Original U.S. WWII 90th Infantry Division Wounded D-Day Uniform & M1 Helmet Grouping with Yardlong Photos & Binder of Ephemera - PFC. Russell Walter Amundsen, 359th Infantry Regiment

Original Items. One-of-a-Kind Group. This is the outstanding uniform & helmet grouping of Private First Class Russell Walter Amundsen, who saw combat with the Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division. At the end of the war he was transferred to the 785th Combat Military Police Battalion, which is why his M1 helmet is painted for the MP. According to an included placard, Amundsen landed with the 359th on Normandy Beach on June 6th, 1944, D-Day, and was later wounded in both arms and in the chest by mortar shell shrapnel while advancing with his unit on a road west of St. Lo on July 3rd, 1944. While in convalescence in the 314th Station Hospital, Amundsen took charge of the public address system of the hospital, extending loud speaker service to barracks. He was a radio mechanic in civilian life.

This great grouping includes:
- Amundsen’s uniform Ike jacket with a 90th ID patch on the left shoulder, three overseas stripes on the left cuff, PFC chevrons on both sleeves, US & Infantry collar discs and 359th IR DI insignia on the collars, a Ruptured duck honorable discharge patch over the right breast pocket, a ladder qualification bar on the left breast pocket with bars for Sharpshooter, Carbine, and Sub Machine, and a three-place ribbon bar with the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, and European African Middle Eastern campaign medal with three stars. The lower two ribbons are on a bar which is not currently closed, as there may be an issue with the pin. It should sit fine for display. Over this is his Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB). The interior of the jacket shows a size tag, 36R, and Amundsen’s name written in marker. 
- Amundsen’s overseas/garrison cap with a 359th IR DI on the side, “Carry On”.
- Amundsen’s Front Seam Fixed Bale M1 Helmet with a black rectangle and the white letters MP painted to the front. This was worn by Amundsen when he was serving with the 785th Combat Military Police Battalion at the end of the war. The shell is in good shape but is missing the chinstrap entirely and has a myriad of later markings to the interior. Heatstamp 346A, very early. Has an MSA liner which is missing the leather sweatband but retains the chinstrap.
- Three great framed Yardlong photographs (no glass in any of the frames) showing Amundsen in his unit. Two of the shots show the men at Camp Barkeley, Texas, one with garrison caps and a serious tone and another with no caps and a playful tone. The third yardlong shows Amundsen with his unit before being shipped overseas, all wearing their OD Green uniforms. The frames are all very lightweight. The first two measure roughly 12 x 35½”. The third measures 10½ x 35”.
- Captured German WWII Kriegsmarine Destroyer War Badge, pin has been entirely removed so it is just flat. No maker mark. Also two captured tinnies.
- Copy of “The 90th” unit history, printed in 1946 with the plush cover. 8 x 10”.
- Copy of “Celbum 359” the unit history of the 359th Infantry regiment, a very scarce book. Has yardlong photos of every company with a ton of great info. 8 x 9½”.
-  Binder of ephemera including newspaper clippings and original army documents and passes. One shows his transfer to the 785th Combat Military Police Battalion and another at the end shows his awarding of the Combat Infantryman Badge. A newspaper clipping discusses his wound in detail. This was put together by his nephew, Warren E. Stark. There is also a small display placard nicknaming Amundsen as “Warren’s Uncle”. 
- Bag with some medals, foreign coins, a sewing kit, spare collar discs, and 8 patches including III Corps, V Corps, VIII Corps, 1st Army, 3rd Army, and others.

Russell Walter Amundsen was born on June 23rd, 1912 in Stewart, Minnesota. He enlisted in the Army on March 18th, 1942 and was assigned to the 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division. As a radio mechanic in civilian life, he was assigned to the Signal Corps detachment of his headquarters. He went overseas and fought through Normandy and other combat, being severely wounded by mortar shell shrapnel in the arms and chest. He spent a lot of time in hospital before rejoining his unit but shortly thereafter being transferred to the 785th Combat Military Police Battalion. He returned home and was discharged on December 7th, 1945. He passed away on December 1st, 1974 at the age of 62.

This is an outstanding 90th Division grouping, ready for further research and display.