hello all.... just wanted to share a group of items, mostly documents, that belonged to my great uncle(by marriage), I just came back for a memorial service for my great aunt(his wife) and was surprised by my cousin when he gave me his fathers items that he had, I assume , knowing that I collect....
there is nothing spectacular here but I can vouch for the authenticity and I learned a few new things and I am sure I'll learn some more....
what I know....he died awhile back in 1984 I believe, at that time his son made an effort to get his war records and then once he had those he applied for his awards...this likely was spurred on by the release of the US POW medal in 1985....
what I have.... the reissued medals sent directly from the government, all of the application for the records and all of the copies of his service file, some of which have been in a fire of some sort...also have some pages from a scrapbook with telegrams, newspaper clippings and a few other things
briefly....he was a radio operator for the 434th Armored Field Artillery under the 7th Armored Division...landed in Normandy after D-Day, captured Dec 22 1944 in Belgium during the Ardennes Offensive....it seems both he and Lt Bundy(forward observer) were captured together....he spent the rest of the war in a POW camp in Germany
so...here are some pics of the items for viewing and thanks for any input...sorry, it's a bit long
the scrapbook pages
bad news telegram
I'm stumped on this 16AD patch when he was in the 7AD....the 16AD's only battle was the liberation of Pilsen and then deactivated shortly after the war...and the good news telegram
close up of the guys standing in the chow line....arrow points to "Hockenberry (Hoc) 43-44 swell guy"
his mom(whom I've also met at a few thanksgivings) was constantly writing letters trying to find out information her son...this letter was sent to her from his CO
service history
his discharge papers
there were also these German documents in the file, I assume from the POW camp--any insight would be appreciated
his medals and awards as reissued ~ 1986 * American Campaign Medal * European Campaign w/ 2 stars * Victory Medal * Ruptured Duck pin * Expert- SubMachine Gun Badge and the US POW Medal which is engraved on the reverse
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