Will Posted September 28, 2015 Share #1 Posted September 28, 2015 Private First Class Richard C. Dierolf of Pennsylvania, who gave his life for his country on April 14, 1945, in Italy. He was an infantryman with the 85th Mountain Infantry Regiment of the 10th Mountain Division.I have rarely encountered a Purple Heart grouping as complete as this.Private Dierolf's posthumously awarded Purple Heart, officially hand engraved by the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot, within its presentation case. Included is the ribbon bar, lapel device, extra lengths of ribbon, and the tissue paper that encased the decoration. The cased decoration is within the cream colored protective cardboard box, within the Registered Mail carton in which it was sent to Private Dierolf's widow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted September 28, 2015 Author Share #2 Posted September 28, 2015 Private Dierolf's insignia, as well as his wife's sterling silver sweetheart pin, were also kept in the decoration case. A privately purchase service accolade with his photograph was present as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted September 28, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted September 28, 2015 The Purple Heart citation, and the Presidential memorial accolade, were still in their 1945 mailing tube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted September 28, 2015 Author Share #4 Posted September 28, 2015 The 48 star flag from Private Dierolf's coffin after he was returned to Pennsylvania from Italy for burial, and something that I have never seen before:Attached to the coffin flag is a wire with a metal soldered "US" seal. On that wire is Private Dierolf's dog tag and a large identification plate, which I presume was on the military coffin in which he was sent back to the United States from Italy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted September 28, 2015 Share #5 Posted September 28, 2015 Very nice . Write to denver public library they have large records of 10th mountain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagjetta Posted September 28, 2015 Share #6 Posted September 28, 2015 Excellent group of material and so happy it has been kept together. I have always had a soft spot for the 10th. My Dad was an MP at Camp Hale from its inception through 1944. He shared lots of stories about his time policing the Mountain troops! John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted September 28, 2015 Share #7 Posted September 28, 2015 An amazing grouping for sure! Wow..... -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted September 28, 2015 Share #8 Posted September 28, 2015 The photo is definitely not of your guy. Perhaps a relative? Dieroff was 25 when he was KIA. -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted September 28, 2015 Author Share #9 Posted September 28, 2015 The photo is definitely not of your guy. Perhaps a relative? Dieroff was 25 when he was KIA. -Ski On that I disagree. The photograph may look to you to be a man older than 25, but he is not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted September 28, 2015 Share #10 Posted September 28, 2015 Do you know what company he was in ? I have a co g 85th kia on apr 17 1945 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieony Posted September 28, 2015 Share #11 Posted September 28, 2015 A very nice, complete group. Thank you for posting. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted September 28, 2015 Share #12 Posted September 28, 2015 Very Nice Bill! I bet that didnt come from Renningers! Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted September 28, 2015 Share #13 Posted September 28, 2015 Great group. That flag is a KIA flag with those grey white metal grommets. I've never seen one used for any other purpose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted September 28, 2015 Author Share #14 Posted September 28, 2015 I should add that, regarding the photograph of the soldier, I should have taken a close up of it out from underneath the glass. On close viewing of the actual photo you can see that the solider is young. My photo of a photo does make him appear older. As to his specific company, the "Honor Roll" of the 10th mountain Division in World War II puts him in L Company. I suppose that ordering the IDPF would provide further information regarding the circumstances of his death. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted September 28, 2015 Share #15 Posted September 28, 2015 Go on to denver public library website a guy they will research him has all 10 th mountain info j recieve a huge packet for $7 scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill_Carman Posted September 28, 2015 Share #16 Posted September 28, 2015 That is a very nice complete group, and I will second what Scott said about the Denver Public Library. Excellent resource for 10th Mountain guys. Thank you for posting. bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted September 29, 2015 Share #17 Posted September 29, 2015 from ancestry also saw him listed as Co L as you said ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted September 29, 2015 Share #18 Posted September 29, 2015 There is another burial card with corrected Co and Date of death Co L April 14 1945 but it was too large to load !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmerc20 Posted October 31, 2017 Share #19 Posted October 31, 2017 Oh my god...on thread I missed. Very close family connection. Never thought I would personally have something like that on the forums. PM sent Will. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDC Posted December 7, 2018 Share #20 Posted December 7, 2018 Will - are you still in possession of this grouping? I have some relevant information. Thanks Steve Coffey President 10th Mountain Division Descendants Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDC Posted December 7, 2018 Share #21 Posted December 7, 2018 Will - are you still in possession of this grouping? I have some relevant information. Thanks Steve Coffey President 10th Mountain Division Descendants Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TenthA86 Posted March 31, 2019 Share #22 Posted March 31, 2019 Interesting - the Army paperwork says he was with D Company, but the veteran database says it was L Company, as does the 85th Combat record. Unusual... 1st Bn was in reserve for this action on the day he was killed. I show he was a late arrival to the Division (Camp Swift TX just before deployment) and he was killed on hill 913 Castel D'Aiano, same place and day that Senator, 1Lt (now COL) Robert Dole was wounded. Co L was hit with heavy artillery - this may be where he was killed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmerc20 Posted August 7, 2019 Share #23 Posted August 7, 2019 I am resurrecting this old thread and putting out an APB. I really need to find this group. He was my late grandmother's (on my mother's side) first husband and these were probably sold during an estate sale when she went into assisted care in PA. I have a number of documents relating to his death but need help finding where it all went. Thanks so much! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmerc20 Posted August 7, 2019 Share #24 Posted August 7, 2019 These are all the documents Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJohn#3RD Posted August 8, 2019 Share #25 Posted August 8, 2019 Yes, this is one of the most complete groupings that I have seen and is dedicated to a WWII hero who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Rest In Peace soldier your death helped free the world from those who sought to oppress and enslave the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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