Uniform of USMC Colonel Harold Braden Meek

[Ricardo]

Uniform of Colonel Harold Braden Meek - USMC.

 

Colonel Meek was a veteran of World War II and was born in Indiana on June 8, 1906.

 

 

He graduated from Butler University, BA Degree in 1928. After graduation he worked as a manager in a distribution company iin your state and neighboring states.

 

He was commissioned Lieutenant of the Reserve Army (Quartermaster) on May 23, 1932, leaving the Army until January 6, 1936.

 

He served in the USMC May 13, 1933 until January 31, 1961, completing 20 years of exemplary service.

 

 

 

 

2nd Lt. - December 15, 1936

 

 

1st Lt. - December 15, 1938

 

 

Capt. - March 1, 1940

 

 

Major - August 7, 1942

 

 

Lt. Col. - October 05, 1943

 

 

Col. - January 1, 1951

 

[Ricardo]

During the WW2 the posts were:

 

15/02/36 to 04/11/40 - 16th Battalion in Indianapolis as 1st Lt. Infantry.

08/11/40 to 01/01/41 - 1st Defense Battalion in San Diego, California.

01/07/41 to 23/7/41 - 2dSigCo, 2nd Marine Division FMF.

07/24/41 to 10/28/41 - 2dSigCo, 2nd Marine Division FMF.

28/10/41 to 09/02/42 - Fort Monmouth, New Jersey for instruction in the Signal Corps School.

20/02/42 to 20/12/43 - 9th Defense Battalion in a battery of 90mm guns.

21/12/43 to 31/12/43 - 1st PhibCorps - as staff officer.

01/01/44 to 11/04/44 - 1st in CorpsSigBn Emirau.

12/04/44 to 23/07/44 - P & P Div, HQMC (G-3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ricardo]

In your notes are recorded combat:

 

Guadalcanal, 1942-43 (02.12.1942 to 29.06.1943)

Consolidation, Southern Solomons, 1943

New Georgia Campaign, 1943 - "Rendova Operation" (30/06/1943 to 08/20/1943)

Consolidation, Northern Solomons, 1943 (08/20/1943 to 19/03/1944)

Emirau Island, 1943 - "New Britain Campaign '(20/03/1944 to 04/06/1944)

 

He spoke the following languages​​: Spanish, Russian and Portuguese.

 

 

He attended courses in Public Speaking at George Washington University in 1946, Armed Forces Institute where he studied Russian in 1949, the Navy Intelligence in Washington, where he learned Portuguese in 1953 and Operational Planning of Nuclear Weapons in 1958.

 

 

Received the following medals in his career:

 

 

- Legion of Merit (Army)

 

 

 

- Navy Commendation Ribbon with “V” for Valor

 

 

 

- Navy Unit Commendation

- Organization Reserve Medal with number “1”

- American Defense Medal

- American Campaign Medal

- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with “4” Battle Stars

- WWII Victory Medal

- National Defense Service Medal

- Brazilian Navy Order of Merit (docs below)

 

 

[Ricardo]

He was appointed to receive the Bronze Star Medal as Communications Officer during the Guadalcanal Campaign for their actions in 9th Defense Battalion on December 3, 1942, but not in the list of their medals and their documents. :think:

 

 

 

Notice that he was subordinate to the Ten. Colonel William J. Scheyer. I have the Gen. Scheyer uniform and presented in this topic in my blog: http://ww2militarymemoirs.blogspot.com.br/...mc-general.html

 

 

 

Col. Meek in the book "The Ninth Marine Defense Battalions and AAA" by Charles D Melson:

 

 

[Ricardo]

The uniform:

 

 

 

 

 

[Ricardo]

...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you Mark M! You are a great friend!!

 

Next step get the EGA's to uniform. :thumbsup:

 

Best regards,

 

Ricardo.

[Brig]

now there's a fantastic uniform...these old evening galas just don't turn up that often, esp. complete and identified

[CNY Militaria]

Thanks for showing this excellent uniform and research!

[Ricardo]

Thank you, Fellows! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

BR, Ricardo.

[BEAST]

Very nice Hoosier uniform Ricardo!!!

 

I wonder if Meek was awarded the Legion of Merit instead of the Bronze Star? His LOM was awarded for his actions on Guadalcanal.

[American Heritage]

very nice set Ricardo! Now where in the world did you find that??

[Ricardo]

very nice set Ricardo! Now where in the world did you find that??

 

 

Thanks!!

 

I found right here in USMF. :thumbsup:

 

Interestingly, this uniform after 56 years returned to Brazil.

 

Best regards,

 

Ricardo.

[Ricardo]

Very nice Hoosier uniform Ricardo!!!

 

I wonder if Meek was awarded the Legion of Merit instead of the Bronze Star? His LOM was awarded for his actions on Guadalcanal.

 

Thanks and good question! :thumbsup:

 

BR, Ricardo.

[easterneagle87]

Foreign awards are always a neat item. It's too bad really our troops don't really get them any more. Does any one know why? Read W.E.B. Griffin's books and they are always highlighted.