A Russ Meyer group of memorabilia related to his Army career
Comprising a motion picture film camera affixed to a wooden base, above which a plaque reads, 'World War II / 35 MM Eyemo / 144/45'; a small black sign with '3rd Army / 166th Sig. Photo Co. A / NRU #i / Lt. E.J. Moore, OIC / Cameraman - Sgt. R. Meyer' handwritten to front, affixed to a wooden base below which a plaque reads, '166th Signal Photo Co. / 3rd U.S. Army / E.T.O. Jan. 1944 - Dec. 1945'; a pair of dogtags engraved, 'Russell A. Meyer / 19129365 T43-3 / Lydia L. Haywood / 3930 Agua Vista St. / Oakland, Cal. / P' (one of the tags has lost letters); an olive drab 'Eisenhower' military jacket bearing Meyer's medals, ribbons, and service pins, accompanied by his military hat; and and a floral handkerchief/appliqued cloth with 'Camp Crowder, Mo.' [training camp] at the bottom, framed. Meyer's army career was a profound experience in his life. As a staff sergeant in the film branch of the 166th Signal Corps, Meyer met many friends with whom he would stay in contact for the rest of his life, and many of whom would participate in his films in some fashion. According to one of his army buddies, Meyer would send a 'class newsletter' of sorts to everyone in the corps for decades after the war was over, keeping each informed of what the others were doing and as such, creating a lifelong bond. As Meyer wrote in his autobiography, 'Without the 166th experience, I seriously doubt if I would have attained the high-water mark of good luck that I enjoy today.'
Camera on plaque: 12 x 12 x 15 in.; framed piece: 18.25 x 18.25 x 1.25 in.