Shared Photo: Salem, Oregon VFW - Thousands of Uniforms

Question

I wanted to share this photo for the 52 Weeks of Photos 2022 Uniform challenge. I was invited to attend a family reunion on my Hopson & Pierce line today. These cousins are my 4th-5th cousins as our 4th great grandparents were siblings (three Pierce sisters married Hopson brothers). This family reunion was held at the Salem, Oregon VFW and I was given a tour of the attic. I was floored! Aisles and aisles of military uniforms from every war. 95% were worn by a service member in every war, the other 5% had to be hand made as they didn't have a uniform.  I got many photos of the thousands of uniforms, but this one gives you a close-up view of what they look like. Each uniform is accompanied by a photo of the service member who donated the uniform and his/her history in the military.

Salem, Marion, Oregon, United States. Date: 28 Aug 2022.

Click here for the image details page or here for the full-sized version (4032 x 3024).

Answer 1

This is very cool. Thank you for sharing Shonda. And a thank you to all the men who donned those uniforms and then thought to donate them.

Answer 2

This amazing collection includes several uniforms from my StepDad, Juan Agunoy Ulep.  He came to the US from the Philippines after serving as a juvenile spy for the US Army against the Japanese.  He learned languages easily and because he was a child, was mostly ignored by the Japanese soldiers and so was able to pass information on to the Army.  He came to the USat 20, finished his high school education, worked to get into college and then went into the US Army for over 20 years.  He was based in many countries, Germany, being one of his favorites.  He served in Viet Nam as a "tunnel rat" as he was small enough to fit in the enemies tunnels.  He was also a dog handler. Again he learned a lot of the language, but it was one he never spoke again after the war.  He wanted to forget it.  I miss this man more than I can say and I know he is Still a Proud Army Soldier!

Comments

Thank you for sharing his amazing history! Sounds like a wonderful man.