Originally conceived as a joint Army/Marine Corps operation and later consolidated under the Army, the Engineer Special Brigades (aka the Engineer Amphibian Brigades) had a mandate to go onto the beaches with the opening waves of an amphibious landing, both to help get the first wave off the beach and to assist later waves in their arrival. Active in the European, African and Pacific Theaters, the ESBs were heavily involved with the Invasion of Normandy; out of six ESBs, three were present at Utah and Omaha Beach. The ESBs at Normandy were faced with the Atlantic Wall, the physical manifestation of the idea of "Fortress Europe", rampant with land mines, anti-boat obstacles, gun emplacements, and all manner of physical obstructions between the invaders and the French countryside. Of the three ESB's active at Normandy, one (1st ESB) stayed on Utah Beach until late October before packing up to head to the Pacific, while the other two (5th and 6th ESB) stayed on Omaha Beach to New Years before moving further into France. Omaha Beach in particular was a nasty spot for the engineers, who were in support of the 116th infantry regiment 29th Division at Dorgreen red beaches, Vierville Drawer where the heaviest battle took place on D-Day. (The beach encounter in "Saving Private Ryan" was in this area). Casualties over 40% suffered, their work being slowed by lost equipment and infantry trying to use the beach obstacles as cover, and premature detonation of demolition charges by enemy fire. The jacket lacks makers or owners marks, with a set of Private's chevrons on the sleeves, three gold overseas service bars on the left cuff, and the "eagle/Thompson SMG/anchor" amphibious patch on the left shoulder. A set of gold "U.S" and Corps of Engineers badges are present on the lapels, with the distinctive "seahorse" ESB patch on the left breast pocket. Arranged on the right breast are a "ruptured duck" Honorable Discharge Lozenge over a Presidential Unit Citation ribbon, and four ribbons over the left pocket, specifically the WWII Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Star and Amphibious Assault Arrowhead Device, and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm. The last two are of particular interest, being issued for amphibious assault for the former and being issued as a unit commendation by the nation of France for the latter, and the absence of any ribbons related to the Pacific Campaign suggests that it was worn by a member of either the 5th or 6th ESB, which were assigned to Omaha. Included with the jacket is a shirt numbered "15-32" on the collar tab and fitted with a match set of rank insignia, service bars, and shoulder and pocket patches, a plain brown necktie, and a pair of twill pants ink stamped "H7897" and "WAIST 30/INSEAM 33" inside the waist and bearing a 1941 dated tag for the Sidor Pants Company and the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot. Also included is a set of photocopied research and a vintage photograph of two Gis standing in front of a half-demolished house, which is noted in the book "Spearheading D-Day" (photocopies included) as a landmark/ambulance station established on Omaha Beach; the photo is signed "Normandy '44/Harmon & Warner on the beach".

Very good overall, with some mild wear and staining. The left front pants pocket is showing the beginnings of a tear at the base, the hand stitching on some of the shirt patches has come slightly undone, and the jacket ribbons show wear and sun fading appropriate to age. An interesting and rarely seen uniform set connected to one of the most critical turning points of the 20th century.