Grouping, Cpt. Francis Cronin, Chaplain, ETO

Rare genuine WWII US Army grouping, which belonged to some Captain Francis P. Cronin, a Catholic chaplain, and includes the following artefacts:

- officer's service jacket, dark OD wool gabardine, retaining its original waist belt, buttons, and insignia: Seventh Army (right) and ETOUSA (left) shoulder sleeve insignia, Captain rank insignia, U.S. and Christian chaplain collar insignia, medal ribbons (European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two Stars, WWII Victory Medal, and Army of Occupation Medal), Meritorious Service Unit Badge, and Overseas Service Bars; label is dated December 1st, 1942, size 39R; the name tag sewn on the inner pockets indicates that the present coat belonged to Chaplain Francis P. Cronin;

- officer's visor cap, complete with cap badge, leather chinstrap and buttons, size 7 ⅛, manufactured by Wimbledon and featuring two tags showing inscription Chaplain Francis P. Cronin;

- map of the various American Red Cross Clubs in Central London, dated 1943;

- pair of XXI Corps shoulder sleeve insignia, coming along with a Free French 1ère Armée pin badge;

Great homogeneous set, in good overall condition -- the jacket shows some minor moth damage.

Francis Patrick Cronin, whose paternal grandparents were Irish emigrants while his maternal grandparents had come from Germany, was born on December 24, 1908 in Niagara Falls, New York and was ordained a priest on July 15, 1935. He joined the US Army as a Catholic chaplain on January 2, 1944 with the rank of 1st Lieutenant (officer's ASN O-542343) and went on to serve in France and Germany. He was discharged on October 1st, 1946 as a Captain, and passed away on November 28, 1988.

https://fr.findagrave.com/memorial/78075847/francis-p-cronin

Illustration documents available in digital format only (see 'Attached files' below).