WWII Marine Question

[one50]

Can you guys help me out with this? I'm not very knowledgeable with awards and patches and such. This picture was taken days before he went to the Pacific. The patch is 2 division Marines? Correct? My biggest question is what are the awards he has? I assume they are your basic awards for boot camp and such? Can anyone give me more detail as to what they might be. His name is Joe Myers.

Thanks so much.

 

[bobgee]

This Second Marine Division PFC has already been to war. He wears a PUC (Presidential Unit Citation), the American Campaign ribbon and the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with 2 campaign stars. As he is wearing the blue uniform this picture which wasn't in use very much during hostilities, the pic was probably taken in late 1945 or early 1946.

Bobgee

[Brig]

there was no ribbon awarded after boot camp during WWII. This practice only occurs in the Marine Corps during periods when the National Defense Service Medal is active

[Bluejacket]

one50

 

You're correct on the patch being the 2nd Marine Division. Their basic composition during WWII were the 2nd, 6th, 8th and 10 Marine Regiments, 2nd Engineer Battalion, and the 2nd Shore Party Battalion, although other units were added from time to time for specific assignments.

 

The photo wasn't taken before he went to the Pacific, but rather after he returned home, probably on leave, and before the end of the war. The ribbons on PFC Myers’ jacket appear to be the Navy & Marine Presidential Unit Citation with what appears to be two stars, the American Campaign Medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal that also appears to have two stars [or maybe an arrowhead and star - I can‘t tell]. The 2nd Division did earn two PUC's during WWII, one for service in the Solomon Island Campaign 7 August - 9 December 1942, and the second for Tarawa 20 - 24 Nov. 1943. The 2nd Division also earned a total of 6 campaign stars for WWII including 1. Guadalcanal 2. Solomon Islands 3. Gilbert Islands [including Tarawa] 4. Marianas 5. Tinian and 6. Okinawa Gunto.

 

At Tarawa the 2nd Division had to leave their landing craft on the coral reef and wade ashore under heave Japanese fire just to get to the thin beachhead, which was the basis for their PUC.

 

Using a little deductive reasoning;

 

The PUC was authorized for wear by anyone attached to the unit, so Myers may have been present at either of the two campaigns or not. But since he is wearing two stars on his ribbon, the photo had to be taken after Tarawa in November 1943. Also, it is worth noting that the various regiments in the division earned different PUC credits. The 2nd and 8th Regiments, and the 2nd Engineers and the 2nd Shore Party Battalion earned two stars, while the 6th earned one and the 10th earned three. So Myers was not a 6th Regiment marine.

 

The Division also earned a Navy Unit Citation for the Saipan Campaign in July 1944, and since Myers isn’t wearing that ribbon, the photo may be before that campaign, or at least before the award was announced.

 

His to campaign stars could, in theory, be for any of the six campaigns. Since there is no Victory Medal ribbon, it’s probably a safe bet the photo was taken during the war. Also, since he is not wearing an American Defense ribbon, he was not a pre-war Marine, entering after 7 December 41..

 

Nice photo, and hopefully you can get his service record. Thanks for posting it.

 

Bluejacket

[GLM]

one50

 

You're correct on the patch being the 2nd Marine Division. Their basic composition during WWII were the 2nd, 6th, 8th and 10 Marine Regiments, 2nd Engineer Battalion, and the 2nd Shore Party Battalion, although other units were added from time to time for specific assignments.

 

The photo wasn't taken before he went to the Pacific, but rather after he returned home, probably on leave, and before the end of the war. The ribbons on PFC Myers’ jacket appear to be the Navy & Marine Presidential Unit Citation with what appears to be two stars, the American Campaign Medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal that also appears to have two stars [or maybe an arrowhead and star - I can‘t tell]. The 2nd Division did earn two PUC's during WWII, one for service in the Solomon Island Campaign 7 August - 9 December 1942, and the second for Tarawa 20 - 24 Nov. 1943. The 2nd Division also earned a total of 6 campaign stars for WWII including 1. Guadalcanal 2. Solomon Islands 3. Gilbert Islands [including Tarawa] 4. Marianas 5. Tinian and 6. Okinawa Gunto.

 

At Tarawa the 2nd Division had to leave their landing craft on the coral reef and wade ashore under heave Japanese fire just to get to the thin beachhead, which was the basis for their PUC.

 

Using a little deductive reasoning;

 

The PUC was authorized for wear by anyone attached to the unit, so Myers may have been present at either of the two campaigns or not. But since he is wearing two stars on his ribbon, the photo had to be taken after Tarawa in November 1943. Also, it is worth noting that the various regiments in the division earned different PUC credits. The 2nd and 8th Regiments, and the 2nd Engineers and the 2nd Shore Party Battalion earned two stars, while the 6th earned one and the 10th earned three. So Myers was not a 6th Regiment marine.

 

The Division also earned a Navy Unit Citation for the Saipan Campaign in July 1944, and since Myers isn’t wearing that ribbon, the photo may be before that campaign, or at least before the award was announced.

 

His to campaign stars could, in theory, be for any of the six campaigns. Since there is no Victory Medal ribbon, it’s probably a safe bet the photo was taken during the war. Also, since he is not wearing an American Defense ribbon, he was not a pre-war Marine, entering after 7 December 41..

 

Nice photo, and hopefully you can get his service record. Thanks for posting it.

 

Bluejacket

 

Actually, Reinforced 2nd and 8th Marines were the only units from 2nd Mar Div to be awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for Guadalcanal. The entire division, plus one company from 1st MAC Tank Bn. were awarded the PUC for Tarawa. Only one star would be worn on the ribbon for two awards. The ribbon itself is the first award and a star the second award, so I doubt if there are two stars on this Marine's PUC.

 

Gary

[one50]

Thanks for the help guys. This photo is their wedding day photo taken in January 1945....So I am told. I may be getting some more info in the weeks to come. I'll let you know what I find out.

 

Thanks Again.

[Bank Vault]

The patch is 2nd Marine Division, first ribbon is PUC with it looks like two stars, an American Campaign, and an Asiatic Pacific Service with two clasps.