Interesting Discharge

[BigJim]

This belonged to a Cpl in the HQ Co, of the 291st Inf Reg, in the 75th Inf Divi. His specialty is listed as a Refueling Unit Operator, with the 3rd Air Divison, assigned to the 8th Air Force. He was awarded 5 campaign stars, including "Air Offensive Europe". He was given a general discharge from an army hospital and was not eligible for reenlistment, despite not being wounded in combat. I was thinking he could've been hospitalized for something relating to him being an alcoholic, since he died young because of that, could I be correct? Does anyone have pics of an Army Refueling Unit?

[P-59A]

Line 40 denotes yellow fever in 42 and Typhus in 45 plus 16 days AW. I see nothing of what you say in the records. Nothing indicates he was brought up on charges.

[SGT CHIP SAUNDERS]

Eight grade education . Not unusual then, but perhaps a factor regarding retention . Still, no charges evident . Good Conduct Medal ?? Inducted in 42 . Discharged in 46 . 4 yrs active with combat . Cpl. last rank,

[mortarman]

His death certificate shows alcoholism.

[Allan H.]

The Yellow Fever and Typhus designations are vaccinations rather than infection. Both of these diseases were greatly feared in the WWII time period. Note that they have a star in front of them and a star behind the last immunization in that section.

 

There are any number of reasons that a soldier wouldn't have been eligible for reenlistment. An 8th grade education would not have been one of them. Low marks for character or efficiency could have been determining factors or he could have taken enough reduction in rank or other company based punishment to make him to be seen as unfit. He could have also had issues like a venereal disease or other medical issue that might have kept him from being acceptable for reenlistment. As the army drew down its ranks, the standards for reenlistment went up a great deal.

 

Allan