1278 GENERAL OFFICERS MODEL PISTOL OF HIGHLY-DECORATED,

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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2025 May 08 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 3,000.00 USD
Estimated at 6,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD
U.S. ARMY MAJOR GENERAL DONALD V. ("SNAPPER") RATTAN, WITH BELT, HOLSTER, & PROVENANCE. Cal. 32 ACP. S# 566922. Bbl. 3 3/4". Model 1903 Hammerless General Officers Model semi-automatic pistol mfg. by Colt, and later shipped to the General Officer's Pistol Program (Executive Offices) at Fort Bragg on 08/07/1968 for Major General Donald V. Rattan. This gun is listed as having been issued to Donald V. Rattan in U.S. General Officer Pistols: A Collector's Guide by Williams & Brunner, at page 92. Donald V. Rattan graduated from West Point, Class of 1945. Commissioned a 2nd lieutenant, infantry, his first assignment was as a platoon leader in the 86th Inf. Div., the Philippines Later, he served with the occupation force in Japan. After completing the Infantry Officer Advanced Course in 1952, Rattan joined the 32nd Inf. Reg., 7th Inf Div. in Korea that saw its action at Chorwon-Kumhwah. In the 32nd, Rattan served as a rifle company commander, battalion executive officer, and Regimental S-2. Beginning in 1953, Rattan spent three years at the Airborne Department of the Infantry School, Fort Benning, where he developed the Army's first airmobile pathfinder course. Rising through the ranks, from Benning, Rattan went directly to the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS. After completing the course there, he remained at Leavenworth as a curriculum planner in the Office of the Director of Instruction. He later attended the Armed Forces Staff College, the NATO Defense College, and the Army War College. In August 1964, LTC Rattan was a military advisor at the US Consulate in Bukavu in eastern Congo. In that role, he advised Government forces defending the city during the Simba rebellion and, in Operation Dragon Rouge, the rescue of western hostages. When on a scout with a driver and three civilian members of a joint team, the group was attacked by an overwhelming force of Simba rebels. Their jeep disabled, Rattan, the only one armed, directed the others to flee into the jungle while he remained a decoy to cover their escape. Fighting a rearguard action, he held off a dozen rebels until the small party could regroup. For four days, with only one pineapple for sustenance, the men played cat and mouse with rebels until reaching friendly forces. Rattan was awarded the Silver Star for his gallantry and leadership. Three years later, in 1967, Rattan commanded the 1st Brigade, 1st Air Cavalry Division (Airmobile)—the First Team-The Cav—in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam. The brigade had earlier participated in the Ia Drang and at Bong Son. Under Rattan, the brigade fought in support of the 173d Airborne Bde at Dak To. In late January 1968, Rattan was ordered to move his brigade to the southwest of Quang Tri City, the provincial capital, just below the DMZ. Days later, on January 31, the North Vietnamese Army launched its Tet '68 offensive. Within two hours after an NVA regiment attacked, QTC from the west, Rattan had two jumping from Hueys on the enemy's rear. Cut off from resupply, reinforcement, and an avenue of retreat, the NVA was trapped in a closing vise of Cav to the east Cav and South Vietnamese forces in the city to the west. In less than a half day, nearly one thousand enemy were killed. The Battle of Quang Tri was over hours after it began. The Cav's rapid defeat of the NVA regiment was the most decisive Allied victory during the Tet Offensive. It upset the enemy's timetable and prevented that regiment, as it was ordered, from aiding other enemy units in the Battle of Hue, 50 km to the South. Two months later, Rattan's brigade joined other Cav units in Operation Pegasus to relieve Marines as Khe Sanh. Rattan established his headquarters at a Landing Zone that became known, LZ Snapper, Rattan's nickname from high school. LZ Snapper also served as a rallying point to cut off enemy fleeing the battlefield. After VietNam, from August 1970 to May 1972, Rattan commanded the 8th Inf. Div. in Europe. He retired the following year. During his service, Rattan received two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters (citations unavailable). On top of the Silver Star (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), some of Rattan's other decorations and badges include: a Legion of Merit, a Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device and 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, 24 Air Medals, an Army Commendation Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantry Badge (2 awards), a Master Parachutists badge, as well as a General Staff Identification Badge. This example, purchased directly from Donald V. Rattan by the consignor, is marked with Colt's mfg. and patent information, followed by the Rampant Colt logo on the left side of the slide, with "COLT AUTOMATIC/ CALIBRE 32 RIMLESS SMOKELESS" marked on the right. Left side of the frame is marked with the S#, as well as with a faint crossed cannons ordnance escutcheon at the tang, with "U.S. PROPERTY" marked on the right. Left side of the forward trigger guard web is marked with Colt's "VP" proof, with "64" marked on the right. Metal components exhibit a parkerized finish, save for on the bbl., which is blued. Frame is mounted with 2-piece checkered wood grips. Fixed serrated blade front sight, with dovetailed square notch rear sight. Slide matches the frame via the full S# on the interior. MAGS: 1 blued 8-rd. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Black leather General Officers Model belt and holster. This example is also accompanied by a document signed by Major General Donald Rattan, which states "I sold to (CONSIGNOR), a Colt .32, Serial #566922, together with the belt and holster which were issued with it, on April 2, 2011.", as well as documents listing Rattan's service history & commendations, Rattan's ribbon bars, as well as a copy of the book "The 1968 TET Offensive Battles of Quang Tri City and Hue" by Erik Villard (which goes further into detail of Rattan's actions during the defense of Quang Tri). CONDITION: very good to excellent, with metal components retaining the vast majority of their arsenal parkerized finish, exhibiting light to mild degrees of edge wear (most notably on the forward edges of the slide, with some light superficial marks from handling and storage present overall. Polished chamber area on bbl. exhibits scattered spots of light age-related discoloration. Mirror bore, exhibiting what appears to be some spots of light pitting and some areas of hardened grease while retaining well-defined rifling throughout. Grips show some light to mild smoothing, with few light superficial handling marks. Belt and holster show some superficial handling marks, with some spots of light age-related cracking and crazing. A very nice example of a desirable Colt Model 1903 Hammerless General Officers pistol, issued to the decorated Donald V. Rattan. (25-1566/BH & MLW). CURIO. $6,000-9,000.