Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Purple Heart/Long Service Medal pair awarded to Chief Pharmacist’s Mate Charles Anthony DiGiacinto, U.S. Navy, who was commended by the British Ambassador at Nanking for his care of the wounded from H.M.S. Amethyst following the ‘Incident’

Purple Heart, enamelled, unnamed, full wrap brooch; Navy Long Service Medal, reverse impressed, ‘Charles Anthony DiGiacinto 1942’, with ‘Second’, ‘Third’ and ‘Fourth Award’ pin-backed bars on ribbon, good very fine (lot) £350-450

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Named and Attributable American Medal Groups.

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Chief Pharmacist’s Mate Charles Anthony DiGiacinto, U.S.N. was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received when the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Wasp was torpedoed and sunk by the Japanese submarine I-19 on 15 September 1942.

He was one of two men of the United States Embassy at Nanking to be commended by the British Ambassador at Nanking for assisting the wounded taken from H.M.S. Amethyst, following the ‘Yangtze incident’. He wrote

‘.... It gives me particular pleasure to express our indebtedness to two members of your embassy establishment, Lieut.-Commander J. W. Packard and Hospital Man Chief C. A. Giacinto whose professional skill was invaluable at this critical moment. Their selfless devotion to the care of the wounded at great personal inconvenience and at considerable risk were worthy of the highest traditions of the Service to which they belong and I hope that you will be good enough to convey to the appropriate authorities of the United States Government our profound appreciation. ...’

With original (damaged) Chinese identity card and identity paper - both bearing the recipient’s photograph; a photograph of a jeep belonging to the U.S. Naval Attache at Nanking bearing the number plate ‘No.085’; the original painted plate, ‘No.085’ taken from the jeep; Navy Department, Bureau of Naval Personnel letter re the award of the Purple Heart; with copied British Embassy Nanking letter dated 6 May 1949; recipient’s copied record papers; together with cloth rank insignia and riband bar for display purposes.

This lot is sold as seen and is not subject to return. Please see saleroom notice on lot 280 for fuller details.