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Pre-owned / Vintage — light surface scuffing and scattered small nicks to the
wood on both pieces, stenciled text faded but legible, mounting screws and
hanging hardware intact on the backs. No cracks or breaks to either shield
form.
DESCRIPTION:
Matched pair of vintage carved wood shield plaques bearing the insignia of
the U.S. Marine Corps' 5th Marine Division — a red, yellow, and blue
"Spearhead" shield below a black ribbon banner reading "5TH MARINE DIVISION."
- Shield 1: stenciled "CROSS COUNTRY / 1st Place / 1968"
- Shield 2: stenciled "TRACK & FIELD / CHAMPS / 1969"
The 5th Marine Division has a short and notable history: originally stood up
during WWII for the Battle of Iwo Jima, it was deactivated in 1946 and then
reactivated for a brief stretch from 1966 to 1969 at Camp Pendleton during
the Vietnam War era — the exact window both of these trophies date to. These
appear to be intramural unit sports awards, likely presented to a company or
battalion team within the division in consecutive years.
Solid wood construction, shield-shaped, each with a central mounting screw
and hanger on the back for wall display. A distinctive, dated set of
Vietnam-era Marine Corps unit history — sold together as a pair.
