WW2 Ike Jacket
T/5 Clarence L. Zerbe - Service Battery, 324th Field Artillery Battalion
This is a nice 83rd Infantry and 8th Armored Division uniform set Identified to Clarence L. Zerbe. It includes his Ike Jacket, his Trousers and his Overseas Cap. In one of the pockets was a flyer for the Zerbe family estate auction which corresponds with the laundry number also present in the jacket (Z-8446).
This is a nice 83rd Infantry and 8th Armored Division uniform set Identified to Clarence L. Zerbe. It includes his Ike Jacket, his Trousers and his Overseas Cap. In one of the pockets was a flyer for the Zerbe family estate auction which corresponds with the laundry number also present in the jacket (Z-8446).
The Jacket still has the original insignia sewn to it, including on his left sleeve, the 8th Armored Division patch with the "Thundering Herd" tab attached to it. The tab is theater-made, the T/5 chevron, three Overseas Service Bars and one Service Stripe for a 3-year period of service. On his right sleeve he has his former combat unit patch of the 83rd Infantry Division and the T/5 chevron. Above the right-hand pocket is his Ruptured Duck. Above the left-hand pocket there are Service Ribbons for the Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the European African Middle-Eastern Campaign Medal with four Bronze Campaign Stars and the World War II Victory Medal. There are also a US collar disc on the right side and the service disk for Field Artillery on the left side. His overseas cap has the Field Artillery piping and also a Field Artillery collar disc.
Technician 5th Grade Clarence L. Zerbe
Tecnichian 5th grade
Clarence L. Zerbe
Technician 5th Grade Clarence L. Zerbe
Clarence L. Zerbe was born in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania on January 11, 1922 to Lester and Bessie Zerbe. He was the oldest of four childeren, Earl W. (°1926), Claire. E (°1931) and Allen F. (°1939).
He entered the service (#33368446) on October 14, 1942 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, shortly after marrying Arvilla Berger. Not long after his induction Clarence was transferred to Camp Atterbury, Indiana where he joined the newly formed 83rd Infantry Division as a member of Service Battery, 324th Field Artillery Regiment. Most likely he was one of the original 324th members as they started receiving selectees from October 15 on.
Morning Reports from October 4, 1944 listed Pvt. Zerbe, Clarence L. SSN changed to 345. SSN is Service Specialty Number, this is same as MOS, Military Occupational Specialty, 345 is Truck Driver, Light. For his service he was awarded, among other decorations, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the American Campaign Medal, the European African Middle-Eastern Campaign Medal with four Bronze Campaign Stars, the World War II Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
Mr. Clarence Zerbe died on December 29, 2001 at the age of 79. At the time of his dead he was survived by his wife of 59 yaers, Arvilla L. (Berger) Zerbe (1925-2009) and his three daughters, Rosemary (Zerbe) Ferster, Anita M. (Zerbe) Fidler and Terry Ann (Zerbe) Richardson. His wife Arville was born on December 3, 1925. Arvilla worked as a seamstress for the former Fox-Knapp Mfg., and then as a custodian for the Bowling Alley, Pine Grove. She passed away on August 10, 2009 at the age of 83. Clarance and Arvilla Zerbe are burried at the Jacobs Cemetery, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
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