Original U.S. WWII Vice Admiral Bertram Rodgers Mounted Ribbon Bar & Pilot's Wings with Photographs for Framing - 16 x 27 ½'

Item DescriptionOriginal Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is a fantastic set of items mounted on a display board that does have some damage, but with some proper framing will become a treasured piece of any WWII collection. Bertram Joseph Rodgers (March 18, 1894 – November 30, 1983) was a highly decorated vice admiral in the United States Navy during World War II. He received his Navy Cross as captain of USS Salt Lake City in the battle of the Komandorski islands, during the Aleutian Islands Campaign. Rodgers later served as commander of Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet, commandant of 12th Naval District in San Francisco and commander of U.S. Naval Forces Germany. He completed his career as president of Permanent General Court Martial in 1956.His Navy Cross citation reads:The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain Bertram Joseph Rodgers, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Heavy Cruiser U.S.S. SALT LAKE CITY (CA-25), during operations in the Aleutian Islands on 26 March 1943. During a 3 1/2-hour engagement with an enemy force of far greater strength, Captain Rodgers handled his cruiser with such excellent judgment and skill that she was able to inflict severe damage on one heavy cruiser and lesser damage on another heavy, and a light cruiser. His outstanding achievement contributed to the withdrawal of the Japanese force and frustrated their desperate attempt to reinforce troops in the Aleutian Islands. Captain Rodgers' conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States.This 16 x 27 ½' board contains two photographs of Rodgers and a great insignia group containing his gold Navy pilot's wings and a 8-place ribbon bar. The ribbon bar contains the Navy Cross, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the WWI Victory medal with one star, the American Defense medal with one star, the American Campaign Medal, the European campaign medal with one campaign star, the Asiatic Pacific medal with three stars, and the WWII Victory medal.One of the photos is signed by Rodgers and dated 1941, and the ribbon bar he is wearing is quite similar to the one in this group.The board is now warped from water damage and the lettering on the board is wearing away. With some TLC this will become an outstanding part of any WWII collection! Ready for display.Rodgers was born on March 18, 1894, in Knoxville, Pennsylvania, as the son of a glass decorator Linus James Rodgers and his wife Clara E. Werling. He had seven siblings and completed the St. George's Catholic School and graduated from the South Pittsburgh High School in June 1912. Rodgers subsequently received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, from 32nd District and entered the academy as midshipman in June that year.While at the academy, he was active in varsity baseball team for all four years and won the Naval Academy 'N' in each of the four years. Among other duties, Rodgers served as midshipman-ensign and ordnance officer of the Second Cadet Battalion under his classmate and future admiral, Ralph E. Davison, and also was active in Hop Committee.Among his classmates were several future distinguished general officers, including Frank E. Beatty Jr., Russell S. Berkey, Ralph E. Davison, Calvin T. Durgin, C. Turner Joy, Gerald F. Bogan, John E. Wilkes, Homer L. Grosskopf, Osborne B. Hardison, George F. Hussey Jr., Robert Carney, Oscar R. Cauldwell, William Fechteler, Don P. Moon, Denis L. Ryan, Samuel P. Ginder, Charles P. Cecil, Willard A. Kitts, Andrew C. McFall, Henry M. Mullinnix, Thorvald A. Solberg, Maurice G. Holmes, Gilbert C. Hoover, Arnold W. Jacobsen or Arthur W. Radford.Shipping RestrictionsThis product is available for international shipping.Payment OptionsEligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & SezzleLegal InformationDue to legal restrictions this item cannot be shipped to Australia, France or Germany. This is not a comprehensive list and other countries may be added in the future.