World War I uniform grouping belonging to Major General Terry Allen, U.S. Army. This lot consists of: a private purchase officer's tunic with stand collar, and four pocket front; and a pair of riding breeches. The tunic was tailored by Marshall Field Co., whose embroidered tag is still present at the neck, and is also marked with the owner's name on the tag sewn into the interior pocket: “T. Allen USA, 4 - 1918.” The tunic is a WWI era example, made from olive drab gabardine, with darkened metal front and pocket buttons, and has a dark brown lining. Two metal “U.S.” insignia are present on the collar, a green and red fourragére (French Croix de Guerre) is present on the left epaulette, a single bullion embroidered War Service Chevron on the left cuff, and a tattered three ribbon bar is present on the left breast pocket: Great War Victory Medal (with two stars), Mexican Service Medal, and French Croix de Guerre with single star. The tunic is in excellent shape with very little evident wear, and only some negligible staining of the cloth. The breeches are inter-war era ‘Pink’ elastique with white cotton lining, and Allen's name written in ink on the interior of the right pocket. The breeches are in excellent condition with very little wear, although there are some frayed spots here and there, and has nearly new suede patches at the ankles.
Terry de la Mesa Allen (1888-1969) was one of the more charismatic and interesting general officers in the US Army of the 20th century. Initially expelled from West Point for academic underperformance, Allen served as a junior cavalry officer along the Mexican Border prior to the US entry into WWI, but shipped over to France as an officer in the 315th Ammunition Train once the Army began deploying to France. Not long after his arrival, he managed to con his way into receiving Infantry certification (by gate-crashing the graduation ceremony without having taken the actual course) and was reassigned to 3rd Battalion, 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division, AEF. He fought at St. Mihiel, and Aincreville, and was part of the Army of Occupation following the Armistice. In 1940, he was promoted directly from Lt. Colonel to Brigadier General and given command of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, then 2nd Cavalry Division, then ADC of 36th Infantry Division. Following the Pearl Harbor attack, Allen was promoted to Major General and given command of the 1st Infantry Division ‘The Big Red One.’ He commanded the division through North Africa and Sicily, but was recalled to the US in late 1943. He was then given command of the 104th Infantry Division ‘Timberwolves,’ who fought with distinction through Holland, Belgium, and on into Germany itself. Allen retired in 1946, and passed away in 1969 at the age of 81. This is a great opportunity to acquire some uniform items that belonged to a General that Ernie Pyle called, ‘one of my favorite people.’
