War Service Certificate13th Regiment USMC
(Gen. Smedley Butler)
World War I
U.S. Marine Corps War Service Certificate
Certificate reads as follows: This certifies that George W. McCorn Performed Honorable Active Service in the U.S. Marine Corps, from July 14, 1918, to Aug 13, 1919, in the following organizations and on board the following ships of the Navy: Parris Island, S.C, Hampton Roads, Va. 13th Regiment US Marines A.E.F: France, and Quantico, Va.
Certificate is signed by George Barnett, Major General Commandant, with a raised seal. Signature is probably “machine-signed”, as most of these certificates were.
Certificate is 10.5" by 18", and is printed on very heavy paper. Bottom third or so of certificate is creased from being rolled in tube & probably stored there for some 80 years. Creasing can be seen in photos. Certificate is clean and unfaded.
The 13th Regiment served in France during the war, but did not see combat (only the 4th Regiment of Marines saw combat). The 13th was commanded by Marine Corps legend Gen. Smedley D. Butler, twice winner of the Medal of Honor. The mascots of the regiment were thirteen black cats.
Certificate comes rolled in its (scarce) original mailing tube, with metal ends & metal screw cap. (Caps are frequently missing on these tubes). Tube is in nice condition and cap unscrews easily. Tube has original label from “HEADQUARTERS, U.S. MARINE CORPS, WASHINGTON”, and states “Penalty for Private Use, $300 ~ OFFICIAL BUSINESS”. Label is addressed by typewriter to: “Mr George W. Horn, Austin, Pa.” The “Austin, Pa” is crossed out, and “216 Chumung St., N.Y.” written in pen beside it. Label is chipped in two places along its border, and has some small water-staining and discoloration from age, but is in good condition overall and all text is legible.
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