USMC POW Commemorative Pistol Suggestions

Grim

Grim

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Working with a major manufacturer on a commemorative pistol to be presented to my father who happens to have been one of the last POWs to have returned home from the Vietnam war.

I'm looking for suggestions for items to be included in the design. The manufacturer has the ability to 3 dimensionally engrave the firearm.

We're working off a 1911 design now. Some of the items I've already shared with the designer are:

- Rank at Time of Retirement
- Dates of Time in the USMC
- Loss Coordinates
- Duration of Imprisonment
- Unit Identification

I plan on sending additional photos of his retirement KBar that was presented to him that shows his name with what others called him below (Major Doom).

I'll be over at my parent's house this weekend trying to get additional photos. Any suggestions offered would be greatly appreciated.

For those of you with time to watch, the video is about an hour and a half.

 
SSgt75 said:
I hope you'll post pictures of it when it's finished.

Give your dad a big Semper Fi from a fellow Marine.

1966-68 - Chu Lai, RVN
1969 Da Nang, RVN
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Ditto. I can’t imagine what he went through. Whatever you do it will be well received.

The Eagle Globe and Anchor is a must. Semper Fi I think would be appropriate as well. The dates of his captivity would also be nice. And the pow mia emblem along with never forgotten.
 
No suggestions, but I'm glad he got back home. I wore one of those POW-MIA bracelets for years and found out fairly recently that my guy actually made it home. Now I wear one for a guy MIA.
I'm grateful for your Dad's service, if you'd pass that along to him.
 
I may have missed something. Is that video your father? I was captivated and watched the whole 96 minutes. That man went thru a lot of agony. What a strong patriot he was and is. Made me tear up. A true warrior in every sense.
 
BlackGun said:
I may have missed something. Is that video your father? I was captivated and watched the whole 96 minutes. That man went thru a lot of agony. What a strong patriot he was and is. Made me tear up. A true warrior in every sense.
Click to expand...

Yes that's my dad. I'm working with Sig Sauer to create a commemorative 1911. We're just in the ideation phase now.

They're also creating custom M17's for the honor guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns and two other pistols for Medal of Honor recipients.

I was honestly humbled by their desire to work with me on this project.
 
Wow. You are a fortunate son to have such a father. What a story that is. You tell him blackgun thanks him for his service for this great land and I consider him a courageous defender of this nation and all that is good in this country. His sufferage I will remember when I think things are going bad in my life. He’s inspiring.
 
I'll post up photos of the mock up when received. I just have a basic PowerPoint they sent me so far.
 
Grim said:
Working with a major manufacturer on a commemorative pistol to be presented to my father who happens to have been one of the last POWs to have returned home from the Vietnam war.

I'm looking for suggestions for items to be included in the design. The manufacturer has the ability to 3 dimensionally engrave the firearm.

We're working off a 1911 design now. Some of the items I've already shared with the designer are:

- Rank at Time of Retirement
- Dates of Time in the USMC
- Loss Coordinates
- Duration of Imprisonment
- Unit Identification

I plan on sending additional photos of his retirement KBar that was presented to him that shows his name with what others called him below (Major Doom).

I'll be over at my parent's house this weekend trying to get additional photos. Any suggestions offered would be greatly appreciated.

For those of you with time to watch, the video is about an hour and a half.

Click to expand...


God damn. Helluva video. Probably the most gripping 96 minutes of video I’ve ever watched.
 
Grits said:
How does one respond after watching this.

Saying "Thank you" seems so lacking. There are no words appropriate to express the appreciation for what your father did for his country.



Sent from my SM-J320V using Tapatalk
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The best way would be to share the video with others.

These are the people our country should be honoring.
 
The EGA is a MUST!

Did/does his unit have a nickname/callsign/motto/mascot? If so I would feel that should be included as well. Did he have a nickname/moniker amongst his fellow Marines? Most who served got one at some point in their career. That should be included as well. But there's only so much you can fit on a 1911 lol. All the other suggestions are spot on and we DEMAND you post pics of the finished product!....

Tell him thank you for being one bad ass motherf*&%er! in a very respectful manner of course.
 
aznginf said:
The EGA is a MUST!

Did/does his unit have a nickname/callsign/motto/mascot? If so I would feel that should be included as well. Did he have a nickname/moniker amongst his fellow Marines? Most who served got one at some point in their career. That should be included as well. But there's only so much you can fit on a 1911 lol. All the other suggestions are spot on and we DEMAND you post pics of the finished product!....

Tell him thank you for being one bad ass motherf*&%er! in a very respectful manner of course.
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He did pick up a nickname and I'm trying to sneak and get a photo of it on his retirement Kbar. It's inscribed "Major Doom."
 
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Incredible man and an amazing story. If there is any way to find room on that 1911 for his NavMac w/ V and Purple Heart with a "4" on it I'd be sure to have that engraved. For those who don't know what the Navy-Marine Corps Medal is - just google it. And to get it with a Combat "V" - WOW!

@Grim Ask your dad if he ever knew Col Charles Shelton.
 
Will do. I was able to get a lot of photos last night since they invited us over for dinner. I have forwarded all the photos to the Sig Custom Project Manager and suggested the two dates for presentation (release date from the POW camp or National POW Recognition day).
 
Here are some of the photos I shared. POW release.
 

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Well, the additional photos are too large to attach. I'll see if I can host them somewhere first.
 
BR_Vietnam_1973_POW_Homecoming_file_03.jpg
 
Sig Sauer is also wanting to make a donation to a POW/veteran foundation at the same time as the presentation. I'm looking for information on groups to see who I would like to suggest be the recipient of the donation.

If you all have any in mind, I'd like to see that a large percentage of donations to the foundation ultimately wind up to who they claim to support as well as supporting the 2nd Amendment.
 
Grim said:
Sig Sauer is also wanting to make a donation to a POW/veteran foundation at the same time as the presentation. I'm looking for information on groups to see who I would like to suggest be the recipient of the donation.

If you all have any in mind, I'd like to see that a large percentage of donations to the foundation ultimately wind up to who they claim to support as well as supporting the 2nd Amendment.
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DO NOT SEND MONEY TO THE "wounded warror project" PLEASE!
 
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If you guys ever want to donate ... Fisher House at Camp Lejeune is excellent. Each Fisher House is locally run and they do not waste funds on anything most goes to supporting the families of wounded soldiers at the local medical facilities.
 
Update: I have suggested Fisher House and Purple Heart Homes as where the donation should go. I also have an updated design from Sig.

I sent a lot of information and photos to assist in the design. I believe what was presented fits within what we were trying to achieve (a clean and concise commemorative pistol, with embellishments to clearly identify it as a one off pistol).

As the design was sent in PDF, I'll try to screenshot it and upload the proposal.
 
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