Good Deed - Military Owned Helvetia

[Carlos Fandango]

Hello all,

While browsing eBay a couple of weeks ago I came across a Helvetia with some initials and a military service number engraved to the back.

Photos can be found with this link: Vintage Swiss Made Helvetia General Watch Co Manual Wind 17J Watch Runs lot.p | eBay

Due to the condition and shipping fees from the US I decided I wasn't going to bid on the watch but did a bit of research for my own interest. From looking up the service number I found the watch was owned by Koichi Hirashima, a Japanese citizen, born in Hawaii who joined the US Army in 1946.

I put the serial number at 1946 so this enlistment date was a good confirmation that the serial number date is probably correct.

I had a quick look on Ancestry and while I couldn't access everything some US census records are available and that from 1940 showed him living in an internment camp.

There was also one family tree with only 7 people in it and I thought I'd let the tree owner know about the watch, better it go to the family than to someone for spares I thought. I've done this a couple of times before with some medals and other effects that were for auction I noticed that were tangentially connected to my family tree but with no response from the tree owners.

This time, after perhaps not surprisingly being wary of a scam, they sent me the replies below.

If this is correct, Kolchi would be my father in laws father. I have to be honest, this feels like some sort of scam..if you don't mind telling me, why are you reaching out? Are you just being kind?

'Wow.. what a great heart you have. My father in law was estranged from his father at an early age, but he is very excited about this news. I can't say thank you enough'

Unfortunately they failed to win the watch by one bid so, even though I know it's a very long shot, I thought I'd try posting the relevant information in a couple of places and perhaps find who bought the watch and see if I can get it back to the family.

Many thanks in advance for any help. Carl.

 

[FreetzGrün]

I think it's very very nice of you to try to help this family.....but ....what is the phrase, no good deed goes unpunished? That's what I found. I do not contact relatives of watches anymore.
I had a horrible experience once contacting the son of a veteran that I own his watch. Seems senior may have been a war hero but as a father he was a real jerk. Did not see that one coming. But I hope this turns out well, good luck.

 

[Carlos Fandango]

I think it's very very nice of you to try to help this family.....but ....what is the phrase, no good deed goes unpunished? That's what I found. I do not contact relatives of watches anymore.
I had a horrible experience once contacting the son of a veteran that I own his watch. Seems senior may have been a war hero but as a father he was a real jerk. Did not see that one coming. But I hope this turns out well, good luck.

Yes, you never can tell. I have tried something similar with some medals I saw for auction and knew the family's contact details but I never even got a reply that time.

 

[FreetzGrün]

Do you really think the family truly appreciated the watch? Because with the winning bid being 41 bucks, I question that. Though, I do give the benefit of the doubt because so many people are in dire financial straits, or perhaps it was their first time on eBay & just didn't get it? but for that price I would have bought it myself & sent it to them had I known, anonymously.