Excellent, Documented US Property Colt M1903 Pocket Hammerless Grouping - Maj. Gen. Donald V. Rattan

Description

10/14/26 - This is an excellent, documented Colt M1903 Pocket Hammerless general officer's pistol, originally manufactured in 1944 and chambered in .32 ACP. It was issued to Donald V. Rattan, a highly decorated U.S. Army officer who retired as a Major General (more about him below). The right side of the frame is "U.S. PROPERTY" marked, and the slide is matching to the frame. The gun's parkerized finish rates about 97% with just minor high edge and muzzle wear and a few light scratches, scuffs and marks here and there, most noticeable on the front strap. Fitted with minty wood grips. Mint bore, 10/10. It comes as a complete rig with one magazine, a black leather holster, and the black leather general officer's belt with gilt eagle buckle.

According to the included Colt factory letter, this pistol was shipped on December 30, 1944 to the Transportation Officer, Springfield Armory, for the Commanding Officer. A printout of the Army's General Officer's Pistol Program record shows it was shipped to Rattan on August 7, 1968 at the JFK Special Warfare School, Fort Bragg, NC. It also comes with a letter signed by Major General Rattan stating that he sold this pistol, together with the belt and holster issued with it, on April 2, 2011.

Donald Volney Rattan was born at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1924 and graduated from West Point in 1945. He served with the 11th Airborne Division in occupied Japan, with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, and in combat in Korea with the 32nd Infantry Regiment, and he later helped develop the Army's first pathfinder course for helicopter operations. In 1964 he led a Mobile Training Team in the Congo, where he was reported missing during the rebel advance on Bukavu and earned the Silver Star for covering his team's escape, armed only with a rifle against a dozen rebels with automatic weapons. In 1967-68 he commanded the 1st Brigade, 1st Air Cavalry Division in Vietnam, including the fighting at Quang Tri during the 1968 Tet Offensive, before becoming Chief of Staff of the XVIII Airborne Corps. His decorations include the Silver Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star with "V" device, the Air Medal with 24 Oak Leaf Clusters, two awards of the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Master Parachutist Badge.

Also included are his mounted ribbon bar, a portrait photograph, a 1964 AP Wirephoto reporting him missing in the Congo, his official four-page 1968 biography, a copy of his Silver Star citation, and a copy of "The 1968 Tet Offensive Battles of Quang Tri City and Hue" by Erik Villard. A documented general officer's pistol with an exceptional paper trail, complete with its issued belt and holster.