U.S. 2628th Postal Directory Company – APO 512

Corporal Fred C. Weaver served in the U.S. Army Infantry during the Second World War. After training in the Army replacement system in 1943, he deployed to the Mediterranean Theater and served with the 1st Replacement Depot in Algeria before being transferred to the 9th Battalion. In April 1944 he was assigned to the 2628th Postal Directory Company (Provisional), a unit responsible for maintaining personnel location records and forwarding mail throughout the theater. The company operated under APO 512, which was located at Algiers, Algeria, until July 1944 before moving to Caserta, Italy, one of the principal Allied administrative and logistical centers in the Mediterranean Theater. Personnel assigned to the unit entered Italy through Naples, the principal port of entry for Allied personnel entering southern Italy during the campaign, before proceeding to Caserta, where the company was stationed for the remainder of the war.

Nickel-plated Zippo lighter engraved on the lid «FRED C. WEAVER» above the Army serial number «33398136». The front face features an engraved depiction of Mount Vesuvius in eruption above the Bay of Naples.