US WWII Navy Dogtag Pair, Pearl Harbor Survivor USS Solace
This item is listed for historical interest only. It was listed on our site previously but has been sold and is no longer available for purchase.
Sold for: $250.00

Original era manufacture. Navy pattern dogtag set issued to Finnish born, George Anselm Talus, 327-82-28, Tetanus inoculation 11/41 (fingerprint reverse) and the other tag Tetanus 10-42.According to Ancestry records George Talus first appears assigned to USS Twiggs (DD-127) in July 1940, USS Prairie Oct.-Nov. 1940, USS Vincennes Nov.-Dec. 1940, and USS Solace (AH-5) August 1941 with a muster roll aboard Solace dated 8 December 1941.The hospital ship USS Solace was stationed at Pearl Harbor on the Day of Infamy, 7th December 1941, the Japanese attack on the US Pacific Fleet. The Solace was moored close by to the USS Arizona, and an iconic film sequence exists of the destruction of the Arizona, filmed by an officer on board the Solace.During the attack the Solace immediately sent boats out in rescue attempts of the sailors in the oil covered, flaming waters around the Arizona.Talus continued service aboard the Solace until 1943. In February 1944 he is found assigned to the USS Stockham, DD-683; during his service on this spanking new destroyer, he saw service during the bombardment of Saipan, Battle of the Philippine Sea "The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot", and the Stockham was credited with three enemy aircraft shot down.   His service record ends in the fall of 1944 aboard the USS Prairie, a Destroyer Tender, prior to him being sent to a US Navy hospital for medical treatment.He died in 1949 and is buried in Minnesota Dogtags are an interesting collectible. Long overlooked and undervalued, now with the advent of the internet, some research opportunities exist, particularly with the US Navy and US Marine Corps. Unlike campaign medals which were awarded after the fact, and in most cases are not named; Dogtags were quite often worn by the individual at the time the historical event took place. A tangible reminder of the event, and the sacrifices made for country and flag.