Group to Rupert Ely, 2nd PA Infantry Band

Group to Rupert S. Ely, 2nd Pennsylvania Infantry Band: Mexican Border Service Medal, numbered “17764” (ribbon worn), with a ribbon bar; Pennsylvania Mexican Border Service Medal, numbered “981” (ribbon worn through at the brooch). With a 2nd Pennsylvanian Infantry band collar device, screwback; Pennsylvania musician’s lyre collar device, pin-back (pin repaired); dog tag to Ely as “First Class Mus/Band 2 PA FA/USA/1917”; the reverse impressed “Border Service/Address/2046 S. 19th/Phila/RA”. With an American Federation of Musicians convention badge, Omaha, May 1912, pin-back; photograph of Ely in uniform in Texas carrying a French horn, annotated on the reverse “108th Field Art/Camp Stuart/On Mexican Border” and “After change in ratings, I was rated Mus. 1st Class – forfeited Cpl rating, same pay as Sgt $36 a mo., Cpl pay was $30.00 mo.”; photograph of the 108th Field Artillery Band on the Mexican Border; Ely’s 1918 draft registration certificate card.

Ely enlisted in June 1915. He was mustered in for service on the Mexican Border on 30 June 1916 and mustered out in February 1917.