U.S. 83rd Infantry Division – «Thunderbolt»

Melvin Joseph Vowels (35811009) of Louisville, Kentucky, entered U.S. Army service during WWII and trained as an Infantry Rifleman. By July 1944 he was serving with a replacement unit in the European Theater of Operations. Records from Headquarters, 41st Replacement Battalion, dated 22 July 1944, list Vowels as an infantry rifleman awaiting assignment to a combat unit. On 24 July 1944 he joined Company F, 330th Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division, as documented in the company's Morning Report of 26 July 1944. The U.S. 83rd Infantry Division arrived in England on 16 April 1944 and, after training in Wales, took part in the Allied invasion of Normandy, landing at Omaha Beach on 18 June 1944. The division subsequently participated in the campaigns of Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe. On 11 April 1945, troops of the division liberated the Langenstein-Zwieberge concentration camp, a subcamp of Buchenwald, where approximately 1,100 prisoners were found.


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

  • Model:

    three barrel hinge, flat bottom

  • Year:

    1943 - 45

  • Status:

    in collection

U.S. 83rd Infantry Division – «Thunderbolt», Modell three barrel hinge, flat bottom, Jahr 1943 - 45, Ansicht 1U.S. 83rd Infantry Division – «Thunderbolt», Modell three barrel hinge, flat bottom, Jahr 1943 - 45, Ansicht 2U.S. 83rd Infantry Division – «Thunderbolt», Modell three barrel hinge, flat bottom, Jahr 1943 - 45, Ansicht 3U.S. 83rd Infantry Division – «Thunderbolt», Modell three barrel hinge, flat bottom, Jahr 1943 - 45, Ansicht 4U.S. 83rd Infantry Division – «Thunderbolt», Modell three barrel hinge, flat bottom, Jahr 1943 - 45, Ansicht 5