Set of US Army 18th Infantry Regiment lapel pins acquired by a US soldier 2011.75.13_b front
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
Set of 3 lapel pins with the insignia of the 18th Infantry Regiment, US Army, acquired by 19 year old David C. Porter during his service in the US Army in Germany from February 1945 to July 1946. The pins were worn in pairs, with the third as a spare, on the lapels of dress uniform jackets to distinguish different regiments. David was deployed in February 1945 to join troops of the 102nd Infantry Division in combat in Germany. By the end of the war in May, David was a mortar crew chief for Company A, 26th Infantry Regiment. David and other members of the 102nd were selected to serve as guards for the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg. Its purpose was to seek justice for crimes against humanity, evidenced by the Holocaust, perpetrated by Nazi Germany. David was assigned to guard prisoners being prosecuted during the Trial of Major German War Criminals for crimes against peace, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and conspiracy to commit these crimes. David was promoted to Sergeant in September. He guarded the defendants in their cells and then was assigned to stand guard in the courtroom during the proceedings. David returned to the US and was honorably discharged in July 1946. The trial lasted from November 1945 to August 1946. Verdicts were delivered on October 1, 1946: twelve defendants were sentenced to death; three to life imprisonment; four to prison terms ranging from 10-20 years; three were acquitted.
Set of 3 lapel pins with the insignia of the 18th Infantry Regiment, US Army, acquired by 19 year old David C. Porter during his service in the US Army in Germany from February 1945 to July 1946. The pins were worn in pairs, with the third as a spare, on the lapels of dress uniform jackets to distinguish different regiments. David was deployed in February 1945 to join troops of the 102nd Infantry Division in combat in Germany. By the end of the war in May, David was a mortar crew chief for Company A, 26th Infantry Regiment. David and other members of the 102nd were selected to serve as guards for the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg. Its purpose was to seek justice for crimes against humanity, evidenced by the Holocaust, perpetrated by Nazi Germany. David was assigned to guard prisoners being prosecuted during the Trial of Major German War Criminals for crimes against peace, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and conspiracy to commit these crimes. David was promoted to Sergeant in September. He guarded the defendants in their cells and then was assigned to stand guard in the courtroom during the proceedings. David returned to the US and was honorably discharged in July 1946. The trial lasted from November 1945 to August 1946. Verdicts were delivered on October 1, 1946: twelve defendants were sentenced to death; three to life imprisonment; four to prison terms ranging from 10-20 years; three were acquitted.
- Title: Set of US Army 18th Infantry Regiment lapel pins acquired by a US soldier 2011.75.13_b front
- Provenance: The pins were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2011 by Ethel P. Kemmerer, the sister of David C. Porter and executor of his Estate., The pins were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2011 by Ethel P. Kemmerer, the sister of David C. Porter and executor of his Estate.
- Subject Keywords: Nuremberg Trial of Major German War Criminals, Nuremberg, Germany, 1945-1946. Soldiers--United States--Biography. War crime trials--Europe--History--20th century. World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American., Nuremberg Trial of Major German War Criminals, Nuremberg, Germany, 1945-1946. Soldiers--United States--Biography. War crime trials--Europe--History--20th century. World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American.
- Type: Military Insignia, Military Insignia
- Rights: Permanent Collection, Permanent Collection
- External Link: See the full record at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, See the full record at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Medium: a. Shield shaped, silver colored metal badge with pointed upper corners. A banner with Latin text runs beneath the shield, attached on the ends, but separated from the shield by a gap. The shield has a cut-out design with colored enamel inlays: the top third has a diagonal red bar, 2 blue fleur-de-lis, and a jagged bottom edge; the bottom two thirds, a silver-colored cross with 4 blue triangles containing 3 symbols; 2 crossed yellow arrows, a silver-colored 8, and a yellow handled knife. On the back is a bronze-colored screw back clasp. Portions of the enamel are missing. b. Shield shaped, silver colored metal badge with pointed upper corners. A banner with Latin text runs beneath the shield, attached on the ends, but separated from the shield by a gap. The shield has a cut-out design with colored enamel inlays: the top third has a diagonal red bar, 2 blue fleur-de-lis, and a jagged bottom edge; the bottom two thirds, a silver-colored cross with 4 blue triangles containing 3 symbols; 2 crossed yellow arrows, a silver-colored 8, and a yellow handled knife. On the back is a bronze-colored screw back clasp with manufacturer’s marks. c. Shield shaped, silver colored metal badge with pointed upper corners. A banner with Latin text runs beneath the shield, attached on the ends, but separated from the shield by a gap. The shield has a cut-out design with colored enamel inlays: the top third has a diagonal red bar, 2 blue fleur-de-lis, and a jagged bottom edge; the bottom two thirds, a silver-colored cross with 4 blue triangles containing 3 symbols; 2 crossed yellow arrows, a silver-colored 8, and a yellow handled knife. On the back is a bronze-colored screw back clasp with manufacturer’s marks., a. Shield shaped, silver colored metal badge with pointed upper corners. A banner with Latin text runs beneath the shield, attached on the ends, but separated from the shield by a gap. The shield has a cut-out design with colored enamel inlays: the top third has a diagonal red bar, 2 blue fleur-de-lis, and a jagged bottom edge; the bottom two thirds, a silver-colored cross with 4 blue triangles containing 3 symbols; 2 crossed yellow arrows, a silver-colored 8, and a yellow handled knife. On the back is a bronze-colored screw back clasp. Portions of the enamel are missing. b. Shield shaped, silver colored metal badge with pointed upper corners. A banner with Latin text runs beneath the shield, attached on the ends, but separated from the shield by a gap. The shield has a cut-out design with colored enamel inlays: the top third has a diagonal red bar, 2 blue fleur-de-lis, and a jagged bottom edge; the bottom two thirds, a silver-colored cross with 4 blue triangles containing 3 symbols; 2 crossed yellow arrows, a silver-colored 8, and a yellow handled knife. On the back is a bronze-colored screw back clasp with manufacturer’s marks. c. Shield shaped, silver colored metal badge with pointed upper corners. A banner with Latin text runs beneath the shield, attached on the ends, but separated from the shield by a gap. The shield has a cut-out design with colored enamel inlays: the top third has a diagonal red bar, 2 blue fleur-de-lis, and a jagged bottom edge; the bottom two thirds, a silver-colored cross with 4 blue triangles containing 3 symbols; 2 crossed yellow arrows, a silver-colored 8, and a yellow handled knife. On the back is a bronze-colored screw back clasp with manufacturer’s marks.
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