My great grand uncle was KIA during World War II and I am currently working on his military medals display. I want to make sure the display is complete as possible. His service records were destroyed in the 1973 fire at the Military Personnel Records Center.

He enlisted on December 9, 1941. He received training in the Armored Force and further instruction in tank and tank destroyer operation and maintenance. He sailed overseas in April 1943. He served in the North African Campaign and took part in the invasion of Sicily and the invasion at Salerno, Italy attached to a unit of the 45th Division.

He also saw service at Monte Cassino, Gela, Palermo, and the drive on Rome with the armored force. He also participated in the invasion of Southern France. He was in maintenance, then a half-track crew member, then a tank driver. He was KIA on April 6, 1945 near Kressbach, Germany. At the time of his death, he was T-5, a corporal, and a tank gunner in Company C of the 753rd Tank Battalion.

These are the items I currently have listed to purchase for the display:

World War II Army Ground Forces Reserve Patch
753rd Tank Battalion Patch
Technician 5 Stripes for WWII and Korea
Army Overseas Service Bars (4)
Army Hash Mark Rank Uniform Stripe

U.S. Flag (With Gold Trim) Patch
In Memoriam U.S. Flag Case Patch
U.S. Army Patch

Army Driver/Mechanic Badge with Driver-T Qualification Bar
753rd Tank Battalion Crest Pin

Purple Heart Medal/Ribbon
Army Good Conduct Medal/Ribbon (My Cousin has the Original)
World War II Victory Medal/Ribbon
American Campaign Medal
World War II Europe Africa Middle East Campaign Medal/Ribbon with ? attachment
World War II French Croix de Guerre Medal/Ribbon and the Vermillion Star (Battalion Award)

I would really appreciate any help making sure I have the display correct. Thank you!

Charles Richard "Dick" Waits (April 27, 1919 - April 6, 1945)



[This message has been edited by wreckingcrewd (edited 3/20/2012 10:24a).]

[This message has been edited by wreckingcrewd (edited 3/25/2012 11:04p).]

http://www.usamilitarymedals.com/rackbuilder.html

I used US Military Medals to build my ribbon rack for my display case. You pick the awards and they preassemble the rack for you. You can build the ribbon/medal rack here with a lot of different options. The attachment for your WWII Eur Afr ME Campaign is probably a little bronze star device indicating a send trip. Links to the regs are listed below. I'd suggest the mini ribbons.

Medal Regs
http://www.usamilitarymedals.com/rackbuilder.php/regs/my_rack_regulations/medal/army

Mini Medal Regs
http://www.usamilitarymedals.com/rackbuilder.php/regs/my_rack_regulations/mini/army

Thanks for the help, officeag. I found the regs to be a big help.

He would also have several campaign stars for his African/European campaign ribbon.

He'd be authorized the National Defence Medal, I think with an oak leaf cluster. Better ckeck on the cluster.

He'd also have the Korean Service Medeal and most likely the UN Service Medal. Most had both, but there were some, I believe, that only had the Korean medal. I think some commands were not part of the UN "effort." I could be wrong, though. I think the Kr4ean Medal had had campaign stars, but I'm not certain.

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He'd be authorized the National Defence Medal, I think with an oak leaf cluster.

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No - the NDSM was created in 1953.

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He'd also have the Korean Service Medeal and most likely the UN Service Medal.

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Not if he was KIA in 1945.....



[This message has been edited by JR69 (edited 3/23/2012 10:06a).]

Just a personal opinion, I wouldn't put Corporal stripes and Tech-5 Stripes both. The Tech-5 is a promotion from Corporal, so in essence it includes Corporal stripes.

Your display, though, so just a suggestion.

Thanks for the info, guys. I think I'll go with the T5 stripes only. Thanks, Tango.

If he enlisted in TX, Tx counties published books in the late 40s called "Men and Women of -- County in WW II". Most had medals listed.

Thanks jarhead, but he was from Lancaster, Ohio and enlisted in Columbus.

OK, let's take another path. Do you have his discharge papers (now called DD 214)? If not, many vets filed them in the court house of their home counties. It will list all awards, campaigns he was in, etc. Interestingly, although not in the same division, my uncle was in the same campaigns. NAfrica, Monte Cassino, southern France. He was also KIA. 1 Feb 45 near Gambsheim France. Good luck

jarhead, I do not have his discharge papers. I am mostly working off of his obituary, which appeared in the local newspaper. I'm not sure what records of his were destroyed in the 1973 fire, but I do have his deceased personnel file. It doesn't list much about his service, but gives details of his death. I know that he was in Company C of the 753rd Tank Battalion from September 1943 until his death from a letter he sent home.

WC, my brain skipped a cog. Since he was KIA there was no discharge paper. With the loss of records in the fire looks like you're left with unit awards during his time in the unit, and the Purple Heart. You might google to see if his unit still has a reunion. If so, that could be a source. Those guys may be too old for reunions now. I attended one for my KIA uncle. Several guys remembered him very well and had info for me.