USAF29thINFvet Posted May 1, 2014 Share #1 Posted May 1, 2014 I recently found a family members service coat from WWII. Can anyone here help me with figuring out what he did, where he was, etc. while participating in WWII? Also...what do all the ribbons and devices mean? I am accustomed seeing division patches on the sleeves. Also, there is an arrowhead and four stars on the Asiatic -Pacific ribbon. One more thing...the Drivers Badge has Driver-T hanging on it...and the collar brass has a WWI type tank on it... Any and all help would be greatly appreciated, Thanks Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timberwolf Posted May 1, 2014 Share #2 Posted May 1, 2014 I'd say with the armor brass and amphibious ESB patch your guy may have been with an Amphibious Armored unit (AMTRAKS) His unit probably transported Marines as evidenced by a Navy PUC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USAF29thINFvet Posted May 1, 2014 Author Share #3 Posted May 1, 2014 What about shoulder patches? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattsmilitary Posted May 1, 2014 Share #4 Posted May 1, 2014 Asiatic -Pacific campaign ribbon so that will help with where he was Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corpsman_1941 Posted May 1, 2014 Share #5 Posted May 1, 2014 I think that he was earlier in USMC, later he came to army Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattsmilitary Posted May 1, 2014 Share #6 Posted May 1, 2014 10th army, army amphibian unit on the patches Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linedoggie Posted May 1, 2014 Share #7 Posted May 1, 2014 Amtrak crewman Okinawa Veteran (10th Army) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linedoggie Posted May 1, 2014 Share #8 Posted May 1, 2014 Wasnt 776th Amtrac & 780th Amtank at Okinawa? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USAF29thINFvet Posted May 1, 2014 Author Share #9 Posted May 1, 2014 The stars designate campaigns I suppose? What campaigns other that Okinawa? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timberwolf Posted May 1, 2014 Share #10 Posted May 1, 2014 Unless you have his discharge you won't be able to know for certain what campaign the stars represent. Since he has the 10th Army patch we know he was at Okinawa, if your able to find out his exact unit you may be able to see what campaigns his unit participated in and find out what actions the stars represent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SergeantMajorGray Posted May 1, 2014 Share #11 Posted May 1, 2014 Doesn't the top right ribbon not belong on this uniform? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USAF29thINFvet Posted May 1, 2014 Author Share #12 Posted May 1, 2014 I am thinking it is a "veteran group" ribbon of some sort...like VFW or American Legion? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USAF29thINFvet Posted May 1, 2014 Author Share #13 Posted May 1, 2014 Look on right side of poster...looks like the one in the Association, Society, Civic and State Ribbons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SergeantMajorGray Posted May 1, 2014 Share #14 Posted May 1, 2014 That's probably it then also looks like a certificate of merit but that is too old of a medal for this uniform. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B229 Posted May 1, 2014 Share #15 Posted May 1, 2014 I am thinking it is a "veteran group" ribbon of some sort...like VFW or American Legion? Yes, it is a VFW ribbon bar. Very common to find these added on to uniforms after the fact. I would leave it right where it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B229 Posted May 1, 2014 Share #16 Posted May 1, 2014 I think that he was earlier in USMC, later he came to army Based on what? There is nothing on the uniform that would indicate he ever served in the USMC. The soldier obviously served in an Army unit that was awarded the Navy PUC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uplandmod Posted May 1, 2014 Share #17 Posted May 1, 2014 IF he was in the USMC before the army he should be on the USMC rosters. LF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USAF29thINFvet Posted May 1, 2014 Author Share #18 Posted May 1, 2014 Is there a list of Army units that were awarded the Navy PUC? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin B. Posted May 1, 2014 Share #19 Posted May 1, 2014 Is there a list of Army units that were awarded the Navy PUC? You can try the Navy/Marine Awards Manual of 1953 here: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ref/Awards/Awards-II.html#sec1 Here is an excerpt with some Army units awarded for Okinawa: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st AAA Group Posted May 2, 2014 Share #20 Posted May 2, 2014 Hmm...4 campaigns with arrowhead and 2 Navy PUC's. That's pretty impressive. From the ribbons he was also involved in some earlier invasions prior to Oki. Just a guess, but he could have belonged to the 708th Amphibious Tank Bn, That Bn had 3 campaigns for Kwajalein, Philippines, and Okinawa. Others with 3 or more campaigns; 672nd Amphib. Tractor Bn, but they ended up down South at Balikpapan, Borneo. Another, the 727th Amphib. Tractor Bn. also finished up the war at Balikpapan, but was moved to Okinawa in Oct, 45. Could not find any with 4 campaigns. One, the 826th Amphib Tractor Bn. had 5; Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea, Leyte, Luzon, and Southern Philippines. The 2 Navy PUC's should be a helpful lead though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staffsgtwilson04 Posted May 2, 2014 Share #21 Posted May 2, 2014 Company D 776th Amphibian Tank Bn had 4 campaign credits. Angaur, Peleliu, Leyte, and Okinawa. With Arrowhead. They were the only element of 776th with four campaigns. The Driver T indicates he was a tracked vehicle driver. I have the rosters and unit photo's of company D if you'd like me to check. This was my grandpa's unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staffsgtwilson04 Posted May 2, 2014 Share #22 Posted May 2, 2014 The top right ribbon is for VFW membership Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USAF29thINFvet Posted May 2, 2014 Author Share #23 Posted May 2, 2014 Would the 776th been awarded two Navy PUCs as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jguy1986 Posted May 2, 2014 Share #24 Posted May 2, 2014 What color is the star? If it's blue there's a chance he got ahold of an early issue Navy PUC and just put it on, even if his unit was only awarded one PUC. We all know about the laxness in uniform regs during WWII, so that's just one more possibility to add to the mix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USAF29thINFvet Posted May 2, 2014 Author Share #25 Posted May 2, 2014 I don't have it hand.....but will find out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now