Russell Scrafford was born October 29, 1898 in Illinois, and as shown, died at a young age of 47. The AG report for Illinois shows Scrafford as enlisting July 5, 1917 in the National Guard. Initially, part of the Illinois National Guard, the 129th then became part of the 33rd Dividion in WW1. He was discharged June 6, 1919 at Camp Grant in Illinois. The pension file (shown below) was found on Ancestry for this man showing him in HQ Battery and Co. J 76th US Field Artillery and in the 129th US Infantry in the World War. The Ancestry list for Disabled Veterans show that Scrafford was in a Milwaukee, Wisconsin VA Hospital from February 28, 1933 through January 29, 1934. He was a charter member of the D. Merl Tipton Post 43 VFW in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania; that charter dated August 1, 1935. Scrafford shows up as enlisting in WW2 at Fort Meade, Maryland, at a rank of sergeant, on October 22, 1943. He may have been in the Reserves.
The group consists of Pvt. Scrafford's officially engraved Bailey, Banks and Biddle Purple Heart edge numbered 32401 with ribbon bar, WW1 Victory medal, St. Mihiel medal and ribbon bar, and Verdun medal with bar, plus three mini medals. Also included is a VFW medal ribbon bar and a pin back three place bar including an Occupation medal ribbon. What is odd about this group is that the Victory medal campaign bars are mostly fantasy bars. They are: Army of Preoccupation, Offensive Sector, Champagn-Marne, Verdun, St. Mihiel, and Alsace-Lorraine. Now, that is really odd! Some good internet research has been found for this man and is included in the group. A copy of his death notice in the Altoona Mirror is included showing he died of a heart attack in Avarda, Colorado and was survived by his wife, Alma, of Martinsburg, Pennsylvania.
This group has been sold, and is in new hands in 2012.
