Withdrawn From Sale! HERO'S BATTLE OF PELELIU KA-BAR KNIFE & SHEATH DATING FROM WW II Steel, brass & wood                                                            Made 20th Century Overall Dimension knife 14 1/4  in sheath                         Blade 6 3/4 x 1 x 1/8        Hilt  4 3/4" x 1 1/4"  x 1 1/4"                                                 Markings   USMC/KA-BAR. Sheath 8 5/8 L x 1 7/8 Dia                                                    Weight  3 lbs. 2 5/8 oz                   Knife LOA  14 1/8"                                                          Presented is an authentic WW II issue KA-BAR knife that was issued to a Navy Hospital Corpsman serving with the Marines at the Battle of Peleliu in 1944.  It was brought home at the end of a sailor's service along with other momentos and has been in the same family ever since.  Everything is in its last used condition with USMC struck on the blade's obverse ricasso and KA-BAR on the reverse.  The marks are clear and sharp, and easy to read. The accompanying original leather sheath is in very good condition with tight stiching and metal U clamps. It is cleaner on its front than would be expected. The back of the sheath is marked with the corpsman's intitials and specialty, HM WME. It is darker and shows the evidence of age. The name of the 18 year old hero who was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star will be told to the buyer.   Showning both sides of the KA-BAR knife   Bill's Battle of Peleiu Service history:  This story begins over 72 years ago, at a time when the world was at war, and millions of young men and women heeded our nation’s call to bear arms, make sacrifices and endure hardship to defeat a powerful enemy.  The date is September 15, 1944, and after nearly two months at sea in a small, cramped and stiflingly hot LST, the men of Lima Company, Third Battalion, First Regiment, First Marine Division are making their final predawn preparations for the invasion of Peleliu, one of the Palau Islands in the Southwestern Pacific.  One of these men is Hospital Apprentice First Class with the initials, WMB, a 19 year old Navy corpsman from Encino, California, known to his family and friends as Bill. The island of Peleliu was a natural fortress dominated by towering limestone ridges into which had been dug artillery batteries, machine gun nests and blockhouses,  Interconnecting tunnels had been excavated throughout the ridges and many were too deep to be affected by the tons of bombs and shells dropped on the island for three straight days prior to the invasion,  Awaiting the marines and sailors who stormed ashore that day were over 10,000  highly trained, heavily armed and fiercely dedicated defenders.  The grueling assault was spear headed by the First regiment, under the command of the legendary Colonel Chesty Fuller. They found hell on Peleliu as described below.                          Markings on the blade's ricasso By dusk on September 15th, the 1st regiment had suffered 1000 casualties, 20% of whom were dead.  Among those wounded was Hospital Apprentice First Class Bill Edrington, who was hit by shrapnel from heavy machine gun fire.  Many of his fellow corpsman had also been wounded or killed.  And despite his painful wounds, Bill remained on the island that first night and continued to render badly needed medical aid.  His buddies pulled him around on a blanket.  On the second day of fighting, he received a much more serious wound from a mortar round, which also took the life of his best friend only yards away.  The death of his friend was devastating, and for many months after the war, Bill could be heard screaming in his sleep, desperately and futilely yelling to his buddy to watch out….He was evacuated on day 5 for hospital care.  Bill’s active involvement in combat ended that day on Peleliu, but he fought that battle, that campaign and that war for the rest of his life, and the physical and mental wounds he suffered on that beachhead never fully healed until his death in September, 1994. His body was committed to the sea from the USS George Washington on May 5, 1995. The American flag flown from the carrier during this ceremony is available. Both the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals, his canvas Navy Medical Kit, and his original bad ass KA-Bar USMC fighting knife will be available for sale.   Hero's Battle of Peleliu KA-BAR knife in sheath shown over back of sheath   CONDITION:   Everything is in its last used condition with USMC struck on the blade's obverse ricasso and KA-BAR on the reverse.  The marks are clear and sharp, and easy to read. The accompanying original leather sheath is in very good condition with tight stitching and metal U clamps. It is cleaner on its front than would be expected. The back of the sheath is marked with the corpsman's initials and specialty, HM WME. It is darker and shows the evidence of age.                           Both sides of the blade of the KA-BAR battle knife   CONDITION:  This knife and its sheath and belt are in near new condition and have been in the same family for the las sixty five years. The blade is tight in the ferule and the wood handle has all its bright varnish. The brass brail swivel bail is attached.  The sheath has a drain hole.      Pommel of KA-BAR knife showing tang image     FLAT RATE SHIPPING to 48 contiguous States $45.00 OUR UNCONDITIONAL 'NO NONSENSE“ GUARANTEE: If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned, if without damage, within three days of receipt in its original packaging. Return items must be insured for their full value. Only a prior email authorization by us for the return is required. Shipping charges are refundable if due to our error within the continental United States. International buyers welcome, but inquire first. We have satisfied customers in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Chile, Republic of China, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Estonia, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, New Hebrides (Vanuatu), New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Nova Scotia, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, St. Maarten, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USVI, Vanuatu (New Hebrides) and the Eastern Caribbean. STANDARD FORMS OF PAYMENT are Bank wire transfer, cashier's check, money order, or personal check in which case the item will be held until cleared. Our prices are quoted net to us so that the use of credit cards or PayPal incur extra charges. Terms on overseas sales are different.  Copyright 2016 by Land And Sea Collection™ All Rights Reserved!