My uncle’s duffel bag

[Timothy-R]

My brother recently gave me our uncle’s duffel bag. It crossed Utah Beach at about D-Day +7, and left the ETO in December 1945. He drove an ammunition supply truck for the US 3rd Army.
Two questions, 1) anyone have insight into the various markings (his name and service number I understand) including the painted stripes?
And 2) recommendations on how to clean it (stored in a cabinet in a dusty pole barn for maybe 15 years) without risking damage to the markings? Dust, dirt, and lots of old spider nests.
Thoughts welcome

[Salt Flat]

The 36823334 is his Army service number. This Wikipedia article has a lot of info on this subject: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servic...ed_States_Army)
You can go to the National Archives website and use the service number to request your uncles records, order of battle etc.. In my geanealogy research I have found a lot of information on my WWII, WWI, Span-am war and Civil War ancestors. Having that service number is HUGE when researching.

I reread your post and see you already new about the service number so I'm probably telling you what you already know-- Oops!

[Timothy-R]

You can go to the National Archives website and use the service number to request your uncles records, order of battle etc.

Thanks Salt Flat. I knew it was his service record but not how to use it. I’ll have to dive into that for him and a few other ancestors.

[Sapper740]

From what I've heard a color coded system was used for the invasion to identify equipment going over to the continent. Many allied units were assigned three colored bands and a few digit number to identify them. It was used to ID the unit without the unit's name being revealed to prying eyes. Sadly, no master list of colors/codes/units has ever been found.

[jond41403]

Personally I would not wash it in fear of any colors that are present fading, especially on the painted stripes. Besides being dusted off, I think it looks just great how it is and probably didn't look too far from that condition the last time your uncle used it. I would just dust it off the best I could and remove the little nests of course haha, But other than that, I would just be too weary. Remember, some of that dirt and stains has to be from the time he spent serving and after he landed on the beach. Just my two cents

[Surpmil]

Your options are wet or dry. As mentioned with water you run the risk that the paints are not waterproof or have ceased to be and they run all over. You could discretely test that by dabbing and rubbing with a wet, white rag and seeing if anything does come off on the rag.

If not, you're probably safe to hose it off on a hot day and maybe even brush a bit with a not-too-stiff brush. Soap might be going a bit too far though.

The dry option is to use an air-compressor and blow it all off and out thoroughly; best done outside if you're married.

Some careful flogging with a suitable implement such as a carpet beater might not be bad idea as your blow it off with the compressed air.

[Timothy-R]

Thanks folks. I’ll start with the ‘dry’ suggestions. I’ll fire up the dust buster or shop vac tomorrow, and experiment with compressed air if needed. Hopefully that will be enough - if not I will see what clear water does.
The tidbit from Sapper740 on the painted stripes sounds like an interesting search pursuit towards learning more. :-)

[Aragorn243]

You could attack small areas with water and a toothbrush. I've done that on a few things. You do run the risk of having a well-defined clean area however, so blending is sometimes necessary. I've also used Dawn dish soap as it's milder than most laundry detergents. I doubt the paint will come off with water, but I'd be very careful around it. Duffle bags were likely exposed to a lot of rain in their normal use.

[Timothy-R]

Thanks Aragorn…..I was hoping to get your thoughts when I posted this thread.
BTW I enjoy reading about your finds.
All: earlier today I took another look at the bag and noticed some white crumbs or powder. Upon touching the white colored stenciled marking with a finger I see the white ‘paint’ is very fragile. I’ll definitely have to be careful with that area.
Cheers.

[Aragorn243]

If it's crumbly, I'd be especially careful with it. It could be lead paint. Lead paint as it ages, gets a powdery coating on top. Do some research and maybe dab at it carefully to get the powdery coating off. Keep kids away from it. Wash your hands well before you eat.