James Keener's Canteen from Iwo Jima
Catalog Number PTOMISC 0.001
This Marine Corps Canteen was used by James L Keener of the 3rd Marine Division during the Battle of Iwo Jima between February and March of 1945. The canteen was slightly damaged by a Japanese grenade which pierced the inside of his cup. It appears his canteen itself was a replacement from the damage.
Japanese Naval Landing Force Truck Anchor Kiska
Catalog Number PTOMISC 0.002
This Japanese Special Naval Landing Force Vehicle Anchor was captured on the island of Kiska in August of 1943 after the Japanese evacuation. These would be mounted on the front of tanks or trucks assigned to the Japanese Naval Landing Forces.
Japanese Kunai Grass Canteen from Guadalcanal
Catalog Number PTOMISC 0.003
This Japanese Kunai Grass canteen was found on the island of Guadalcanal by a veteran of the 1st Marine Division in 1942. Kunai Grass was common on the island and after the straps had worn away, they were replaced but his grass. The canteen is dated 1941.
US Airman's Blood Chit
Catalog Numbr PTOMISC 0.004
This silk cloth was known as a "Blood Chit" to Allied Pilots. They usually contained multiple languages from Asia to help them in the event of being shot down. This one was used for the China Burma India Theater.
Kamikaze Fragments from Okinawa
Catalog Number PTOMISC 0.005
These fragments of a Kamikaze aircraft were picked up off the deck of the USS New Mexico by Wilbur Lobdell on May 11th, 1945. Two Japanese Kamikazes attacked the ship off Okinawa on this day with only one hitting the ship. The impact killed 55 men and put the New Mexico out of action for the rest of the War. Wilbur put these pieces in a small American Defense Medal Box he had on hand.
Japanese Navy Uniform Tag Captured at Tarawa
Catalog Number PTOMISC 0.006
This Japanese Navy ID patch was captured off the body of a Japanese Sailor on Tarawa by a US Marine in the 2nd Marine Division. The Identification tag belonged to Chief Engineer Yamashita of the Murakami Detachment. The Detachment was assigned the task of building all of the defenses on Tarawa and were assigned to help defend the landing beaches. It is sewn on a green Japanese Navy jacket and was torn off by a knife of some kind.
Japanese Chopsticks found on the Tenaru River, Guadalcanal
Catalog Number PTOMISC 0.007
These Japanese chopsticks were found after the Battle of the Tenaru River on August 21st, 1942 by a US Marine in the 1st Marine Division. Nearly the entire Ichiki Detachment was destroyed during this battle.
Japanese Glasses Captured on Iwo Jima
Catalog Number PTOMISC 0.008
These Japanese glasses were captured on the island of Iwo Jima by a member of the 5th Marine Division in February or March of 1945.
Kiska Task Force Patch
Catalog Number PTOMISC 0.009
This patch represented the Kiska Task Force which would eventually land on the last Japanese occupied island in the Aleutian Chain. The patch was made specially for that invasion. However, the Japanese were not present on the island during the invasion and was a relatively bloodless event.
Robert Keslo's Dogtags from Eniwetok
Catalog Nimber PTOMISC 0.010
These dog tags were worn by Robert O Kelso of the 22nd Marine Regiment during the Battle of Eniwetok in February of 1944. He would be wounded on February 20th, 1944 and taken off the Atoll.
Japanese Bag from Guadalcanal
Catalog Number PTOMISC 0.011
This Japanese Bread Bag was found on the body of a Japanese Imperial Navy Sailor on Guadalcanal on January 2nd, 1943 by Thomas J McKeown of the 2nd Marine Division. The US 2nd Marine Division arrived to the Battle of Guadalcanal in stages, but most of the division arrived later in the battle, taking a larger role in routing out the surviving Japanese in the last months of the campaign.
Japanese Cigarettes from Iwo Jima
Catalog Number PTOMISC 0.012
These Japanese cigarettes were found on the island of Iwo Jima sometime during the battle. They came in a large grouping of Iwo Jima souvenirs from a 5th Marine Division veteran.
Japanese Uniform Fragment from Iwo Jima
Catalog Number PTOMISC 0.013
This Japanese uniform fragment was captured by Kenneth Beligoy of the 5th Amphibious Tractor Battalion during the Battle of Iwo Jima sometime between February and March of 1945. It still has the owners name written on the inside and a date of 1941.
1937 USMC Bag 2nd Raider Battalion Makin Atoll
Catalog Number PTOMISC 0.014
This USMC bag was carried by John E Toon of the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion during WWII. John was a part of A Company 2nd Marine Raiders during the raid on Makin Atoll in August of 1942 to distract the Japanese from Guadalcanal. With an early date, it is likely he carried this in to the raid. After Makin, he served as a drill sergeant until called for action again at Iwo Jima in February of 1945.
Japanese Blood Stained Scarf from Guam
Catalog Number PTOMISC 0.015
This Japanese Scarf was captured on the island of Guam in July or August of 1944 by a US serviceman. The writing on the scarf is a poem dated to the 1930's from Tochiigi Prefecture and is called the "Sun Song."