Lot of Two WWII U.S. Bronze Star Medals, Ribbons, Pins, & Cases (ID'd)
This lot includes two separate original WWII Bronze Stars, each consisting of all three components and their leatherette wrapped metal "coffin" cases. Both medals are named to First Infantry Division veteran, Johnnie James Cunningham. View the Veteran's Information Section for more details regarding Cunningham's life and military service. The Bronze Star was introduced on February 4, 1944 (with retroactive eligibility), and was awarded to U.S. servicemen for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. The presence of an oakleaf on the second medal's ribbon indicates the veteran was a two-time recipient at the time of its issue.
Veteran's Information
Johnnie James Cunningham was born on March 11, 1919 in Moss Point, Mississippi. He enlisted in the United States Army on March 19, 1940 and served in the First Infantry Division, 18th Regiment. He had an extensive combat record, fighting in North Africa, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, Central Europe, and Ardennes-Alsace. He received numerous awards during the war, however perhaps most interesting to us: he received the Bronze Star not just twice, but actually on three separate occasions, which explains why these first two awards were likely discarded when he upgraded to his Bronze Star with two oakleaf clusters. Cunningham died on April 4, 2010 at the age of 91. The aforementioned details and many more are made available to the new owner below in his obituary. Normally, we would have also requested Cunningham's complete file through a FOIA request, however there is a significant backlog at the time of writing - there is still plenty of research for the new owner to do!
