Original U.S. Vietnam War 101st Airborne Purple Heart Grouping with Medal & Citation Certificates & Unit Histories - Jed John Layman

Original Items. One-of-a-Kind Group. This is the tremendous Purple Heart grouping of Specialist Five Jed John Layman, whose story ultimately ended in tragedy after he returned home on leave. Layman was awarded the Purple Heart on April 3rd, 1968 for wounds received in action, shortly thereafter being sent home on leave to Binghamton, New York. While home, he was visiting a friend, Linda Solari, when her estranged husband Raymond entered the home and shot Layman in the throat with a 12 Gauge double barrel shotgun, killing him instantly. It was later found that Linda had been having an affair with Layman, which was the motive for the killing.

The grouping includes:
- Layman’s Purple Heart Medal in the presentation case with ribbon and pin, not engraved or numbered.
- Layman’s Purple Heart Award certificate, Dated June 3rd, 1968, for wounds received on April 3rd, 1968. 10 x 12”.
- Two 101st Airborne Citation certificates presented to Layman for exceptionally meritorious achievement from May 1st - September 30th, 1968, and March 1st - July 31st, 1968. 8 x 10” each, very rare documents.
- Layman’s Army Commendation Medal Award certificate, Dated September 4th, 1968. 10 x 12”.
- Layman’s Army Commendation Medal Award certificate, Dated November 19th, 1968. 8 x 10½”.
- Honorable Service certificate for having died in the service of our country, dated April 19th, 1972. 9 x 10½”.
- U.S. Honor of the memory of Layan certificate, with funeral notice. 8 x 10”.
- Original document awarding him the Purple Heart on April 3rd, 1968. Shows his unit as the 321st Artillery.
- 1968 101st Airborne Vietnam history book with great pictorial history of the unit in Vietnam during that year. Original plastic cover retained and warped. 143 pages with In Memory list in the back. 8½ x 11½”.
- “Tour 365” book, a magazine for soldiers in Vietnam, this issue is for Winter 1971. Some great content. 8½ x 11”

This is a great grouping to a soldier with a very grim backstory. Comes ready for further research and display!