Boot
Object number2017.15.5 a,b
Date1949-1964
MediumLeather; Rubber; Cotton; Plastic
Credit LineGift of Carmen Vacca
DescriptionPair of men's black leather military uniform boots.DimensionsHeight x Width x Length (a): 10 × 4 × 11.5 in. (25.4 × 10.2 × 29.2 cm)Height x Width x Length (b): 9.875 × 4 × 11.5 in. (25.1 × 10.2 × 29.2 cm)
MarksText imprinted on the exterior of the top of each upper "7 1/2 R PJ 4-84": on the left boot (a) text is on the proper right side and on the right boot (b) text is on the proper left side.
Each boot has text on the underside of each sole at center "7 1/2 R" and "RO- / SEARCH" and on the front of the heel "H" and "3".
Top of insoles have text "7R / THIS SIDE UP / DO NOT..."
Historical NotesThese boots were worn by Carmen Vacca during his military career. Carmen Vacca was an Italian immigrant who served as a Seargent 1st Class in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1949-1953 and from 1955-1964, and a Corporal in the Korean War from 1953-1954. In Korea, he was in charge of the communications for the 58th Ordinance Company and used his skills as an electrician to provide power to the ammoniums camp and neighboring village. During his service, he spent time in Sihung, Korea. Just before he was drafted into the Korean War, Vacca and his family’s American citizenship was questioned, and the U.S. proceeded against the family to try to deport them; their deposition was the day before he shipped out. Vacca’s Reserve unit relocated to West Virginia and he retired from his military service; if he would have stayed, he would have shipped to Vietnam in the late 1960s with his unit.
Previous owner
Carmen Vacca
Related institution
United States Army
Related institution
United States Army Reserve
Related institution
58th Ordinance Company
On View
Not on view
1950
c. 1990
1980-1989
