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This is another great find from Holland and dates back to Operation Market Garden. This item is a T5 harness from an American Airborne soldier. We find it remarkable as, it had been used "as loft insulation" in a house!!
Although there are no personal markings on the pack it does have some useful evidence upon it.
On the belly band on the bottom of the picture on the right are stencilled the letters "GVM". This tells us that the item was used by a member of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st AB. The letters "GVM" refer to the 502nd Commanding officer George van Horn Moseley.
Moseley jumped from the lead aircraft of the first four. These C47s carried the men of the 502nd P.I.R. into battle on D-Day. Despite having broken his ankle in the drop he continued to led his men whilst being carried in a wheelbarrow, his leg in a cast!
"Old Moe" as he was affectionately known by the men under his command was to earn the Legion of Merit for his actions, but was destined not command the 502nd during Market Garden. His injuries having made him unfit to jump with his men again. He was relieved and reluctantly handed over his beloved Regiment to his Executive Officer, Michael Michaelis. After having lived, trained and fought with them for two years this must have been a tough moment for him.
This great piece of history of the liberation of Holland is now in a museum.
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