United States. A First War Purple Heart Group, to Benton R. Chism, 11th Regiment, 5th Infantry Division
Includes:
1. Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. Instituted in 1932. Two-piece construction, in bronze gilt with red, white, navy blue and green enamels, unmarked, engraved "BENTON R. CHISM" on the reverse, measuring 34.8 mm (w) x 47.5 mm (h) inclusive of its laterally-pierced ball suspension, intact enamels, oak leaf cluster affixed to its original ribbon with brooch pinback, accompanied by its 35.5 mm (w) x 8.8 mm (h) ribbon bar with pinback.
2. two Purple Heart Box End Panels: one inscribed "METAL ARTS CO., INC. / Phila. Quartermaster Depot", the other inscribed "Purple Heart Medal No. 73435", measuring 61.5 mm (w) x 11 mm (h) each.
3. WWI Victory Medal, 1 Clasp - SOMME DEFENSIVE. Instituted in 1917. In bronze gilt, engraver marked "FRASER" on the obverse, measuring 36 mm (w) x 40.5 mm (h) inclusive of its laterally-pierced ball suspension, original ribbon with brooch pinback.
4. 11th Regiment Collar Disk: in bronze, measuring 26 mm in diameter, with screwback.
5. Third Army/5th Infantry Division Patch: Third Army insignia in red and navy blue embroidery, with the "A" in silvered bullion wire, the insignia sewn in place to a 5th Infantry Division patch in red wool, itself sewn in place to an Army brownish-green wool uniform swatch, measuring 60 mm (w) x 95 mm (h).
6. The Society of the Fifth Division, U.S.A. Membership Card: numbered "2559", inscribed in typewritten black ink "Benton R. Chism, / c/o Federal Trade Commision, / Washington 25, D.C. / Co. D, 11th Infantry / Member at large", with an expiry date of "10-10-47" (October 10, 1947), printed in red and black inks on an off-white card stock, measuring 90 mm (w) x 60 mm (h).
Better than very fine.