1943-1945 Original Photograph Album with Incredible Archive of Medals, (Including Bronze Star and Purple Heart), Documents, and Patches, of a US Army Combat Photographer Serving in Burma and China with the British Army

Pacific Theater, World War II: Self-published, 1943. Book. Very Good. Ring Bound. Elephant Folio - over 15" - 23" tall. A superb World War II archive featuring a significant manuscript photograph album (oblong 17" x 12") containing 147 photographs on 46 pages (17 pages blank at rear), service records, citations, orders, medals, patches, bars, newspaper clippings, ID card, dog tags, and additional loose photographs and negatives, all belonging to Edwin Oscar Ahbe (1916-1995) . Ahbe was inducted on Dec. 1, 1943, reporting to Camp Peekskill, NY and serving as a Cameraman Motion Picture 043 and Combat Photographer in the 3374th Signal Photographic Service (truncated) Company. After stops at Fort Sheridan and Camps Smith and Crowder, his first overseas photographs in the album begin in Ceylon. A small manuscript list shows he left NY early on Oct. 20, 1944 and records him being in Newfoundland, Azores, Cashblanca (sic), Tripoli, Cairo, Aboudan Iran, Karachi India, Kandy Ceylon, Burma, and China. His citation for the Bronze Star for meritorious service, 16 Jan 1945 to 10 June 1945 as a combat motion picture cameraman 5322nd US Army Section (Prov.) SE Asia Command attached to British 14th Army in Central Burma reads "During this period Tech. 5th Grade Ahbe, under arduous combat conditions, photographed several phases of battle preceeding the fall of Mandalay, an assault crossing of the Irrawaddy River at Mitchie, Burma and complete and excellent coverage of the Battle at Meiktila ... he carried out his duties under the throes of a severe case of dysentery and living under bitter field conditions". He received his Purple Heart "for wounds received on 9 May 1945 from enemy action near Meiktila, Burma". On 20 Sept 1945 Ahbe received orders authorizing him to take photos of Japanese and American installations in Canton, China. Ahbe was an excellent cameraman, and the photos in the album bear captions from Kandy Ceylon, Imphal, Shweba Burma, Meiktila, Mongwa, Toungoo ( a gruesome photo of a dead Japanese pilot next to his crashed plane), Rangoon, Calcutta, HQ Ceylon, Kunming China, Nanning, Kaliakunda, Canton, and Kanehrapara India. They vary in size from, 2 1/2" x 3", 3" x 4", 3 1/2" x 4 1/2", up to 5 1/2" x 7", 6 3/4" x 8", 7 1/2" x 9 1/2", and 8" x10". His Honorable Discharge Cert. dated 17 Jan 1946 lists two Overseas Service Bars, Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon with three Bronze Battle Stars, Good Conduct Medal, Purple Heart, WWII Victory Medal, and China War Memorial Badge, all of which are included. The photo album Very Good, a few pages and a few pictures loose. An extensive collection detailing the service record of a true American hero and an excellent combat photographer.. (Inventory #: 009548)