignia (in silvered metal, maker marked "N.S. MEYER INC. NEW YORK" with the company's insignia on the reverse, measuring 25 mm (w) x 11.7 mm (h), dual push pins); six Buttons (in bronze gilt, maker marked "WATERBURY BUTTON CO. CONN." on their reverse, two measuring 14.2 mm in diameter, two measuring 18 mm in diameter, two measuring 23 mm in diameter, all with intact loops); a Black Armband (in cotton, measuring 195 mm (w) x 70 mm (h)); a Cigarette Box (in silver, wooden-lined, engraved "CAPT. THEODORE H. BRITTAN, U.S.N. / FOR LOYAL SERVICE / LAKE COUNTY (ILL.) COUNCIL / NAVY LEAGUE / JUNE 1960" on the lid, measuring 160 mm (w) x 83 mm (h) x 40.5 mm (d) not including the feet); along with his Service Dress Blue Uniform: which includes two pieces: jacket and trousers. The jacket is fabricated from a fine-textured black wool blend on the exterior, with a double-breasted design incorporating six large bronze gilt buttons at the closure, each of them bearing the United States Navy eagle and anchor insignia, the front with three pockets, one on the left breast and two larger ones at the waist on either side, a Four Level Ribbon Bar sewn in place above the left breast pocket (First Row: Bronze Star with "V" Device; Second Row: American Defense Service Medal with Bronze "A" Device, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; Third Row: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze stars, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal; Fourth Row: National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with two bronze stars, United Nations Service Medal for Korea). Each of the cuffs with four rows of stripes in fine gold-colored bullion wire indicating the rank of Captain, the stripes surmounted by a star in silvered and gold-colored bullion wire, the inside lined in rayon, with a pocket in the right breast, a label inscribed "FRANK THOMAS CO. NORFOLK" sewn in place to the pocket, the jacket measuring 480 mm across the shoulders x 710 mm in length. The trousers are fabricated from a black wool blend, matching that used in the jacket, designed with a zipper fly and button closure, the front with large side-entry pockets on both sides, the seat with two pockets, the one on the left side with a button closure, all four pockets cotton-lined, the inside with six buttons sewn in place to the rayon waistband, two on either side at the front and two at the rear, the trousers measuring 430 mm wide at the waist x 920 mm in length; and his Service Khaki Jacket in khaki cotton, with two straps sewn in place on both shoulders to house rank shoulder boards, the front with three large bronze gilt buttons at the closure and four pockets, one on each breast and two larger ones at the waist on either side, each of them with a button down design, all seven buttons bearing the United States Navy eagle and anchor insignia, a Four Level Ribbon Bar (First Row: Bronze Star with "V" Device, Army Commendation Medal, American Defense Service Medal with Bronze "A" Device; Second Row: American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze stars; Third Row: World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal; Fourth Row: Korean Service Medal with two bronze stars, United Nations Service Medal for Korea, Republic of Korea War Medal Commendation). The inside is lined in rayon, with a pocket in the right breast, a label inscribed "FRANK THOMAS CO. NORFOLK" sewn in place to the pocket, the jacket measuring 480 mm across the shoulders x 730 mm in length.

 

 

Footnote: Captain Theodore H. Brittan served with the United States Navy in the Pacific and European theaters during the Second World War, followed by service in the Korean War. He is documented as having been a Marshal during Commencement Exercises at the United States Naval School in Annapolis, Maryland, on June 16, 1951, in the rank of Commander. Captain Adolph J. Peterson relieved Captain Brittan of the command of the USS Mount Baker (AE-4) while the ship was at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California, on November 3, 1953.