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\"VALOR STUDIOS\"introducesBASTOGNE
///Sign #2 in our \"Sites of Valor\" series\\\\\\
Each aluminum Bastogne sign is hand-embellished by master craftsmen toinclude dents, scratches, and chips.
Topping it off, each has been hand-signedby two veterans who defended Bastogne: 101st AirborneheroesBradFreeman(Band of Brothers) andBert Winzer(G/501st)!
Whether you display yours under your favorite print, or as a backdrop for scalemodels, this sign is destined to become the ultimate itemfor any ManCave.
With a limitednumber worldwide, now is the time to place your orderbefore they\'rehistory.
SIGN SIZE: 19.75\"x 7\"///Individually Numbered///VETERAN SIGNERS:TWO///SHIPS in an acid free paper sleeve (see photo) via USPS insured mail///AUTOGRAPHED BY 2 Battle of the Bulge HEROES INCLUDING:
BERT WINZER- 1st SSF & George Company, 501stPIR, 101st Airborne (signer biography below)BRAD FREEMAN -Easy Company, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne (signer biography below)Photos in this listing show the sign displayed near available Valor Studios art prints, including Hold Fast, Hang Tough, and Defenders of Bastogne. Some of these are available in our store, others are available by special order. Please message us with any questions! This sign is sold independentlyof any items shown in the photos on this listing.BRAD FREEMAN (1925 - 2022)
Bradford Freeman was born and raised in the lush Mississippi farmlands near Columbus. He joined the paratroopers, following in the footsteps of his older brother, who was an officer in the 11th Airborne. Brad was assigned to the 506th PIR., 101st Airborne at Alderbourne, England in February 1944. There, he trained under the watchful eye of mortar squad leader Don Malarkey and platoon leader Bill Guarnere, both of whom he describes as great fighting men.
On D-Day, Brad parachuted into Normandy as part of Lt. Buck Compton’s Stick 70, forming up and fighting with Sgt. Chuck Grant until they joined the company near Brecourt Manor. He vividly remembers the fierce fighting at Carentan, where he feels E-Company came together as a combat unit.
Brad participated in the invasion of Holland, and recalls endless patrols and night outpost duty on the banks of the Rhine. Following Market Garden, he survived the brutal weather and constant shelling in the Bois Jacques woods at Bastogne only to be wounded by a “screaming mimi” (Nebelwerfer rocket) in Easy Company’s attack on Noville. Following release from a hospital in England, Brad joined up with HQ Staff in Berchtesgaden and later with his E-Company comrades in Kaprun, Austria.
After the war, Brad went back to Mississippi State University for a semester, and then returned to help run a 197 acre family farm in Lowndes County. He later worked with the US Postal Service, retiring after 32 years of service. Prior to his death in 2022, Brad was the last-living Band of Brothers paratrooper.BERTRAM WINZER (1922 - 2023)
Bert entered the Army in 1942 and volunteered to join America\'s (and Canada\'s) most elite group of para-commandos, the First Special Service Force – or simply “The Force”– the same unit depicted in the 1968 movie “The Devil\'s Brigade.”
In July 1943, Bert left with The Force for Alaska where he participated in the landings at Kiska. Following the Aleutians campaign, Bert and The Force deployed to the Italian campaign and subsequently fought in the battles for Naples-Foggia, Anzio, and Rome.
At Anzio, Bert often went behind enemy lines on “reconnaissance” patrols meant to terrorize the enemy that earned the The Force the nickname, “the black devils.” Following the Italian campaign, Bert and The Force fought in the invasion of southern France and in the Franco-Italian border area where he was wounded by shrapnel.
On December 5th, The Force was disbanded and the Army found a new home for some of thosejump qualified and battle-hardened veterans: the 101st Airborne. Bert was transferred into the 501st Regiment in time to assist them in the defense of Bastogne where Bert fought on the line as a rifleman in G-Company.
In 2015, Bert was honored at the national capital when the First Special Service Force received the Congressional Gold Medal. He remains the only living veteran of the 101st Airborne who can wear both the Screaming Eagle patch and the distinctive red arrowhead patch of the elite First Special Service Force.WHY CHOOSE VALOR STUDIOS?
EXPERIENCE///Since 1999 we\'ve been creating the world\'s finest hand-autographed military art and collectibles. We are the only art publisher to conduct signings with Major Dick Winters and Captain Ron Speirs, and we’ve had the honor of working with former Presidents Bush ’41 and Bush ’43, General Hal Moore (We Were Soldiers), aviators Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler (A Higher Call), MOH recipient Tom Hudner (Devotion), and many more military heroes.
THE REAL DEAL///Unlike so many autographs we see on , ours are hand-signed and we have the photos to prove it. Combine that with a reputation of being America\'s leader in military art publishing and you can shop with complete peace of mind.
HONESTY///Our veteran signers know the items they are autographing are for commercial purposes and they\'re paid generously for their efforts. We\'re proud to say that some of our veteran friends have been signing with us for 15+ years!
QUALITY///All the products we sell on are new and guaranteed in mint condition. They are printed on museum grade papers with archival inks and with proper care (utilizing archival-grade storage methods) will last longer than any of us.
VALUE///All our veteran signed items are limited in number. Once they sell out there is no creating more and as a result we often see our products appreciate in value.
FAMILY///We\'re a small family businessbased outside of Denver, we haveNew York Timesbestselling author Adam Makos (\"A Higher Call\" & \"Spearhead\") as our company president, his brother Bryan is our art director, and their sister Erica, our sales manager.
MADE HERE///Our fine art lithos, giclees, photos and books are all printed in America. By buying a Valor Studios product, you\'re not only supporting an American small business and our veteran signers, but also craftsmen across the country.
