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LOT 1321
Historically Important World War II 2nd Ranger Battalion Grouping Identified to
D-Day Warrior and Purple Heart Recipient Staff Sergeant Matthew J. Wider,
of the Famed 2nd Ranger Battalion - Formed in 1943, 2nd Ranger was
almost immediately sent to Great Britain to make their preparations for
Operation Neptune, the Allied invasion of France via Normandy.
Training was non-stop and very demanding. In support of the
invasion, the 2nd was initially tasked in its entirety for the assault
on Pointe du Hoc. Many things went against the Rangers during
the assault; uncooperative tides put them behind schedule, the
ladders brought for the ascension phase of the assault were too
short. Undaunted, the Rangers proceeded to hunt down the
removed artillery, locating 5 of the six heavy guns they were
originally sent to silence and slagging their firing mechanisms
with thermite charges. While this was going on, the
companies of the 2nd that were intended to be part of the
next wave against Pointe du Hoc were instead rerouted to
Omaha Beach. After the invasion, the 2nd would see action
at the Battle for Brest and the Battle of Huertgen Forest; they
would be responsible for leading the assault to take German
fortifications on “Hill 400” outside of Bergstein. The Purple
Heart Medal is complete with the correct and proper case
that also contains the lapel pin and ribbon as well as the
accompanying original shipping box addressed to Wyder’s
mother, Bertha. It is not often that we catalog World War II
decorations retaining the original shipping box. Wyder is
listed among the wounded suffered by Charlie Company on
D-Day and at Bergstein in the included unit history booklet
“2nd Ranger Battalion: Roughing It with Charlie” that was
distributed after the war (pages 30 and 55). Wyder’s name is
hand written on the inside title page. The included 25 June
1944 dated memo indicates that Wyder received his first
Purple Heart for wounds received on D-Day, 6 June 1944 and
the copy of his 27 October 1945 honorable discharge report
confirms campaigns, decorations and citations including
the Purple Heart with oak cluster. The size 36R 2nd Rangers
service jacket is adorned with staff sergeant rank insignia on
both sleeves, 2nd Ranger battalion tab, four overseas stripes
(each bar represented six months of service overseas) and one
service stripe (awarded for every three years of satisfactory
service) on the left sleeve, Ranger diamond patch on the right
sleeve, enlisted U.S. and infantry collar disks, Army presidential
unit citation on the right breast, awards and decoration ribbons
(Army Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster,
Army Good Conduct Medal, European/African/Middle Eastern
Campaign Medal with arrowhead and four stars and American
Campaign Medal) on the left breast, and hand marked “W-3497” (correlates to Wyder’s ID number) on the lining. The jacket
comes with an overseas cap, two dress shirts (one made by Bendone and the other by Great Northern) and two ties. The M41
field jacket has a Talon zipper. A standard U.S. Army issued garment at the beginning of the war, the M41 jacket became a
widely recognized symbol of the World War II American GI. The German Kriegsmarine flag measures approximately 56x96
inches. An accompanying photo of the flag shows that it was captured by Wyder and his fellow Rangers. With handwritten
notations, a 1939 German fold-out map indicates the path Wyder and his fellow Rangers took through the Rhineland. In an
8x32 inch unit photograph of American troops at Fort Dix New Jersey, Wyder appears in the last row. Additional badging,
insignia, medals and other personal affects: Army Good Conduct, European/African/Middle Eastern Campaign and American
Campaign Medals, Army presidential unit citation and Army Combat Infantry Badge, enlisted U.S. and infantry collar disks.
2nd Ranger Battalion Company E booklet, Ranger first reunion ribbon 1949 and Ranger third reunion match book dated
August 1953. This is the only 2nd Rangers complete outfit we have ever seen!
CONDITION: The service jacket is very good with some scattered insect damage. The Bendone dress shirt is very good with
some staining. The Great Northern dress shirt and overseas cap are fine. One tie shows some wear. The M41 jacket shows
general wear including a couple small holes and some staining as well as four absent buttons (three on the back at the waist
and one on the right cuff). The Kriegsmarine flag is fine and shows general wear. This 2nd Ranger D-Day grouping will be
a standout exhibit to any American military collection. A must have for the serious World War II collector, especially those
specializing in D-Day.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 10,000 - 16,000