WWII III Corps "Ritchie Boy" Interrogator Grouping- IPW Team 119

[Timberwolf]

Hopefully everyone will enjoy this group as much as I have. TSgt. M. was a German born Jew that came to the US in 1937. Unfortunately I'm still in the process of trying to determine how he made his way to the US but both parents made it over to the states with him. He then attended high school in Washington, D.C. How he joined the intelligence service I'm not certain but he attended the US Army Medical Technician course from August of 43 to December of 44. He later completed the Military Intelligence Training Center's Course #18 in June of 1944.He was alerted on 12 June 1944, then sailed on the SS Brazil (?) from Boston on 27 June 1944 as part of 40 IPW teams and arrived in Scotland on 3 July 1944.

 

He was part of IPW Team #119. IPW teams were trained at Camp Ritchie, Maryland as interrogators and were called "Ritchie Boys" which were made up of German born Jews who were fluent in various languages.

 

I'd love to know what a medical technician was doing as part of an IPW team. I'm guessing that this soldier more than likely acted as a medical technician within the camp treating German POW's and would glean information from their conversations?

 

There's some really great paperwork including his original Reisepass from his pre-war years as a younger teen, and immigration papers. His military related paperwork include his medical technician graduation diploma, diploma from Camp Ritchie, and various passes. He also brought home an original photo of Goering and Galland. Also included is his ike jacket.

 

I hope you enjoy this group!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Timberwolf]

 

 

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[Timberwolf]

 

Campe Ritchie Certificate (sorry about the cut-off bottom)

 

[Timberwolf]

 

 

 

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Sorry about the length of the post. The forum was only letting me upload one or two at a time.

[luft]

A killer grouping!

Very very nice and so often seen !

thanks for sharing

[Timberwolf]

A killer grouping!

Very very nice and so often seen !

thanks for sharing

Thanks!

[EGA-DOG]

Timberwolf. What a great story. I hope you have more to share.

[Timberwolf]

Timberwolf. What a great story. I hope you have more to share.

Thanks! I'll definitely keep it updated if anything else turns up!

[katieony]

A really interesting and rare group...congratulations!

[Timberwolf]

A really interesting and rare group...congratulations!

Thanks! Definitely appreciate the compliment!

[tredhed2]

That is one the more historically significant groupings I have ever seen. Thanks for sharing it.

[Timberwolf]

That is one the more historically significant groupings I have ever seen. Thanks for sharing it.

Thanks I definitely appreciate it!

[MIS]

This brings up a question I've had for a very long time.

 

Was there ever an official insignia for the Military Intelligence Service?

 

My father was a Ritchie Boy (photo interpretation) and I've been researching the MIS for decades.  It's an organization that needs MUCH more coverage - it did all the heavy lifting while the OSS gets all the press...

 

But, I haven't found any official insignia for the MIS.

[Allan H.]

1 hour ago, MIS said:

This brings up a question I've had for a very long time.

 

Was there ever an official insignia for the Military Intelligence Service?

 

My father was a Ritchie Boy (photo interpretation) and I've been researching the MIS for decades.  It's an organization that needs MUCH more coverage - it did all the heavy lifting while the OSS gets all the press...

 

But, I haven't found any official insignia for the MIS.

There wasn't a Military Intelligence Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) in World War II like there is now, so most members simply wore the branch of service insignia for the job for which they were initially trained. In the case of the soldier whose uniform started this thread, I would bet that he went to the appropriate medical training and was subsequently flagged because of his fluency in German and his intelligence to go to Camp Ritchie. 

 

The army used to use the Branch Unassigned eagle insignia to denote soldiers who had technical knowledge or skill outside of the army's training system. I knew a WWII veteran who was an attorney and politician before the war who wore branch unassigned brass on his uniform. His wartime duties were mainly providing legal opinions to the legality or legitimacy of military policies and activities, mainly regarding civilians in occupied and enemy countries. After WWII he was a staff attorney during the Nurenberg Trials. 

 

As a photo interpretation specialist, I would expect your father to have worn Signal Corps brass. Do you know what he wore?

 

After WWII, the sphynx insignia was used for soldiers working in intelligence.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Allan

[Steve B.]

According to The Institute of Heraldry:

 

"The insignia was authorized on 30 July 1923. The thirteen stripes on the shield converge toward a common point at the center where sits the sphinx, the symbol of wisdom and strength, thus symbolizing the collection of information by the Military Intelligence; and conversely from the center after evaluation, the military information is disseminated.

The Military Intelligence Branch, USAR, was merged with the newly established Army Intelligence and Security Branch on 1 July 1962 and the insignia was cancelled."

[Kurt Barickman]

On 1/29/2017 at 7:43 PM, Timberwolf said:

 

 

 

Goring and Adolf Galland? Wow!

[Timberwolf]

On 8/19/2024 at 6:57 PM, Kurt Barickman said:

Goring and Adolf Galland? Wow!

Yessir! Thank you! Wish I had a story on how that photo was acquired. 

[USCapturephotos]

Just discovered this wonderful group. Had missed it somehow. Was wondering if all IPW teams were trained in Maryland at Camp Ritchie? I’ve actually been to the site and some of the original buildings are still there.

Paul