LOT #40520 |
Sold on Dec 6, 2020 for: Sign-in
or Join (free & quick)
Silver Lifesaving Medal 44mm Awarded to Virgil Smith and Recovered after Pearl Harbor.. ...
Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
Sold on Dec 6, 2020 for:
$8,125.00
Bid Source: Mail/Fax bidder
Get one of these:
Explore Available Items
Description
Silver Lifesaving Medal 44mm Awarded to Virgil Smith and Recovered after Pearl Harbor.A Treasury Silver Life Saving Medal, with replaced eagle suspension bar and brooch, engraved "To Virgil Smith for bravery rescuing a shipmate from drowning, February 16, 1934". The actual medal shows substantial pitting from being in sea water for sometime. The condition of a medal can play an important role in whether or not a collector decides it fits into his or hers collection. Most collectors will shy away from a metal that shows obvious signs of abuse or odd condition problems. But, here's an example where condition plays a major role in the medal's story.
Virgil Smith enlisted in the service in 1930. The official account of Smith's actions are as follows: On February 16, 1934, while preparations were being made on the USS Texas to send a diver down from the bow to work on some chains there was a heavy swell which caused the ship to roll considerably. During one of these rolls the port gunwhale of the motor launch which contained the diver caught under the scupper lip. This movement careened the motor launch over and began to take on water, and at the same time throw several men into the water. One seaman, Seaman W.E. Baker, had a rubber suit on which began to take on water. When Smith saw this he wrapped his legs around Baker bringing him to safety. If Smith did not do this Baker would have certainly drowned. Albeit this happened in 1934, Smith did not receive this Life Saving medal until January 1941.
In December 1941 Smith assigned aboard the USS Oklahoma and was present when the Japanese attacked on December 7. He survived, but all his personal effects went down with the ship. Smith continued his service helping repair the USS Enterprise and USS South Dakota. In 1943 the Oklahoma was refloated, and that is when Smith was able to retrieve his belongings, including his Life Saving medal. Because Smith was a diver himself, and participated in salvage efforts, he might have retrieved the medal himself from the salvaged Oklahoma.
Yes, the medal itself has condition issues, but the story certainly outweighs those concerns in our opinion.
Auction Info
2020 December 6 Arms & Armor, Civil War & Militaria Signature Auction - Dallas #6229 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2020
6th
Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 3
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 1,022
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
25% on the first $300,000 (minimum $49), plus 20% of any amount between $300,000 and $3,000,000, plus 12.5% of any amount over $3,000,000 per lot.
Shipping, Taxes, Terms and Bidding
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms
Important information concerning Sales Tax and Resale Certificates. Learn More
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms