An extraordinary, fully identifiable WWII soldier’s grouping belonging to PFC William E. Stahl (ASN 33078228) of York, Pennsylvania, who served with Battery B, 268th Separate Coast Artillery Battalion in the Pacific theater (APO #709, San Francisco routing) during World War II.
This archive includes Stahl’s framed dress uniform studio portrait; his complete Immunization Register documenting vaccinations from 1942 through 1945; an original “buddies” roster card with photographic composite identifying his battery mates by name and hometown (Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Illinois, Alabama, and beyond); a powerful series of original snapshot photographs including rifle marksmanship training, troops marching with M1 rifles, a group portrait of soldiers in what appears to be a Pacific theater encampment, and a haunting solo image of Stahl standing among rows of white crosses in a military cemetery.
Material culture includes his Army Good Conduct Medal in the original presentation box with ribbon bar, five additional service/campaign ribbon bars, two sets of gold bullion overseas service hash marks, a York, PA “C.W.A.” pinback button, and a khaki web belt fitted with a brass buckle bearing a Fiji “One Shilling 1942” coin — likely theater-made or trench-art, supporting a South Pacific posting consistent with his unit’s documented service. Several original photo mailer envelopes bear period handwritten dates (“Xmas Day 1943,” “July 1942”).
