Thank you for taking interest in the Fred DeNault III military insignia collection. At one time, local collectors considered it the largest single collection in the Midwest, as Fred brought together this vast collection over his lifetime. Fred passed away in 2016, leaving the entire collection as an outstanding opportunity for the right collector to acquire.
It is time for us to part with this collection and we hope that it will bring as much joy as it brought our Dad. We are only able to discuss with buyers interested in purchasing large portions or the entire collection together. Dad’s wish was to see as much of the collection stay together (for example - a whole book of patches or box of pins). As this took a lifetime to bring together into one collection, we want to see as much of it as possible stay together. Please do not contact us asking to purchase only specific pieces. Only serious offers will be considered. The entire collection has been photographed in painstaking detail, along with a catalogue of information in four volumes, and is available on this site. Please review the photos and contents on this site to understand the collection. If you have questions, would like further information, or would like to submit a purchase offer, feel free to contact us.
Thank you,
The DeNault Family
In 1953 my uncle returned from the Korean Conflict dressed in his Army uniform. As an impressionable pre-teen, I showed an interest in the colorful insignia on the uniform, and was rewarded by being given a few items, which I placed in a ring binder.
Well, that was some 10,000 items ago! My collection contains insignia from all five of the U.S. armed services; Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard, and covers the time period from about 1939 to the present.
I collected insignia from my friends, relatives, cereal boxes and comic book ads until about 1964. At that time, a Mr. William Noble from the “Detroit News” wrote a feature article about my hobby (including a photo), and from that time I have met many hundreds of fellow collectors throughout the United States.
I have had the opportunity to address many civic groups and school classes, and have actually won some prizes for the display.
About the only items I don’t collect are; squadron patches, ship patches and distinctives (regimental crests), because there are just too many
My most prized items are the Purple Heart Medal, for which my uncle gave his life, and the badge worn by the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which was presented to me by a former guard sergeant.
Though I have spent over forty years on the hobby, I cannot say it is mine, because it is dedicated to those magnificent men and women who wore the insignia, and in many cases paid the ultimate price in serving their country.
* I have been a member of A.S.M.I.C. (The American Society of Military Insignia Collectors) since 1964 and am currently a “life” member of the Michigan Air Guard Historical Association.
Collector of U.S. Military Insignia
Questions?
Contact: insignia.collection.41@gmail.com