dan_the_hun84 Posted October 21, 2017 Share #1 Posted October 21, 2017 I would like thank the forum member who hooked me up with this nice group. I have been looking for one for either the 86th or 97th Divisions as they are they had a busy 1945, first fighting during the closing stages in the ETO in Germany and Austria- then being spirited off to the PTO after VE day. The 86th was actually in Manila harbor when the bomb was dropped.. They wound up performing occupation duty and guarding/processing Japanese POWs (only a few months earlier doing the same with German) This group belonged to Sgt John Bondi from Rochester, NY. His DD214 shows rifle expert, but the badge have rifle, carbine and pistol-d bars- he must have been a hell of a shot and his MOS was Ammunition NCO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_the_hun84 Posted October 21, 2017 Author Share #2 Posted October 21, 2017 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_the_hun84 Posted October 21, 2017 Author Share #3 Posted October 21, 2017 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_the_hun84 Posted October 21, 2017 Author Share #4 Posted October 21, 2017 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_the_hun84 Posted October 21, 2017 Author Share #5 Posted October 21, 2017 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_the_hun84 Posted October 21, 2017 Author Share #6 Posted October 21, 2017 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_the_hun84 Posted October 21, 2017 Author Share #7 Posted October 21, 2017 Mr Bondi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted October 21, 2017 Share #8 Posted October 21, 2017 Nice uniform, if I remember correctly the 86th was fighting Japanese in 1946. Some holdouts on a island they took alot of casulaties. Forgot where I read that. Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edelweisse Posted October 21, 2017 Share #9 Posted October 21, 2017 Nice group....I like 86th Inf Div items. My Father was in 341st Reg of the 86th ID..going thru Germany into Austria and then first entire division back to CONUS from ETO. They "thought"...the war is all over...but "packed their stuff for PTO". If it wasn't for the atomic bomb, many of these 86th ID soldiers would have died since the 86th ID was ear-marked for the invasion of mainland Japan....along with many other soldiers, Marines, sailors, & airmen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edelweisse Posted October 22, 2017 Share #10 Posted October 22, 2017 Based upon the 342nd Reg roster....Sgt. John Bondi of 474 Bricker St, Rochester 9, NY was in the 3rd Battalion, HQ HQ Company (HHC) That is probably what is listed on the DD 214....Bronze Star? Could you please post some close-up picture details of the DD214? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_the_hun84 Posted October 22, 2017 Author Share #11 Posted October 22, 2017 Based upon the 342nd Reg roster....Sgt. John Bondi of 474 Bricker St, Rochester 9, NY was in the 3rd Battalion, HQ HQ Company (HHC) That is probably what is listed on the DD 214....Bronze Star? Could you please post some close-up picture details of the DD214? Yes that's what's on the DD214 as far as unit. No mention of a bronze star. I will post a couple more pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_the_hun84 Posted October 22, 2017 Author Share #12 Posted October 22, 2017 more of discharge paper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_the_hun84 Posted October 22, 2017 Author Share #13 Posted October 22, 2017 more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edelweisse Posted October 22, 2017 Share #14 Posted October 22, 2017 If someone hs 342nd Regiment, 86th ID book with the pictures of the soldiers....but missing the roster..his picture would be on page# 103, 3rd Row 1st person on left I have the 341st and 343rd books of the 86th ID but not the 342nd. I' like to locate and purchase a 342nd Reg 86th ID book BOTTOM LINE: Nice group...I love it!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieony Posted October 22, 2017 Share #15 Posted October 22, 2017 Very nice group...thanks for posting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edelweisse Posted December 10, 2017 Share #16 Posted December 10, 2017 Based upon the DD-214...he was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge (CIB) on 11 Apr 1945,,,,and President Truman issued an Order in late 1945 etc...something to the effect..."Any Infantry soldier issued a CIB would be awarded the Bronze Star"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanmc1114 Posted December 12, 2017 Share #17 Posted December 12, 2017 The 86th and 97th were two of the last American divisions to see combat in World War II (I believe the 16th Armored Division was technically last). They had both undergone extensive amphibious training in California and were expected to deploy to the Pacific later in 1945 for participation in the invasion of Japan. However, as a result of the huge casualties the Americans suffered in the Battle of the Bulge and the realization that the war in Europe could drag out much longer, they were both rushed to Europe instead. Another reason they were so late in deploying is that they were levied on two or maybe three times during their training to send large numbers of replacements overseas to replace combat losses. So essentially, the division was organized and trained three different times. My grandfather served in Company K 343rd Infantry in Europe and the Philippines although he didn't deploy to Europe with the division. He was sent to Europe as a replacement in February 1945, and for some reason I have never understood, he was sent assigned to the 86th when they were in Cologne, Germany before they were ever committed to combat. Since they would not have incurred any combat casualties at that point, I'm guessing when the 86th deployed it was understrength, probably due to the levying for other units had undergone. Another thing the 86th was known for was the high average IQ of its members. When the Army cut the ATSP college program and reduced the number of air crews needed for the B-29 program in 1944, the 86th got a number of those soldiers who turned out to be, on average, much smarter and better educated than most infantrymen coming out of the replacement camps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbinephalen Posted December 14, 2017 Share #18 Posted December 14, 2017 This has been a really great read! Gorgeous uniform group and a great conversation piece. These ETO/PTO units have some incredible stories to tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibertyDivision Posted July 20, 2018 Share #19 Posted July 20, 2018 Sharp grouping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanmc1114 Posted July 20, 2018 Share #20 Posted July 20, 2018 more of discharge paper I just noticed something interesting on his discharge. It says he was entitled to campaign participation credit for the Central Europe and Rhineland campaigns by representation of a bronze star on his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon. However, as far as I can tell, no unit of the 86th was entitled to credit for the Rhineland Campaign per the official campaign participation registries or the lineage and honors documents prepared by the Center of Military History. I think that's just a typo, although the 86th was in Europe during the time frame of the Rhinelad Campaign but I think maybe not geographically present within the specific boundaries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PacificGunner Posted January 25, 2019 Share #21 Posted January 25, 2019 Nice uniform, if I remember correctly the 86th was fighting Japanese in 1946. Some holdouts on a island they took alot of casulaties. Forgot where I read that. Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk You're right about the 86th ID fighting the Japanese in 1946. After the unit landed at Luzon they were spread throughout the area for various duties including guarding POWs. In the 1954 published book, "Black Hawks Over the Danube: The history of the 86th Infantry Division in World War II" Richard Briggs writes about the challenges the 86th ID faced after the war ended. There are accounts written in late 1946 that describe how the 86th ID would run into resistance from stubborn Japanese units that still refused to surrender. Not only did the soldiers of the 86th ID have to deal with remaining Japanese forces, but they also faced hostile encounters by communist guerrillas known as the "Huks." Not really sure on how many casualties they took during their occupation duty but I would be interested to find out. Even though the 86th ID only saw 34 days of combat in the ETO, I think they are a very interesting unit because of their experiences in both theaters, especially after the war ended. It is nice to see groupings from these late war units, as I do not see them come up very often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_the_hun84 Posted January 25, 2019 Author Share #22 Posted January 25, 2019 I just noticed something interesting on his discharge. It says he was entitled to campaign participation credit for the Central Europe and Rhineland campaigns by representation of a bronze star on his European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon. However, as far as I can tell, no unit of the 86th was entitled to credit for the Rhineland Campaign per the official campaign participation registries or the lineage and honors documents prepared by the Center of Military History. I think that's just a typo, although the 86th was in Europe during the time frame of the Rhinelad Campaign but I think maybe not geographically present within the specific boundaries. I have actually seen a couple of other uniforms that have 2 stars on the EAME ribbon- apparently some guys thought/were told they had two to display- would be interesting to do some math on ASR scores to see if they actually did get the extra five points for that second star Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cpl. Punishment Posted January 26, 2019 Share #23 Posted January 26, 2019 I just picked up a very similar group! It has the mans original discharge papers as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edelweisse Posted January 26, 2019 Share #24 Posted January 26, 2019 Can you post pictures? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ant1942 Posted January 27, 2019 Share #25 Posted January 27, 2019 I too have a 97th ID uniform that has 2 campaign stars on the uniform which I thought was unique considering they’re a 1 campaign division alongside the 86th Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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