Posted on Sep 25, 2018
SPC Aircraft Mechanic
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Does anyone know where I can find details on a WWII veteran? He has lost his uniform, and I would like to help him get it back with the proper awards and medals so he can go to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
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LTC Jason Mackay
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SPC (Join to see) you can google NPRC awards and decorations and it has was to get the medals and info. The best source is the vet himself. Especially if his stuff was lost in the 1973 fire. Does he have anything? Even an old ribbon rack?
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
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8–6. Combat Infantryman Badge
a. For award of the CIB a Soldier must meet the following three requirements:
(1) Be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties.
(2) Assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat.
(3) Actively participate in such ground combat. Campaign or battle credit alone is not sufficient for award of the
CIB.
b. The specific eligibility criteria for the CIB require that:
(1) A Soldier must be an Army infantry or SF officer (SSI 11 or 18) in the grade of COL/O–6 or below, or an Army
enlisted Soldier or warrant officer with an infantry or SF MOS who, subsequent to 6 December 1941, has satisfactorily performed duty while assigned or attached as a member of an infantry, ranger, or SF unit of either a brigade, regimental, or smaller size during any period such unit was engaged in active ground combat. Eligibility for SF personnel in MOSs 18B, 18C, 18E, 18F, and 18Z (less 18D–SF medical sergeant) accrues from 20 December 1989. Retroactive awards of the CIB to SF personnel are not authorized prior to 20 December 1989.
(2) A recipient must be personally present and under hostile fire while serving in an assigned infantry or SF primary duty, in a unit actively engaged in ground combat with the enemy. The unit in question must be a brigade, regiment, or smaller size. For example, personnel possessing an infantry MOS in a rifle squad of a cavalry platoon in a cavalry troop would be eligible for award of the CIB. Battle or campaign participation credit alone is not sufficient; the unit must have been in active ground combat with the enemy during the period.

Processing
(2) Retroactive award of the Combat Infantryman Badge. Retroactive award of the CIB is authorized for time periods specified above for fully qualified individuals. The awards may be awarded by Commander, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Awards and Decorations Branch (AHRC–PDP–A), 1600 Spearhead Division Avenue, Fort Knox, KY 40122–5408. Applications for retroactive award to active duty Soldiers and RC Soldiers will be forwarded through command channels to the first general officer (for endorsement) to HRC for processing. Retirees and veterans should a d d r e s s t h e i r a p p l i c a t i o n s t o N a t i o n a l P e r s o n n e l R e c o r d s C e n t e r ( N P RC ) , 1 A r c h i v e s D r i v e , S t . L o u i s , M O 63138–1002. All ARNG requests, once endorsed, will be submitted to the Director, (ARNG–HRH–A), 111 S. George Mason Drive, Arlington, VA 22204–1373 prior to being submitted to HRC. Such awards will not be made except where evidence of injustice is presented.
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SPC Aircraft Mechanic
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LTC Jason Mackay I'm sorry I haven't been able to respond, I have been attending briefs all day. That's is a lot of information. I am sending the information over right now. I was told they may have a picture of him in uniform, if so I may be able to identify some of the awards. The local museum said they may be able to offer a uniform to borrow. I will submit a request find out. Thank you for taking the time to do this. I greatly appreciate your help and I know that he will as well.
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
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The 102d ID timeline (assuming he deployed with the Division) according to the CMH:
Activated 15 September 1942
Arrived ETO 22 September 1944 (Arrived United Kingdom but did not disembark)
Arrived Continent 23 September 1944 (D+109)
Entered Combat 26 October 1944
Days in Combat 173

Two Campaigns: Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns

The 102d Infantry Division arrived at Cherbourg, France, 23 September 1944, and, after a short period of training near Valognes, moved to the German-Netherlands border. On 26 October, elements attached to other divisions entered combat and on 3 November the Division assumed responsibility for the sector from the Wurm River to Waurichen. A realinement of sectors and the return of elements placed the 102d in full control of its units for the first time, 24 November 1944, as it prepared for an attack to the Roer. The attack jumped off, 29 November, and carried the Division to the river through Welz, Flossdorf, and Linnich. After a period of aggressive patrolling along the Roer, 4-19 December, the Division took over the XIII Corps sector from the Wurm River, north of the village of Wurm, to Barmen on the south, and trained for river crossing. On 23 February 1945, the 102d attacked across the Roer, advanced toward Lovenich, bypassed Munchen-Gladbach, took Krefeld, 3 March, and reached the Rhine. During March the Division was on the defensive along the Rhine, its sector extending from Homburg south to Dusseldorf. Crossing the river in April, the Division attacked in the Wesergebirge, meeting stiff opposition. Wilsede and Hessisch-Oldendorf fell, 12 April 1945, and the 102d pushed on to the Elbe, meeting little resistance. Breitenfeld fell, 15 April, and the Division outposted the Elbe River, 48 miles from Berlin, its advance halted on orders. It patrolled and maintained defensive positions until the end of hostilities in Europe, then moved to Gotha for occupational duty.
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
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SPC (Join to see) I have posted excerpts from AR600-8-22 as to decorations he MAY have been awarded or eligible for. I also posted the DoD Valor website in case he may have been awarded the MoH, DSC, or SS, he will appear by name. I posted portions of the Division history. Depending on when he joined the Division, he'd be involved in the two campaigns I cited (two campaign stars of the campaign medal). He'd like also be eligible for two overseas service bars (6 months in combat theater). It appears the Division Was on occupation duty, so if he stayed in theater, he'd be eligible for the Army of Occupation Medal. The Division came ashore on D+109, so no arrowhead on the campaign medal, unless it was awarded for the Roer River crossing, but you can't go 50 miles in Europe without have to cross a river....one of Ike's frustrations, that and Amphibious operations. All risk...
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SrA John Monette
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https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records

he can get his service records from the government archives. he needs to fill out an SF-180
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SFC Airborne Instructor (Ai)
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If the vet still has his DD-214, all awards and decorations should be located on it.
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
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SFC (Join to see) not so much. Before January 1, 1950, several similar forms were used by the military services, including the WD AGO 53, WD AGO 55, WD AGO 53-55, NAVPERS 553, NAVMC 78PD and the NAVCG 553. Not quite the same.

https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/dd-214
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SFC Airborne Instructor (Ai)
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Good to know, sir. Thanks for the info.
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
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SFC (Join to see) - I think part of the reason they moved to the DD214 so there was one thing for employers to look at. One consolidated document that told the tale. I also believe it was part of the fledgling Department of Defense (created by the National Security Act of 1947) to exert some control. Purely a guess.
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