71st Infantry Division Field Lineman dog tag

[bellasilva]

I picked this one up recently and thought I'd share it. Carl McComb Jr served as a field lineman with the 71st Infantry Division, which arrived in France in early February 1945. They saw their first combat on March 11th, 1945. They were attached to the 761st Tank Battalion during the last several weeks of WWII and participated in liberating concentration camps, including Gunskirchen Lager in Austria on May 4th, 1945. In 1988, the 71st was recognized as a liberating unit by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

[268th C.A.]

Very nice history....

[muddyboots]

Nice tag and history.

[bellasilva]

Thanks gents, definitely a nice example of a dog tag to a guy who participated in some bloody late-war operations.

 

He was 18 when he was inducted in June, 1944. Note the T44-45 tetanus dates, making it very likely this was one of the pair that he wore during his enlistment until the end of the war.

[muddyboots]

Judging by the ware to the hole I would say you are right.

[bellasilva]

Judging by the ware to the hole I would say you are right.

Absolutely, something I always look for

[bellasilva]

Small update. I was able to track down a high school photo of Mccomb, aged 16, two years before he was sent to combat in the ETO. I love these yearbook photos.

[Tentitans112887]

Great pickup. I recently got a 71st set, too.