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Lot Essay
LTC George Aikman Finter
LTC George A. Finter served in post-war Germany (1952-55), in Asia (1957-1959) with MAAG Vietnam, as an intelligence officer in South America (1963-67), followed by another two tours in Vietnam with MACV out of Qui Nhon, before being killed in action on February 28, 1970.
In addition to acting as an early advisor in Vietnam (before the USA's official involvement in the region), LTC Finter served as an Ordnance Advisor and Materiel Programming Officer (MAP) in Chile, during the height of the cold war, where he was issued a concealed carry permit and chauffeurs license.
His career in the military was extremely interesting to say the least. During his service, he was highly decorated and received many awards including a Legion of Merit and Bronze Star.
His OMEGA Seamaster 300 is offered with a treasure trove of documents including: IDs, passports, licenses, concealed carry permit, photos, report of casualty, Bronze Star Citation, record of personal property, hand-signed letters of condolences from Richard Nixon, General Westmoreland, Senators and more.
The OMEGA watch is listed in his possessions at the time of his death. His other possessions included audio and video recording equipment. The operations he was involved in at the time of his death are shrouded in mystery. The Report of Casualty lists the status as, “Died 28 February 1970 in Vietnam while observer on military aircraft which crashed and burned.” Despite this, his body was recovered and he was found to have a gunshot wound to the head. His body was returned and buried in the United States.
While we may never know the exact activities of LTC Finter around the time of his death, the recognition he received following it confirms that he was a highly specialized and successful operative. The information from the OMEGA archives completes the story of the watch. LTC Finter must have been on leave to Hong Kong when he purchased it as a gift to himself. The incredible and orignal condition of it is due to the fact that he had it for no more than a year before he was killed in action and since then, it sat seemingly untouched until being acquired from the family in 2013.
LTC George A. Finter served in post-war Germany (1952-55), in Asia (1957-1959) with MAAG Vietnam, as an intelligence officer in South America (1963-67), followed by another two tours in Vietnam with MACV out of Qui Nhon, before being killed in action on February 28, 1970.
In addition to acting as an early advisor in Vietnam (before the USA's official involvement in the region), LTC Finter served as an Ordnance Advisor and Materiel Programming Officer (MAP) in Chile, during the height of the cold war, where he was issued a concealed carry permit and chauffeurs license.
His career in the military was extremely interesting to say the least. During his service, he was highly decorated and received many awards including a Legion of Merit and Bronze Star.
His OMEGA Seamaster 300 is offered with a treasure trove of documents including: IDs, passports, licenses, concealed carry permit, photos, report of casualty, Bronze Star Citation, record of personal property, hand-signed letters of condolences from Richard Nixon, General Westmoreland, Senators and more.
The OMEGA watch is listed in his possessions at the time of his death. His other possessions included audio and video recording equipment. The operations he was involved in at the time of his death are shrouded in mystery. The Report of Casualty lists the status as, “Died 28 February 1970 in Vietnam while observer on military aircraft which crashed and burned.” Despite this, his body was recovered and he was found to have a gunshot wound to the head. His body was returned and buried in the United States.
While we may never know the exact activities of LTC Finter around the time of his death, the recognition he received following it confirms that he was a highly specialized and successful operative. The information from the OMEGA archives completes the story of the watch. LTC Finter must have been on leave to Hong Kong when he purchased it as a gift to himself. The incredible and orignal condition of it is due to the fact that he had it for no more than a year before he was killed in action and since then, it sat seemingly untouched until being acquired from the family in 2013.