Well worn Zippo with original engraved U.S. Infantry insignia.

«In memory Ernie Pyle 1945» is engraved on the front of this black crackle Zippo in mint condition. Pyle was the best-known American war correspondent. He was killed on the island of Ie Shima by gun fire on April 15th of 1945 during the battle of Okinawa. There is a monument dedicated to his memory on the southern part of the island.

George Blaisdell, who had an intense and mutually appreciative correspondence with Ernie Pyle during the war, had this unique Zippo engraved as a token of great appreciation and in memory of him. Only some hundred pieces were manufactured and given to the crew of the U.S.S. Cabot.

«In memory Ernie Pyle 1945» is engraved on the front of this Zippo in used condition.

American troops from the U.S. 77th Infantry Division landed 1945 on Ie Shima (or Ie Jima) as part of the battle of Okinawa and there was heavy fighting from April 16 until the island was secured on April 21. U.S. journalist Ernie Pyle was killed during the battle. The U.S. 77th Infantry Division was inactivated on 15 March 1946 in Japan. The battle has been referred to as the «typhoon of steel» in English and «tetsu no ame» (rain of steel) or «tetsu no bōfū» (violent wind of steel) in Japanese. The nicknames refer to the ferocity of the fighting, the intensity of Japanese kamikaze attacks and the sheer numbers of Allied ships and armored vehicles that assaulted the island. The battle was one of the bloodiest in the Pacific.

Well worn Zippo with original engraved U.S. Infantry insignia and hand engraved geisha face, Mount Gusuku (or Tatchuu in Kunigami) as most notable geographical peak (172 meters), the year «1945» with the island name «Ie Shima» on one side and the year «1946» with the island name «Okinawa» on the other side.

The U.S. 83rd Infantry Division arrived in England on 16 April 1944 and, after training in Wales, the division took part in the Allied invasion of Normandy and landed at Omaha Beach on 18 June 1944. Following the division participated in several campaigns: Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe. On 11 April 1945 the division encountered Langenstein-Zwieberge, a subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp, where the troops found approximately 1'100 inmates.

Well worn chrome plated Zippo with engravings all around. On the front the name «Mel Vin. J Vowels» and the units shoulder sleeve insignia of the U.S. 83rd Infantry Division in triangle form. On the back the name «William J. Patterson» and the U.S. Infantry insignia. On all sides ornaments.

On 25 January 1945, the U.S. 14th Infantry Regiment sailed from New York arriving in Le Havre on 7 February 1945. The 14th then moved some 560 km across France. On 21 March 1945 the 14th took part in the U.S. 71st Division's breaching the Siegfried Line and the capture of Pirmasens. On 13 April 1945 the «Golden Dragons» cut the main Berlin to Munich highway. On 14-16 April 1945 the 14th participated in its heaviest combat as the U.S. 71st Division seized the town of Bayreuth, Germany.

Well worn Zippo with diagonal lines and original engraved U.S. 14th Infantry Regiment insignia on the front.

This organic unit of the U.S. 28th Infantry Division was called to active federal service on 17 February 1941, 10 months prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. The regiment first entered the continent of Europe on the Normandy beaches following the D-Day landing. The regiment participated in the capture of Paris and was involved in the bitter fighting in the Huertgen Forest and the Battle of the Bulge. At one point the regiment was reduced to 300 men.

Worn Zippo with diagonal lines and original engravings: the U.S. 112th Infantry Regiment insignia on the front and on the other side «good luck, post 212 V.F.W.» – this Veterans of Foreign Wars post is the one from Bradford PA.

Elements of the U.S. 7th Infantry Division first saw combat in the amphibious assault on Attu Island, the westernmost Japanese entrenchment in the Aleutian islands chain. Elements landed on 11 May 1943, spearheaded by the U.S. 17th Infantry Regiment, and fought an intense battle over the tundra against strong Japanese resistance. The fight for the island culminated in a battle at Chichagof Harbor, when the division destroyed all Japanese resistance on the island.

Mint black crackle Zippo with U.S. 159th Infantry Regiment insignia on the front.

The U.S. 36th Infantry Division, which primarily consisted of Texas National Guard units, participated in the Italian Campaign and the liberation of southern France as part of Operation Dragoon. During these operations, they worked alongside various Allied units, including the Free French Forces, to achieve their objectives. The French 40e Régiment d'Artillerie d'Afrique served alongside and was integrated into U.S. units as part of the Free French Forces which were formed under General Charles de Gaulle. The New Zealand Division was involved during various battles in Italy. Especially during the Battle of Cassino in early 1944 where they played a key role in the efforts to capture the town and the nearby Monte Cassino abbey.

Well worn black crackle Zippo with three different unit insignia: That of the U.S. 36th Infantry Division, the French 40th Regiment of Artillery North African on the front and that of the New Zealand Division on the back.

Well worn chrome plated Zippo with U.S. Infantry insignia and a cartridge cal .38 super on the front.

Untouched, in original return box dated January 24, 1969 after repair by Zippo with a spare fluid tube and packet of flints.

The U.S. 1st Infantry Division is a combined arms division of the United States Army, and is the oldest continuously serving division in the Regular Army with assignments in North African and European theaters during WWII.

Worn black crackle Zippo with distinctive unit insignia.

The U.S. 3rd Infantry Division is the only division of the U.S. Army during WWII that fought the axis on all European fronts, and was among the first American combat units to engage in offensive ground combat operations. During the war the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division consisted of the 7th, 15th and 30th Infantry Regiments, together with supporting units. The U.S. 7th Infantry Regiment fought German forces on three fronts, North Africa, Italy, and Northwest Europe. It conducted four amphibious landings against beach defenses earning a spearhead device on the streamers awarded for these battles. Elements of the regiment captured Hitler's retreat near Berchtesgaden on 4 May 1945 looting the town for several hours before retreating prior to U.S. 101st Airborne entering under orders on May 5, 1945.

Well worn black crackle Zippo with the insignia of the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division engraved on the front as well as the owner's initials and the name of the division and regiment.

During the Allied invasion of Germany U.S. forces including the U.S. 78th Infantry «Lightning» Division saved the opening and the destruction of the Schammenauel dam and captured the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen, one of the last bridges across the Rhine. The GIs' actions permitted the Allies to transport troops and tanks across the Rhine River into the heartland of Nazi Germany.

Black crackle Zippo with various engravings: on the front the name of the owner and the unit with the shoulder insignia of the U.S. 78th Infantry Division including nickname. And, on both sides, his stays with sketches of the bridge and dam: «Scotland, Geneva, Switzerland, Luxembourg, England, Belgium, Le Harve France, Holland, Remagen Bridge on the Rhine, Schwammenauel Dam and 1945 Berlin Germany».

During WWII, the "Blackhawk" Division arrived in France in March 1945. It quickly proceeded to Germany, where it took part in the fierce fighting in the Ruhr area where the troops discovered and liberated the Attendorn civilian forced-labor camp on April 11, 1945. The U.S. 86th Infantry Division was recognized as a liberating unit by the U.S. Army's Center of Military History and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1996. It then was ordered to move southward and crossed the Danube River on April 27, 1945, advancing into Austria where the division captured the crown jewels of Hungary in Mattsee on 4 May. After a short time back in the USA, the division left San Francisco, 24 August 1945, for the Philippines. The U.S. 86th Division was aboard ship in Leyte harbor when the Japanese surrendered. After landing on Luzon the unit was dispersed throughout the Island, participated at the occupation und was deactivated in December 1946. 

Chrome plated Zippo with U.S. Infantry and «Black Hawk» insignia including battle engagements in the «ETO» for European Theater of Operations and «SWP» for South West Pacific.

The U.S. 4th Infantry Division played a crucial role in World War II. They landed on Utah Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944, and advanced through Normandy, capturing Cherbourg and breaking through at Saint-Lô. In August 1944, they helped liberate Paris. The division fought in the Hurtgen Forest in late 1944 and played a key role in defending Luxembourg during the Battle of the Bulge. They crossed the Rhine River and advanced into Germany in the Rhineland Campaign, continuing until the German surrender in May 1945.

Black crackle Zippo engraved with the insignia of the U.S. 4th Infantry Division and the date of D-Day «June 6 44» on the front. Untouched, in original return box from 1950 after repair by Zippo with post-war box. According to the address, the Zippo belonged to Sigmund J. Nalewjka, an Army veteran of WWII, he served In Europe and was wounded  during the D-Day Invasion. He received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

During WWII, the U.S. 8th Infantry Division was sent to Europe to fight against the Axis. The division landed on Utah Beach, the westernmost beach of the five landing areas of the Normandy Invasion of WWII. It was divided into zones assigned Tare Green, Uncle Red and Victor. Shortly after its arrival, the division captured the French cities of Rennes and Brest. Following these actions, the division turned east towards the German border, taking part in the heavy fighting in the Huertgen Forest in November 1944. In early March 1945, the division had advanced into the Rhineland. It fought its way into the Ruhr region the following month. By war's end, the «Golden Arrow» division had advanced to the Elbe River in central Germany. On May 2, 1945, as it advanced into northern Germany, the U.S. 8th Infantry Division encountered the Neuengamme concentration camp Wöbbelin subcamp, near the city of Ludwigslust.

Black crackle Zippo engraved with «8th Co. F» and the the insignia of the U.S. 8th Infantry Division on the front, various important dates «6.6.44 Fr», «28.8.44 Paris» «25.12.44 Hurtgen» on the back, «Red Uncle» along with eight counting marks on the sides.