Colt Model M .380 ACP serial number M137653
issued to Brigadier General Frank Lawrence Whittaker. Born in Manchester,
New Hampshire, on May 14, 1893. B.S. from Norwich
University in 1915. Commissioned in the cavalry in
1916. Served on the Mexican Border 1916 - 1917.
Graduated from the Command and General Staff School in 1930
and the Army War College in 1936. Assistant chief of
staff for supply at Western Defense Command 1941 - 1943.
Brigadier general in February 1943. Deputy commander
of the Alaskan Department February 1943 - September 1944.
Reverted to colonel in September 1944 and retired in
November 1946. Decorations included two Legions of
Merit. Died on June 7, 1978.
Marker Photo Source: Photographed on Sept.
23, 2012, by Tom Brocher - Golden Gate National Cemetery,
San Bruno
San Mateo County, California, USA
Gen. Philoon Deputy Commander in Alaska
- Brig. Gen. Wallace C. Philoon has succeeded Brig. Gen.
Frank L. Whittaker as deputy commander of the Alaskan
Department, according to an announcement. Gen, Philoon
recently was a visitor in this city, leaving several weeks
ago to assume his new command. His wife is spending
some time with her sister, Mrs. Walter F. Martin, North
Court street. Gen Philoon is a former chief of staff
of the Caribbean Defense Command and former commanding
general in the Infantry Replacement Training Center at Fort
McClellan, Ala. where he was stationed prior to his Alaskan
assignment.
[Source: The News, Frederick, MD,
4-September-1944]
Accompanying General Whittaker's pistol is the original box
(numbered to the gun), and spare magazines. Both original issue clips show
almost no wear. Pistol has an "M" prefix
before the serial
number, and the magazines are also "M" marked. The numbered
box (also numbered 137964 but this number is scratched out)
is most likely the one used to return the gun following the
modifications at Colt's indicated by the presence of the "M"
marking.
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