Original U.S. WWI 32nd Division Purple Heart Medal with TOLC & Victory Medal to Lieutenant Colonel John B. Schneller with Paperwork Showing Cancellation of Medal - Rare

Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is an extraordinary medal set engraved to Lieutenant Colonel John B. Schneller, commander of the 128th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Division during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. This set is already interesting enough as the Purple Heart medal bears a “Thumbnail” Oak Leaf Cluster, so-called due to its large size, but it is made more interesting by the included copy of Schneller’s AGO card, which shows the awarding of the Purple Heart and 1 OLC on September 17th, 1932 overlaid by:

PURPLE HEART AND OAK-LEAF CLUSTER
CANCELLED
CANCELLED 8-9-33
SEE AG 201
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AG 201 refers to the soldier’s Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). In this case, it’s likely that upon inspection of Schneller’s OMPF, it was found that his wounds were never recorded or possibly even forged. Absolutely worth further research.

The set includes his government-engraved Purple Heart with OLC, numbered 16821, with ribbon and lapel pin in his medal case made by Louis Esser Co. of Milwaukee, and his Victory Medal with bars for Aisne-Marne, Oise-Aisne, Meuse-Argonne, and Defensive Sector. There are also several pages of printed research including the AGO card showing that his medal was cancelled. This is a unique piece of history especially considering how few medals actually have the Thumbnail-sized OLC.

Schneller served in the Spanish-American War with the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry, later serving as Major at the Mexican Border and LTC with the 32nd Division during World War I. He is said to have been wounded on July 29th and November 7th, 1918, but his Purple Heart Medal was cancelled.

An outstanding medal set, ready for further research and display.