The Alderfer Auction Co. sold the historic and personal items of Gen. Lyman L. Lemnitzer and his family Sept. 6 at its Hatfield, Pa., Auction Center. Lemnitzer served in the U.S. Army for 51 years, earning ribbons from World War I, World War II and the Korean conflict. He served on numerous military and diplomatic missions, was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy, and completed his career as supreme Allied commander in Europe in 1969.

The highest prices at the auction were garnered for a silver presentation vase/bowl given to Lemnitzer by Japanese Emperor Hirohito to Lemnitzer. It sold for $13,800. The bowl was accompanied by a note in Japanese lettering: “Silver vase: This was Bestowed for the Coming of Age of H.I.H. The Crown Prince, ‘The Present Majesty,’ in May 1919” and a photo of Lemnitzer with Hirohito.

Also, a money belt that accompanied Lemnitzer on missions during World War II went for $12,075. The general wore the belt, which included numerous old gold coins from throughout Europe, during Operation TORCH, a clandestine mission to Vichy French-held North Africa in World War II.

Lemnitzer had a reputation as an excellent strategist and advisor to the military and civil arms of government. He sat on numerous committees with up-and-coming politicians, including Ronald Reagan. A page of Reagan’s notes with sketches made during the Commission on CIA Activities (The Rockefeller Commission) in 1975 brought $3,600, and signed photographs of presidents and heads of state enjoyed very active bidding. The signature of Syngman Rhee, president of South Korea, sold for $1,725. The signature of Chiang Kai-Shek (political and military leader of China from the 1920s to 1975) went for $2,040, and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s signature went for $3,000.

Lemnitzer’s working relationship with Kennedy, as noted in several signed photographs, also proved popular with bidders. A signed photo of Kennedy sold for $8,050, and a photo of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with Kennedy — including Lemnitzer — sold for $4,500.

Important officers garner flags that present distinctive insignia related to their position or command. Lemnitzer’s Joint Chiefs of Staff flag sold for $4,800, which was significantly higher than recent sales of identical flags held by others. The auction also included every command flag Lemnitzer was given, making a stunning visual of a very long and progressive career.

Several of Lemnitzer’s uniforms were included at the auction. A summer-weight four-star general uniform, complete with ribbons and insignia, sold for $3,450, well higher than estimates. Interest in the general’s uniforms proved strong, with two overseas caps selling for $600 apiece, more than twice their pre-auction estimate. An officer’s visor cap sold for $1,092.

Lemnitzer received numerous gifts during his service, many of which were in Asia. An 18-inch samurai sword tripled its catalog estimate and sold for $10,800. Two gold presentation-table medals given to Lemnitzer for his numerous accomplishments brought $2,576 each.

“Buyers for this auction came from all over the world and from many different areas: dealers, collectors and museum acquisitions experts,” said Brent Souder, director of fine and decorative art at Alderfer’s.

“Our experience in selling collections, [and] in historical and military auctions, and our ability to spread the word to a variety of serious collectors helped this auction to exceed our estimates by significant margins.”