WWII Identified Numbered Purple Heart Tank Destroyer Group with Award Document

The group consists of the medals, insignia and award document of Private Ernest L. Taylor of the Reconnaissance Company of the 776th Tank Destroyer Battalion. The group includes a numbered Purple Heart decoration on a slot brooch suspension, with the edge numbered “89039”. The medal is accompanied by the typed field citation in General Orders Number 188 of the Headquarters of the 776th Tank Destroyer Battalion. The citation states that Private Taylor was awarded the Purple Heart as a result of being wounded in action on November 25, 1944, in France. Significantly, the citation specifies that Taylor was awarded “Medal Number 89039”. The medal itself is unnamed, as awarded in the European Theater. The group also includes Taylor’s U.S. Army Good Conduct Medal, slot brooch suspension, unnamed as awarded; the American Campaign Medal, crimp brooch suspension; the European Campaign Medal, crimp brooch suspension; the World War II Victory Medal, crimp brooch suspension; a clutch back ribbon bar with the ribbons for the Purple Heart, the Good conduct Medal, and the European Campaign Medal with two campaign stars; individual ribbon bars for the Good Conduct Medal as well as the medal’s enamel lapel badge, the American Campaign Medal, the European Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, and the World War II Victory Medal; “U.S.” and Tank Destroyer clutch back collar insignia; a single German made pin back distinctive insignia for the 776th Tank Destroyer Battalion which is maker marked by the Poellath firm; a German made shoulder patch for the Seventh Army; and a fully embroidered used shoulder patch of the Tank Destroyer forces, removed from a uniform. The award citation shows age and fold liens, but overall the items in the group are all in very good to excellent condition.