WWII USMC Uniform and Canteen, IDd to Canal & Peleliu Platoon Sgt 1st Tank Bn

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WWII USMC Uniform and Canteen, IDd to Canal & Peleliu Platoon Sgt 1st Tank Bn:
$566.99

This coat and canteen turned up in a large pile of militaria purchased by a friend last week. These were the only two items named to this Marine in the pile that I saw - though there could be more that turns up.
Joseph R Bona was from Minnesota, and enlisted in Oct 1941. I believe he may have been an original member of the 1st Tank Bn which was formed in Nov 1941. I found muster roll entries for him all throughout the war. He would have landed on Guadalcanal with Company B (I think), though I also found him on detached service with the 11th Marines (Field Artillery) during that period. I know that they weren\'t able to land all of the tanks from the Battalion, so it could be that he left the tank behind and was filling the ranks. In Oct of 43 he was with Company D, and in Jan of 1944 was back with Company B. Company B of the 1st Tank landed onArawe (New Britain Campaign, B Co was the only Marine unit to land there) in January of 44, so he would have served with distinction there helping the Army work through the Japanese Garrison. I do find him on a USN LSD muster roll for the Peleliu landing (attached). In 1945 he was back stateside training tankers at Camp Pendleton, so did not land on Okinawa.I did find a good article published in October 1944 which quotes Sgt Bona talking about his tank\'s action on Peleliu clearing Japanese armor and pillboxes from near the airfield (I think there was a scene in The Pacific of this type of work). I\'ve attached a screenshot of that article, but it can easily be found via Google. Oct 21st edition of The Marine Corps Chevron.
Tunic is 42-43 dated and size 4M. virtually no mothing or condition issues, I noted one small hole from moths on the right sleeve near the elbow. It could probably use a good drycleaning and ironing. Named to Bona inside the right sleeve. Ribbons and EGAs were missing when purchased. 1st Division patch is a nice US mfg wartime patch.
The canteen is nothing particularly special, but it is named to JR Bona inside the flap, and has another guy\'s name written on the bottom - I haven\'t tried to look him up. Cup is not dated but marked Arrow-Brooklyn, canteen is a flat top TACU Co 1942. Cover is maker marked Kozee-Kan 1943 (they made can koozies back then??!) When I tipped up the cover to shoot the bottom some sand poured out, so if you wanted the Peleliu sand...sorry its on my floor now.
No trousers or other items, the shirt and tie stay on my manikin form. If I manage to turn up any additional items will offer to the buyer of this coat before selling elsewhere.

On Oct-19-17 at 14:52:58 PDT, seller added the following information:

I just went out to visit his grave and added a photo to findagrave.