Rare WWII 29th Infantry Division "D-Day to St. Lo" 1944 certificate - Gerhardt

Description

This is a rare, original WWII 29th Infantry Division "D-Day to St-Lo" certificate. These certificates were given to soldiers who served in the 29th Division from D-Day, June 6, 1944, to the capture of St. Lo, France on July 18, 1944. It is hand-signed by the division commander, Major General Charles H. Gerhardt. This particular certificate was awarded to Pvt. Paul E. Towne. Based on my research, Pvt. Towne served with the Medical Detachment of the 111th Field Artillery Battalion. This battalion was one of the units within the 29th Division. Pvt. Towne was from the state of Maine. Accompanying the certificate is a certificate awarding ownership of a captured enemy pistol; there is also a birth certificate for someone other than the soldier, which came with both certificates, but I am not sure of its relevance to the soldier. This 29th Division certificate is a scarce item. Overall, it is in good, used condition. It has been trimmed along the edges and has a minor crease down the middle. General Gerhardt's signature is very nice. Please see pictures to judge the condition of this certificate. The 29th Division is famous for its participation in D-Day when it assaulted Omaha Beach and suffered terrible casualties. The division continued to distinguish itself in combat throughout Europe. This rare item displays very nicely and would make an excellent addition to any WWII collection. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for looking.