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The Sacrifice of a 32nd Div Captain. WIA 04 Aug 1945 on Luzon


carbinephalen
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carbinephalen

Stuart W. P-R-A-T-T was born in Wisconsin in 1914. On July 29, 1941 he enlisted in the US Army and on December 15, 1942 he was commissioned as an Infantry Officer. He served in combat with the 127th Infantry Regiment in the 32nd Infantry Division in the Leyte, Luzon, and New Guinea Campaigns. On August 4th, 1945 his life would change forever. Two days before the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, then Lt Pratt was critically wounded on the island of Luzon. Shrapnel to the abdomen and machine gun rounds to his right leg resulted in his leg being amputated mid-thigh and a FIVE year stay in various military medical facilities.

Five years this brave Captain was in the struggle of his life battling gangrene, a colostomy, and learning to live with the loss of his leg.

He was finally discharged on June 23, 1949 and returned home to his wife in Wisconsin.

Mr. P-R-A-T-T lived out his final years in Sun City, Arizona passing away at the young age of 58.

This uniform came all original straight from the family and included a box of uniform insignia.The CIB is an interesting variant with a raised musket.

 

Thanks for looking and if there are any 32nd specialists that could assist me with any research that would be awesome!

 

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Just looked, he is not listed in the Index to the General Orders of the 32nd Div. It looks like he was not in the 32nd Div book that lists all the guys called up in 1940.

Nice uniform.

 

Bob

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carbinephalen

I also realize that the ribbons aren’t in the correct order however this is how they were when it came from the family. By the wear/marks/oxidation they appear to have been in this particular position for a long time.

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Trevor M. Larson

First of all this is a fantastic uniform and touching memorial to this brave man. The 32nd division actually got 2 battle stars for their fighting in new guneia but he would have had to have been with them before January 43. Seeing how there's only a single star on his PTO ribbon when he should have at least 3 if not 4 is pretty neat. I'd wager with his early enlistment date he was probally in for that early campaign. I really like seeing 32nd div items. Thanks for sharing!

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carbinephalen

First of all this is a fantastic uniform and touching memorial to this brave man. The 32nd division actually got 2 battle stars for their fighting in new guneia but he would have had to have been with them before January 43. Seeing how there's only a single star on his PTO ribbon when he should have at least 3 if not 4 is pretty neat. I'd wager with his early enlistment date he was probally in for that early campaign. I really like seeing 32nd div items. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for your comments! PTO items have always fascinated me.

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That is a great uniform.Tragic that he was so severely wounded but wonderful that he came home to a family, a profession and hopefully a good life. Always interested to see 32nd Div. items as my Dad was a medic with the 32nd from '42 to '46. Also, I always like to mention that the 32nd had more days in combat than any other division in the War.

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carbinephalen

That is a great uniform.Tragic that he was so severely wounded but wonderful that he came home to a family, a profession and hopefully a good life. Always interested to see 32nd Div. items as my Dad was a medic with the 32nd from '42 to '46. Also, I always like to mention that the 32nd had more days in combat than any other division in the War.

Ive truly enjoyed researching this vet and learning more about the 32nd. So much emphasis is put on the ETO units, the PTO boys are often overlooked!

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carbinephalen

It is a fault on the newspaper article (or poor reporting by a family member.

 

Birth Date: 1 Dec 1914

Death Date: 7 Feb 1972

 

It is actually 57...not 58 as I said previously. He was just shy of 58.

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  • 4 weeks later...
carbinephalen

This brave vet was in F-Co, 127th Inf, 32nd Div and he wasn't the only casualty that day in his platoon. I am excited to research the day and see what the parameters of the battle were. Thank you for your service Capt Stuart!

 

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Ive truly enjoyed researching this vet and learning more about the 32nd. So much emphasis is put on the ETO units, the PTO boys are often overlooked!

This. the fighting in the PTO was so brutal. Virtually no quarter asked or given. Kill or be killed. Thanks for sharing this man's story

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Not to mention the weather and disease they had to contend with. My Dad said sometimes, while in the Pacific, he felt he would never be dry again. He also got malaria which affected him his whole life.

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