Dave Posted January 23, 2019 Share #1 Posted January 23, 2019 All: For some reason, I keep coming up with dead ends trying to research this medal. I picked it up a while back, but only sent an e-mail to the National Archives for his GOs...right before the government shut down. Dang! From the Planchet Press Legion of Merit book, I knew he was a SSGT and was awarded two Legions of Merit. Fairly unusual for an enlisted recipient in WW2. In the meantime, forum member foxfall stepped in and helped with finding one of the two GOs. It turned out to be quite interesting... His first award of the Legion of Merit was announced in HQ North Africa Theater of Operation General Orders No. 165 dated 20 December 1943. His citation reads as follows: "For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services in North Africa from 19 February 1943 to 8 May 1943. Throughout several intense battles he personally provided the litter squads of his section and in many instances went forward in the face of deadly enemy artillery fire to pick up the wounded when his men were exhausted. Through his unstinting leadership and administrative efficiency he secured the willing cooperation of all and accomplished a superior record for both himself and his section. Entered the Service from (unreadable), Massachusetts." Unfortunately, his second LOM was issued by the same headquarters as General Orders No. 14 (1944). However, the Microfiche file skips from GO No. 12 to GO No. 15 (the citation for Gwozdz was in GO No 14 dated 26 February 1944). Unfortunately also, his service number in the microfiche was almost unreadable, so that made it tough to narrow down as well. So at that point, I was kind of stuck. I ended up with more dead ends. However, searching through all the death records on ancestry (not just those in the military section) a headstone application popped up that was almost perfect...16th Medical Detachment, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. That would make sense for a North Africa award. BUT...the headstone application is for a PVT, and my guy was a two-time LOM recipient SSGT! The good thing about the headstone application was that it had the service number clearly typed on it, so getting back to foxfall, he was able to confirm that the service number matched - this was the right guy! So it appears that his second Legion of Merit may have been posthumous, awarded four months after he was KIA (or DNB, not sure which at the moment). For those collecting posthumous awards, it's really fairly unusual to see a posthumous Legion of Merit to an enlisted recipient...which makes it all the more strange. And with those findings, I am still running into dead ends trying to find out anything more about this guy. I know when he enlisted (1939), I know when he was killed, I know he earned two LOMs and have the citation for the first one...but everything else is foggy. Once the National Archives open again, I plan on ordering his IDPF and the morning reports for his unit, but in the meantime, does anyone have any ideas of how to find out anything more about this guy? It seems there should be more out there, but I'm totally drawing a blank at this point. Any help is appreciated!Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted January 23, 2019 Author Share #2 Posted January 23, 2019 And here's his headstone application... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratasfan Posted January 23, 2019 Share #3 Posted January 23, 2019 Well, with an oddly spelled last name like that, it goes both ways . . . One-not many, so should be easier. Two-Could be easily mis-spelled or transcribed. I would say that contacting the hometown library or historical society would be a good place to try. Hometown newspapers are also a good place to look. However, I find Mass. a terrible place to research! The people don't tend to be helpful when you contact them (if they answer) and they don't digitize records much at all. Have you figured out what his hometown is? Is it the Chicopee where he is buried? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted January 23, 2019 Author Share #4 Posted January 23, 2019 Good thought on the cemetery...I didn't think about that and since he didn't pop on findagrave right off, I forgot to check. Sure enough... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznation Posted January 23, 2019 Share #5 Posted January 23, 2019 Source: http://digitalarchives.sec.state.ma.us/uncategorised/digitalFile_af6b1475-c848-4209-ab8c-4940b79bc471/ The Private John J. Gwozdz was killed in action in the Mediterranean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted January 23, 2019 Author Share #6 Posted January 23, 2019 And I didn't notice till I posted it...but he's SSGT in the title but PVT on the inscription! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted January 23, 2019 Author Share #7 Posted January 23, 2019 Source: http://digitalarchives.sec.state.ma.us/uncategorised/digitalFile_af6b1475-c848-4209-ab8c-4940b79bc471/ The Private John J. Gwozdz was killed in action in the Mediterranean. Thanks! I wonder if that's where the PVT rank came from??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratasfan Posted January 23, 2019 Share #8 Posted January 23, 2019 Well, it is Chicopee on the original posted grave marker, and it is Chicopee where the tombstone is at. Maybe it is the same guy and they just marked him as a Pvt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratasfan Posted January 23, 2019 Share #9 Posted January 23, 2019 Don't kill yourself with the find a grave. I'm making it now. I found a picture of his tombstone on findmypast, and am doing the inscription. Definitely a Pvt. Here is the picture: So I wonder if the SSgt is just wrong? But if Legion on Merits aren't often given to enlisted . . . maybe a Pvt rank would be stretching it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratasfan Posted January 23, 2019 Share #10 Posted January 23, 2019 Dave . . . would you like the Find A Grave memorial? I see you posted a photo request and have an account. I'd be happy to transfer to you if you like! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratasfan Posted January 23, 2019 Share #11 Posted January 23, 2019 Another thought . . . that first LoM citation . . . does it list his rank when he got that one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted January 23, 2019 Author Share #12 Posted January 23, 2019 Thanks a bunch! Yes, the citation lists that he was a SSGT. I'm thinking that the PVT was a error...but then again...never know... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCR79 Posted January 24, 2019 Share #13 Posted January 24, 2019 Gwozdz is a common name in Chicopee (My Hometown) - My Mom went to High School with a Cousin (Eddie Gwozdz) Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted January 24, 2019 Share #14 Posted January 24, 2019 I think I remember seeing this LOM long ago ?along with a Purple Heart ??? Something is telling me he was an interruptor and may have been killed by a land mine ??? I know it had a PH with it ! I will try to dig up old files sometimes I save info on interesting groups ? Not sure if I have it but I remember I tried to buy pair but was too late ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted January 24, 2019 Author Share #15 Posted January 24, 2019 Interesting, both to Bill and Scott!I would not be surprised if the PH went AWOL at some point, as I'd think, after having read what the 30th Inf Regt was doing when he was killed, he was most likely KIA vice a DNB...never know though. I'd LOVE to find it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted January 24, 2019 Share #16 Posted January 24, 2019 Dave Did you try newspapers.com ? Might get lucky and find an article ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MMcollector Posted January 24, 2019 Share #17 Posted January 24, 2019 Not sure if you saw this on newspaper Dave. Hope this helps in 1 direction or the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted January 24, 2019 Author Share #18 Posted January 24, 2019 Dave Did you try newspapers.com ? Might get lucky and find an article ? I did look, but no luck. This might be one where I need to contact the local library to access their city newspaper(s). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted January 24, 2019 Author Share #19 Posted January 24, 2019 Not sure if you saw this on newspaper Dave. Hope this helps in 1 direction or the other. FFC9FC1D-78B1-4F82-AA62-169721898B4A.jpeg Thanks Clinton! The guy I'm looking for was KIA, but this guy does have the same name - but his service number was not a match when we looked it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratasfan Posted January 24, 2019 Share #20 Posted January 24, 2019 Gwozdz is a common name in Chicopee (My Hometown) - My Mom went to High School with a Cousin (Eddie Gwozdz) Bill Common? Your hometown? OK . . . you can probably answer a question that has been nagging me ever since I saw this orgiginal post last night. How would you phonetically pronounce this name? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captainofthe7th Posted January 25, 2019 Share #21 Posted January 25, 2019 That's a nice medal with a challenging research journey. All I've found that you might not have is a locator card that only reinforces the information you already know. I can email to you. Gwozdz is surprisingly popular in Mass. - 54 hits for those who filed with the state. I believe it would be pronounced "Gwodge" or "Gvodge" - rhymes with Dodge. (/ˈɡwɑːdz/; Polish: [ɡvuɕt͡ɕ] It's a Polish surname, they don't make it easy. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted January 25, 2019 Share #22 Posted January 25, 2019 Time for find that IDPF..... Another great pre-BSM enlisted LOM Dave! -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted January 26, 2019 Share #23 Posted January 26, 2019 Great medal mystery. Research is coming together. Hope that PH turns up! Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge8 Posted January 26, 2019 Share #24 Posted January 26, 2019 GWOZDZ.pdf Here he is. Second half of article not listed (Genealogy Bank.com) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge8 Posted January 26, 2019 Share #25 Posted January 26, 2019 Parents.pdf Picture of parents receiving the posthumous medal Dec 11, 1944 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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