Manufactured in 1942, this pistol is listed by serial number on page 69 of "The Colt U.S. General Officer's Pistol" by Greeley as issued in 1959, as well as on page 137 of "The Colt Pocket Hammerless Automatic Pistols" by Brunner further detailing the pistol as issued to Gen. William Alex Cunningham III on January 29, 1959. Retired as a Major General in 1966, William "Bill" A. Cunningham III (1911-1983) was a native of Athens, Georgia, who enlisted in the regular army before attending the U.S. Military Academy and graduating with the class of 1934. During World War II, he was initially the battalion commander of the 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division in North Africa, being severely wounded in August 1942 during the Battle of El Guettar. After a period in hospital, he was subsequently ordered to the Command and General Staff College as its first instructor with World War II combat experience. In 1945, he served on the joint staff of the Okinawa Island Command, participating in the landings and operations on the island through the end of the war and later as assistant chief of staff of island command until 1947. Cunningham III also acted as policy officer for the Plans and Operations Division, Joint Staff, Headquarters, Commander in Chief Pacific Theater during the Korean War, later as an advisor for the Republic of Korea, and holding various commands until his retirement, having been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, and a Purple Heart during his 38-year career. Features fixed blade front and notch rear sights, blued barrel marked "COLT 32 AUTO" on the left side, standard two-line address and patent dates on the left side of the slide with caliber marking on the right and matching serial number on the interior, "U.S. PROPERTY" marking on the right of the frame with "36" on the trigger guard, and the serial number on the left of the frame with "triangle VP" and "X" marked on that side of the trigger guard. Fitted with a pair of checkered walnut grips with silver Colt medallions and blued magazine with "CAL.32/COLT" marked on the underside of the floor plate. Provenance: Maj. Gen. (Ret., U.S. Army) William A. Cunningham III; Property of a Gentleman