The John Bannister Collection - D-Day and Militaria
Lot 2255:
Description
This historically significant archive documents the distinguished career of Captain Joseph Jeremiah McCarthy, a Chicago native and legendary U.S. Marine who received the Medal of Honor for his “conspicuous gallantry” on Iwo Jima. “I don’t like malarkey or bullshit,” the Chicagoan often said. On Iwo Jima, McCarthy was the company commander of G Co. 2nd Battalion 24th Marines. He landed on yellow beach 2 alongside the 23rd Marines. On D plus 3, the 24th RCT relieved the 25th. His battalion moved, and was supported by the blue beaches. On February 21, 1945, as a captain, he earned the Medal of Honor, while leading an assault team across exposed ground to wipe out positions holding up the advance of his company at airfield No. 2. It is believed that a Seabee heavy weapons platoon provided the fire support he needed that day. (Fig. 1) On October 5, 1945, President Harry S. Truman presented the Medal of Honor to McCarthy in ceremonies at the White House. The collection offers a deep dive into the life of the South Side hero, featuring original photography from his 1940 enlistment through his 1945 return, including rare shots of him with his unit in Saipan and Tinian. Of particular note are the official military orders for his 10/5/45 White House ceremony and personal correspondence from “The Fighting Fourth” comrades. McCarthy’s post-war legacy as the Superintendent of Ambulances in the Chicago Fire Department adds further provenance to this collection of service records, ID cards, and period ephemera. The documents show expected age-toning, soft corners, and original mailing folds, while the photographs remain crisp with some notations and minor mounting residue. H 11″, W 8.5″, D 1″. Please see photos.
Share this lot:
