bobgee Posted December 7, 2015 Share #1 Posted December 7, 2015 This is a recently acquired group for my collection. The recipient received two Silver Citation Stars while serving with the 6th Marine Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Division AEF during the St. Mihiel Offensive and later during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. In the US Marine Corps medical and clergy services are provided by the Navy. Officers and men are usually U.S. Navy members. There was no research with this group. Several references have been found citing his awards (he also received a Croix de Guerre) showing him as "Chaplain U.S. Navy" as would be expected. However, it appears that the recipient, Chaplain Chester J. Under_hill was in fact a U.S. Army Chaplain. His dog tag shows him as "Chaplain 1st Lt USA". On his named & numbered Silver Star medal he has affixed two large Silver Stars of a type I've not seen. When he entered service he was a Baptist minister in Brooklyn, NY. His New York State Conspicuous Service Cross, awarded in 1922 when he resided in Lynn, MA is numbered and engraved with his name. He also has a #'d NYS WWI Service Medal which is not traceable", a WWI Victory Medal with bars for St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne and Defensive Sector, a WWI Occupation Medal. I'm hoping to obtain as much info on him as possible, especially a war-time photo so I solicit any and all help and assistance from this learned Forum. Thanks for looking! Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted December 7, 2015 Share #2 Posted December 7, 2015 Good find Mr.G...Congrats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJohn#3RD Posted December 7, 2015 Share #3 Posted December 7, 2015 Bob, Very nice addition to your collection. Seems that the 4th Brigade had quite a few company grade Army officers serving with them throughout the war. Congratulations and thats for posting. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swabbie Posted December 7, 2015 Share #4 Posted December 7, 2015 Thanks for showing, Bob. Should be interesting to read his citations for his SS. A great group indeed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanemono Posted December 7, 2015 Share #5 Posted December 7, 2015 Bob, That is one great Chaplain's group! Thank you very much for sharing it with us. Dick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted December 7, 2015 Share #6 Posted December 7, 2015 beautiful group Bob Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted December 7, 2015 Share #7 Posted December 7, 2015 Here is reference to his 2 citations and great group by the way By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Chaplain Chester J. Under__hill, United States Navy, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Chaplain Under__hill distinguished himself by gallantry in action while attached to the Sixth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, France, 1 - 11 November 1918, in caring for the wounded under heavy shell fire. General Orders: GHQ, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Order No. 5 (June 3, 1919)Action Date: November 1 - 11, 1918Service: NavyRank: ChaplainRegiment: 6th Regiment (Marines)Division: 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces -------------------------------------------------------------------------- By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Chaplain Chester J. Under__hill, United States Navy, is cited by the Commanding General, SECOND DIVISION A.E.F., for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Chaplain Under__hill distinguished himself by gallantry in action while attached to the Sixth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action against the enemy in the Champagne Sector, France, during World War I. General Orders: 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Order No. 64 (1919)Action Date: World War IService: NavyRank: ChaplainRegiment: 6th Regiment (Marines)Division: 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted December 7, 2015 Share #8 Posted December 7, 2015 I found this as well. Part of his passport application and a not so great photo that was submitted with his application. Enjoy, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted December 7, 2015 Share #9 Posted December 7, 2015 Great acquisition Bob. Always love seeing WWI 6th Reg related items Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted December 7, 2015 Author Share #10 Posted December 7, 2015 Here is reference to his 2 citations and great group by the way By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Chaplain Chester J. Under__hill, United States Navy, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Chaplain Under__hill distinguished himself by gallantry in action while attached to the Sixth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, France, 1 - 11 November 1918, in caring for the wounded under heavy shell fire. General Orders: GHQ, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Order No. 5 (June 3, 1919) Action Date: November 1 - 11, 1918 Service: Navy Rank: Chaplain Regiment: 6th Regiment (Marines) Division: 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces -------------------------------------------------------------------------- By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Chaplain Chester J. Under__hill, United States Navy, is cited by the Commanding General, SECOND DIVISION A.E.F., for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Chaplain Under__hill distinguished himself by gallantry in action while attached to the Sixth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action against the enemy in the Champagne Sector, France, during World War I. General Orders: 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Order No. 64 (1919) Action Date: World War I Service: Navy Rank: Chaplain Regiment: 6th Regiment (Marines) Division: 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces Thank you, Gator for these citations and the passport info. Again, as early as 1919 he shown as "U,S, Navy". The mystery over his branch of service continues! Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted December 7, 2015 Author Share #11 Posted December 7, 2015 Great acquisition Bob. Always love seeing WWI 6th Reg related items Thanks Mr. 0369! I just noticed your new rank of S/Sgt! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!! Semper Fi........Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted December 7, 2015 Share #12 Posted December 7, 2015 Thanks Mr. 0369! I just noticed your new rank of S/Sgt! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!! Semper Fi........Bob Thanks Bob! It was 2 years of stress off my shoulders with the new up or out policies in place Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCR79 Posted December 7, 2015 Share #13 Posted December 7, 2015 Bob - Nice Grouping, I like the CSC with the 2 devices (a not very common medal) S/F Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieony Posted December 7, 2015 Share #14 Posted December 7, 2015 A very hard to find medal group...thanks for posting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt Barickman Posted December 8, 2015 Share #15 Posted December 8, 2015 Very nice Bob and congrats Brig! Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted December 8, 2015 Author Share #16 Posted December 8, 2015 Here's an interesting Brooklyn newspaper article from October 1918 which tells a lot about the chaplain. Hope you can enlarge it enough to read it. Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hessian Posted December 8, 2015 Share #17 Posted December 8, 2015 Congrats Bob!!! Beautiful and very interesting set! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devildog34 Posted December 12, 2015 Share #18 Posted December 12, 2015 Having seen this in person it's a fantastic and exceedingly rare 4th Marine Brigade item and could not have a better home. Wonderful group and can't wait to learn more as the details reveal themselves on Chaplain Underhill. Semper Fi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fightn5th Posted December 13, 2015 Share #19 Posted December 13, 2015 Outstanding group! Good luck on your research Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted December 13, 2015 Share #20 Posted December 13, 2015 Most interesting in every respect. And to get the info from Gator is icing on the cake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Championhilz Posted December 13, 2015 Share #21 Posted December 13, 2015 This article is from the Boston Herald, January 1, 1922: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Championhilz Posted December 13, 2015 Share #22 Posted December 13, 2015 Article that goes with the previous picture: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted December 13, 2015 Author Share #23 Posted December 13, 2015 Article that goes with the previous picture: CH - Thank you so much for this new info and photo! Much appreciated. Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted December 16, 2015 Author Share #24 Posted December 16, 2015 Well, thanks to 'devildog34' it is confirmed that Chaplain Under_hill was in fact a U.S. Army Chaplain/Officer NOT a U.S. Navy officer. Kevin located him on a list of U.S. Army personnel, mostly officers, that were assigned to the 4th Brigade of Marines and provided me with a copy. Thanks, Kevin! Now all need is a 1917/19 photo of him in uniform! Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerialbridge Posted December 16, 2015 Share #25 Posted December 16, 2015 Very nice group, bob. A long shot on the photo, but couldn't hurt to contact the Am. Legion Post he was commander of and the Washington St. Baptist Church, Lynn, MA where he was pastor that are mentioned in that last newspaper photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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