Two ALSs from Lieutenant General William P. Yarborough, both signed “Bill Yarborough,” one page each, 5.5 x 4.25 and 5.25 x 8, framed together (sans glass) with a wire bullion 509th Geronimo Airborne patch (personally owned and worn by Yarborough) and a commemorative medallion to an overall size 12.5 x 10. The first handwritten letter, no date, Office of the Chief of Staff letterhead, to “Brent,” in full: “This little 509 insignia was designed by one of my parachute soldiers, ‘Bud’ Pardieck who was an accomplished artist. I had him paint the ‘man in the door’ on our command post signs at Anzio and in Southern France. We also wore the device on our field jackets and painted it on battalion equipment. The one I am sending you, I wore on my right shoulder when I served in the Pentagon.” The second letter, August 3, 1996, personal retired letterhead, addressed to “Rudi,” in full: “The 509 Parachute Infantry Battalion patch was adopted and worn during World War II without official authority or recognition. I wore it on my right shoulder when I was AC of S for Intelligence—using the same authority to do so that I had during War II!” In overall fine condition, with light scattered spotting.
