A 48-star Ensign flown at D-Day on LCI 510, omaha beach, 6 June 1944
A heavy cotton US flag with four steel grommets, labeled "US EN3" on hoist, together with:
A later oil painting, signed by Martin Miller of LCI 510, with brass plaque reading "U.S.S LCI (L) 510 LT. JOHN C. LEYS, C.O";
A peaked tan cotton US Navy Officer's Hat with black cotton hatband and nametag "John Carroll Leys, VA";
A dark wool US Navy LongCoat, with nametag inside reading "Leys"; and a brass, black bakelite handled stamp reading "Department of the Navy U.S.S LCI (L) 510", and 12 photographs, 6 vintage, of crewmen and U.S.S LCI (L) 510, and 6 postwar.
An important D-Day flag flown from LCI 510 on Omaha Beach on the afternoon of June 6th and on other Normandy beaches up to June 25 1944. This flag was taken from the ship after its Normandy service by Lt Leys. The LCI was designed to ferry larger numbers of troops and with heavier armament to defend them in transit than the smaller Landing Craft. LCI (L) 510 landed hundreds of soldiers on Omaha Beach on D-Day, continuing to ferry soldiers, nurses, and equipment to and from the beach thereafter. All crewmen under the ship's Commanding Officer survived the war unscathed, Lt.Leys eventually receiving the French Legion of Honor on 21 July 2014 for his actions. Leys is now aged 101, and almost the oldest veteran of World War II alive, this was a flag he treasured all his life, he flew it every 4th July outside his house, and is now being sold as part of his retirement.
Flag: 61 x 39 in (155 x 99 cm); painting: 16 x 19 in (41 x 48 cm); hat: 11 x 10 x 4 in (28 x 25 x 10 cm); coat: 18 x 50 in (46 x 127 cm)
