Soldier's mess kit of Delbert Cooper
Gift of Delbert Cooper, Yaffa Eliach Collection donated by the Center for Holocaust Studies
Id no. 5011.82, Other
Subject(s): Armies-US, Liberation
Delbert Cooper bought this World War I soldier's mess kit prior to his induction the the US Army in 1943. He felt that older equipment would be of better quality.
Cooper (b. 1923) was assigned to the 71st Infantry Division 14th Infantry Regiment. He participated in the May 1945 liberation of the Gunskirchen concentration camp, a sub-camp of Mauthausen, in Austria. He leaned on the smooth back of this mess kit to write a letter to his wife about the liberation.
Cooper (b. 1923) was assigned to the 71st Infantry Division 14th Infantry Regiment. He participated in the May 1945 liberation of the Gunskirchen concentration camp, a sub-camp of Mauthausen, in Austria. He leaned on the smooth back of this mess kit to write a letter to his wife about the liberation.
