Cpt. Benjamin W. Hoge

I was recently contacted about this jacket, my buddy found this m42 parka in a thrift shop and with it, inside a pocket a letter from the veterans daughter.

This jacket belonged captain Benjamin W. Hoge. Born in 1923 and was from Virginia. He came from a military family and went to military school. He became an officer and was assigned to company E, 101st infantry regiment 26th infantry division as a fresh 2nd lieutenant at just 20 years old. He served the whole war as a platoon leader.

He was wounded during the battle for hill 310 after being hit in the head during an artillery barrage. He stayed with the company and earned his bronze star medal during the battle of the bulge, specifically at the Mon Schumann crossroads where savage fighting took place while fighting for the main supply route to bastogne. This reversible smock is the actual jacket that he wore during the battle of the bulge and it really shows it. Blood stains, dirt and unwashable stains are the proof of heavy use. He drew a YD patch on it at some point.

He survived the war and peacefully passed away in 2020.

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