Lot 608

LT. GEN. GEOFFREY KEYES' M-42 COMBAT WINTER JACKET

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LT. GEN. GEOFFREY KEYES' M-42 COMBAT WINTER JACKET

Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000

Starting Bid: $1,000

(0 Bids)

by Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
July 30, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
106 East Main Street, Suite 103
Elkton, MD, US 21921

LT. GEN. GEOFFREY KEYES' M-42 COMBAT WINTER JACKET
GEOFFREY KEYES (1888-1967) Highly decorated Lieutenant General who commanded the II Corps during World War II. Keyes was George Patton's invaluable chief of staff, leading Patton's I Corps in Morocco, and accepting the surrender of Palermo. An important Keyes relic, his M-42 Combat Winter Jacket with insignia, along with photographic provenance. The khaki jacket bears a cotton twill body with elasticized fabric at the waist, cuffs, and neck. A 7th Army patch has been machine applied to the left shoulder, and 2nd Corps patch is sewn to the right shoulder, the bottom of the patch partially restitched to the garment by hand. Three very distinct silver bullion stars have been applied to each shoulder, which Keyes cleaned with some tarnish remover leaving behind some residue, and which show some sign of having been touched-up with silver paint. The left sleeve bears a single patch with six overseas bars indicating three years of federal service abroad, though Keyes served six years overseas. Keyes took command of the U.S. Seventh Army in post-war Europe from September 8, 1945, until the army was inactivated on March 31, 1946, though the jacket bears very significant wear to the two front slash pockets, more than one would expect in only seven months. Additional wear is visible at the sleeve ends and there are a few small field repairs, including one between two of the shoulder stars, hinting that a star may have been relocated to accommodate additional star(s), though there is no concrete additional evidence of this. Keyes assumed command of the U.S. Army's II Corps in September 1943 and commanded it for the duration of the Italian Campaign under the U.S. Fifth Army, leading it until its inactivation in October 1945. Thus, though the jacket presents postwar insignia, its date of production, wear, and the possibility that stars may have been added to it over the years suggests that Keyes may have owned and worn the jacket earlier in the war. Finally, it should be noted that Keyes owned this jacket at the time that his close friend, Gen. George S. Patton, Jr. was critically injured in a car accident on Dec. 9, 1945 and very possibly wore it when he visited Patton in the hospital and was at Patton's side when he died on December 21. SOLD WITH: two 4.75 x 4 in. photographs of Keyes wearing this very jacket; his lieutenant general's calling card; and four original 3.75 x 5 in. photographs, each marked 'CONFIDENTIAL', showing Keyes awarding men in his command the Silver Star in Santa Maria, Italy, Jan. 22, 1944. Originates directly from Keyes' estate. Eight pieces.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000