Bob Hudson Posted January 28, 2019 Share #1 Posted January 28, 2019 I often come across boxes filled with various types of insignia a a veteran accumulated during their years of militaria service. Usually it's mostly rank insignia and some loose ribbons, maybe a medal. This one I found more interesting than most: the insignia does a good job of illustrating a diverse combat and staff career that included military boarding school, one year in the Marines, one year at West Point prep, 4 years USMA, Signal Corps liaison with the French First Army at Operation Dragoon, HQ 101st Airborne, getting wounded in Korea...and more. Here's the timeline I compiled. Lt Col Merritt Lambert Hewitt, US ARMY Decorations: Army Commendation Medal, Purple Heart 1915 - Born 11 October 15, Alhambra, Los Angeles County, California 1931 - San Diego Army-Navy Academy to 1934 1934 - 22 August 34 to 1 July 35, Private, Company B, 13th Battalion, Fleet Marine Corps Reserve, Los Angeles. Discharged to enlist in Army 1935 - 1 July 35 to 22 June 36, Private, US Army West Point Preparatory School at 6th Coast Artillery Regiment, Fort Winfield Scott , San Francisco 1936 - Cadet US Military Academy 1 July 36 to 10 January 38 and from 29 August 38 to 10 June 41 1941 - Graduate USMA, 10 June 41 / REGULAR ARMY (RA) 2nd Lt. SIGNAL CORPS branch 11 June 41 1942 - 1 February 42 1st Lt. Fort Monmouth 1943 - 28 August 43 Graduated Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth 1944 - January 44 Allied Forces HQ, Algiers and Italy / August 44, Sixth Army Group, Operation Dragoon commanding US Signal Liaison Detachment with the First French Army 1945 - May 45 HQ 6th Army Group Heidelberg / 7TH Army / Berlin, OMGUS Office of Military Government, United States: spent 2.5 years supervising reconstruction of US Zone civilian telephone and telegraph systems 1946 - 4 October 46 Major 1947 - 1 May 47 transfered to CAVALRY branch 1948 - Armor School Instructor / G 3 Section, HQ, 101st Airborne, Camp Breckinridge / Basic Airborne and Pathfinder courses / 1 July 48, Captain 1950 - Armor School Advanced Officer Course / S 3 73rd Tank Battallion Korea / 30 August 50 wounded at Pohang 1952 - Canadian Army Staff Course / S 3 at the Pentagon working on NATO standardization 1953 - 13 April 53 Lt. Col / 2 July 53 Major 1955 - Commanding Officer 899th Tank Battallion, Germany / G 4 COMZ (US Army’s European logistical network), Orleans, France 1958 - Instructor, Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth 1961 - 3 May 61, Medical retirement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted January 28, 2019 Author Share #2 Posted January 28, 2019 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted January 28, 2019 Author Share #3 Posted January 28, 2019 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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decwriter Posted January 28, 2019 Share #6 Posted January 28, 2019 Great find Bob! I like the explanation behind the Leavenworth lamp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted January 28, 2019 Share #7 Posted January 28, 2019 Great stuff, it's significant he did not display or even have an AIRBORNE tab with that Screaming Eagles patch as the tab was not worn when the Screaming Eagles was a training division back then. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/137077-101stbut-not-airborne/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted January 28, 2019 Author Share #8 Posted January 28, 2019 I think I found the reason for his Glider badge - I had thought he might have landed in one when serving with the French army in Op. Dragoon, but it's apparently a post-war qualification badge.Wikipedia sez: "By 1949 glider training still took place but was included in the basic Airborne course, which was then five weeks long. The first week of the course covered air transportability training, which included glider training."He took the basic Airborne course right about that time and that would seem to qualify him based on having "satisfactorily completed a course of instruction." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted January 28, 2019 Author Share #9 Posted January 28, 2019 Inside the book TANK WAR KOREA by Simon Dunstan was Hewitt's hand-written note about getting wounded in action. The book has a photo of his 73rd Tank Battallion in action just six days before then-Major Hewitt was wounded at Pohang while getting a tank company ready to load for the Inchon landing. He spent several months recovering in San Francisco. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted January 29, 2019 Author Share #10 Posted January 29, 2019 His experience working with other nations is notable, beginning with his 1944 command of a Signal Corps liaison detachment that went into Operation Dragoon with the French First Army. In the 1950's his family accompied him on overseas assignments up until he returned to Fort Leavenworth as faculty. (His daughter became a Naval officer, his son a Fire Captain) The Leavenworth Lamp was presented to him upon his retirement in 1961. He had an "almost disabling physical condition for two years, and three long hospital stays," according to a typed family history of his career. It appears the military doctors thought it couldn't be fixed so he had to take a medical retirement. "A skilled civilian surgeon quickly diagnosed the problem (herniated disc) and returned Merritt to full health," the family history adds. With his background it seems a shame he could not do another 10 years or so. He was successful in a 30+ year civilian career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinUSAF Posted January 9, 2021 Share #11 Posted January 9, 2021 Hi, I see this post is around a year old but stumbled upon this on google looking to see if I could find pictures of my grandfather when he was part of 6th army group. In the group photo, I think I see him in the third row towards center almost in line with the second from left officer in the first row, can you verify this possible. His name was Leo F Minton. Also, is there a soldier by the name of Silas Sparks named on there as well? I remember my grandfather mentioning him often. thanks Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted January 9, 2021 Author Share #12 Posted January 9, 2021 12 minutes ago, KevinUSAF said: can you verify this possible. I no longer have the original photos so whatever's posted on this page is it, unless the person who bought there from me pops in - but I don't recall who it was, but think it was a forum member. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinUSAF Posted January 9, 2021 Share #13 Posted January 9, 2021 Just now, Bob Hudson said: I no longer have the original photos so whatever's posted on this page is it, unless the person who bought there from me pops in - but I don't recall who it was, but think it was a forum member. Hi, thanks for your reply! It’s very much appreciated!! thanks again! kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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