Korean War, VN USMC Gunner Insignia (H&H) Black. Set of 2 in Case. Mint NOS

Description: This vintage, untouched LARGE-SIZE (1-1/4") matching pair of the BLACKENED “BURSTING BOMBS” INSIGNIA for wear on the Class A uniform. Clutch-back Fasteners. The pair is still cardboard mounted in the FACTORY-ORIGINAL clear plastic snap-cases marked"Hilborn-Hamburger." Hilborn-Hamburger is no longer in existence. This is a SCARCE older maker! I believe these date either from the Korean War or the Vietnam era. MINT "New Old Stock" (NOS) Unissued!!! NOTE: This pairs of Marine GUNNER's insignia are not to be confused with either the Army's Ordnance 'flaming bomb' insignia, or with the Marine Corps ordnance 'cuff striker' insignia!! + PERFECT BLACKENED finish pair with bright brass clutch-back fasteners. + The somewhat larger snap-lid CASE measures 3-5/8" x 2-5/8” has the defunct company's name with the 'Eagle' logos with the 'H-H' on its breast. and reads: HILBORN -HAMBURGER ***** NOTE: The photo is of Gunner W. G. Reagan, taken 1 April 1930. It''s worth noting that there FEWER Marine Gunners in the U.S. Marine Corps than there are Generals. ***** One 'Marine Gunner,' 23 years active duty experience, wrote from Twenty-Nine Palms, California in July 2012, "...A 'Marine Gunner' is an Infantry Weapons Officer. He is qualified to train Marines on the proper employment of all weapons systems organic to the infantry. That includes, but is not limited to, pistols, rifles, machine guns, rockets, mortars, missiles, and explosives. He must also be proficient with all accessories associated with those weapons like day and night optics and laser designators. Unlike a typical Warrant Officer MOS whose only qualifications for selection are that he is a Sgt (E5) with 8 years of active duty , to qualify for selection as a 'Marine Gunner' you must be a Gunnery Sergeant (E7) with 16 years active duty in the infantry with proven competence across the range of weapons with which you have been exposed and have served as an Infantry Platoon Sergeant. Upon selection Marines are promoted to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2 but a 'Marine Gunner' is always referred to as 'Gunner,' never Chief Warrant Officer. There are about 102 Gunners total in the Corps. After a tour with an Infantry Battalion we move on to billets as Regimental and Division Gunners, Range OIC's and various other positions where we continue to teach infantry skills to Marines. I am the principle adviser to the Battalion Commander on weapons and tactics. I have an active role in all infantry training events and report to and work with the Operations Officer. And best of all, I get my own parking space." ***** The United States Marine Corps MOS 0306, Infantry Weapons Officers, commonly referred to as "The Gunner" or "Marine Gunner" are non-technical Chief Warrant Officers (CWO-2 to CWO-5) that are weapons specialists and are knowledgeable in the tactical employment of all the infantry weapons in the Marine Corps arsenal—all weapons organic to Marine infantry units. The requirements to apply for selection are very stringent and much higher than what is needed for other warrant officer appointments. For example; minimum time in service is SIXTEEN YEARS and minimum rank to apply is Gunnery Sergeant (E-7) versus eight years and Sergeant (E-5). They are not appointed Warrant Officers, but rather commissioned directly to the grade of Chief Warrant Officer-2 and are the only officers who are officially designated the title, "Marine Gunner" and authorized to wear the "Bursting Bomb" insignia. The title "Gunner" is almost always used in lieu of rank (i.e., "Gunner Smith" as opposed to "Chief Warrant Officer Smith"), and the rank insignia worn on the left collar is replaced with a "Bursting Bomb." A larger "Bursting Bomb" insignia is worn ¾" above the rank insignia on both shoulder epaulets when a coat is worn. Occasionally other warrant officers are referred to as "Gunner" but this is incorrect. The Gunners' technical skills complemented with infantry field experience fundamentally posits them as advisers to the force commanders within the Fleet Marine Force's task forces (i.e. Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) and its subordinate units). Marine Gunners may be responsible for developing and monitoring weapons training protocols, tactical employment of weapons, preventive maintenance of the unit's infantry weapons, management of the unit's ammunition allocation and the unit training plan, infantry training, and fire support planning. Additional assignments may be based on future needs of the Marine Corps; such as new weapons systems acquisition, new weapons systems research and development. During combat operations, Marine Gunners assists their force commanders in battle tracking; They are sent forward to oversee the battle, reporting directly to task force commanders in a "directed telescope" fashion. ***** Gunners were the first warrant officers in the Marine Corps when Henry Lewis Hulbert became the first Marine to pin on the "Bursting Bombs" on 24 March 1917. Since that time the Gunner designation has undergone many changes, including periods where no new Gunners were made from 1943 to 1956, 1959 to 1964, and 1974 to 1988. These usually being the result of Gunners being promoted to Temporary Commissioned Officer status or changes in the laws governing the rank structure of the military. Throughout this time, few Marines have been able to rightly call themselves "Gunner", but though the list is short, it is filled with legends of the Old Corps such as: Henry L. Hulbert -- hero of Samoa, Belleau Wood, and Blanc Mont. A trophy bearing his name and image is presented to a Marine Gunner for Outstanding Leadership every year by the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Henry Pierson Crowe -- who talked General Julian C. Smith out of putting him in for a Medal of Honor after the Battle of Tarawa (he received the Navy Cross instead). William A. Lee -- the first Marine to receive three Navy Crosses but would spend World War II as a Japanese POW in China. Lee's father-in-law, Maj. Calvin A. Lloyd for whom the rifle ranges in Quantico are named; though Lloyd retired a Major he always answered the telephone as "Gunner Lloyd". There are other less well known, but important Gunners such as; Ira Davidson, the "Daniel Boone of Iwo Jima,” who received a Navy Cross for taking out multiple Japanese pill boxes with uncanny accuracy while under withering fire. Gilbert Bolton who was himself decorated for valor with a Silver Star in Vietnam for defending his platoon's position against a vastly larger NVA force by calling in six artillery missions on his own position and provided a link for the new breed of Gunners to the past. Neil Goddard who served in the USMC for 32 years. Gunner Goddard was a Gunnery Sergeant (E-7), a Gunner, a CWO4, and a Captain (O-3). Gunner Goddard spent time at Quantico developing rifles for the USMC during the Vietnam era. He is most famously known for his work in creating the M401 sniper rifle. ***** Hilborn-Hamburger Inc. Hilborn-Hamburger, Inc., a leading WWII "Manufacturer of Military Insignia," was organized June 29, 1926, was in business for 96 years, but was dissolved December 27, 2000. For decades the company was a respected supplier of U.S. Marine Corps insignia and uniform accessories, as well those for the U.S. Navy. Their trademark "Eagle" with 'H-H' inside was synonymous with 'quality' and the Corps. Originally, headquartered in New York City, the company later moved to Passaic, New Jersey.

Price: 42.5 USD

Location: Little Rock, Arkansas

End Time: 2024-11-22T21:26:44.000Z

Shipping Cost: 5.85 USD