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Any Reason Why William O. Darby Was Never Awarded The CIB?


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Just been noticing the photos of Darby tonight, he didn't have the CIB, he should of right,he might of started off his career as an Field Artillery Officer, but during the war he was an Infantry Officer below General in command of three different Infantry units in lots of combat.

 

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Although the CIB was awarded to officers,it was intended for enlisted infantrymen and special forces below the rank of Colonel.His cap shows he is a colonel at the time of the photo.In light of that he is not eligible. There is quit the debate on Gen.McArthur and his wearing of a CIB.

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You would need to see his record to know if it was actually awarded. It might seem unusual today because it is considered a such mark of distinction, but during WWII some guys chose not to wear them. 

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10 hours ago, 72psb said:

The above post is incorrect.It should read Colonel and below.He should have been eligible.

That's right, certainly for his time as C.O. of the 179th Inf 45th Inf Div, and then still as a Colonel when he was in command of an Ad Hoc Task Force of elements of the 10th Mtn Div. That one photo of him in Dress was I believe taken when he was  on duty in Washington sometime in 1944 into 45 after he left the Theater, figured by then, say if the photo was taken October 44, that he would have a CIB then.

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I believe his BOS was Artillery when he formed the Rangers. In the pic with the 45th patch it looks  like he's wearing crossed cannons - not rifles. Non infantry BOS could have been a technical disqualifier for the CIB even though he was an Infantry commander. My 2-cents. Bobgee

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triplecanopy

There are at least two references that list his awards and included in them is the CIB. Why he is not shown wearing it is another mystery.

His basic branch was Artillery, but he was certainly leading an Infantry Unit. BTW, That is a set of crossed rifles he is wearing on his collar.

http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=359

and

http://darbysrangers.tripod.com/id3.htm

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Well that one photo back in Washington in 44-45 shows him wearing the Crossed Rifles. I did check his O Register for 1 Jan 43 and 1 Jan 44, but in these two years their bios are not extensive, just mentions FA School Regular Course in 1938, the 1 Jan 45 is not available.

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zzyzzogeton

What would typically be on the end of the lanyard going into his LF pocket?  Whistle? Compass?  Ink pen?  Something else?

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3 hours ago, zzyzzogeton said:

What would typically be on the end of the lanyard going into his LF pocket?  Whistle? Compass?  Ink pen?  Something else?

First guess would be whistle, seems to be a slight bulge in the pocket as indicated.

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I have read stories of infantry colonels awarding themselves the CIB and asked later to take them off. He may have felt self conscious wearing it. He was initially only a batalion commander and a Lt. colonel to start the invasion in Africa. He became a Colonel when the 3rd and 4th batalions formed and the group was termed task force Darby.




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Wharfmaster

Perhaps he thought the badge was just too large and gaudy, compared to other Army badges of the time.

IMG_3272 (661x840).jpg

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4 hours ago, RobS. said:

I have read stories of infantry colonels awarding themselves the CIB and asked later to take them off. He may have felt self conscious wearing it. He was initially only a batalion commander and a Lt. colonel to start the invasion in Africa. He became a Colonel when the 3rd and 4th batalions formed and the group was termed task force Darby.




Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk
 

Yes but an Infantry Colonel, IE an Infantry Regimental Commander is certainly entitled to the award, it's the Generals who are not, the Divisional Commanders and their Assistant Divisional Commanders, but there have been exceptions, see HERE,, 9 pages.

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image.png.30e4f9e0d231da62372879536bb9091c.png

Spotted another prominent Infantry Officer without a CIB, Paddy Flint C.O. of the 39th Infantry 9th Infantry Division. at least in this photo taken in England in 1943/1944 after the 9th Infantry Division was transferred there from Sicily. Flint like Darby did not start out as a Infantry Officer, with Flint it was the Cavalry, later Armored (One photo see's him in 1941 in the 66th Armored Regiment 2nd Armored Division wearing Armored Forces BOS). As odd as it sounds he seems not to have transferred to infantry, even as he was in the Infantry, an Infantry Regimental Commander and wears Infantry BOS, had he lived till the end of the war and didn't get killed maybe by war end he would be officially Infantry.

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DocCollector1441
On 5/25/2020 at 6:50 PM, patches said:

image.png.30e4f9e0d231da62372879536bb9091c.png

Spotted another prominent Infantry Officer without a CIB, Paddy Flint C.O. of the 39th Infantry 9th Infantry Division. at least in this photo taken in England in 1943/1944 after the 9th Infantry Division was transferred there from Sicily. Flint like Darby did not start out as a Infantry Officer, with Flint it was the Cavalry, later Armored (One photo see's him in 1941 in the 66th Armored Regiment 2nd Armored Division wearing Armored Forces BOS). As odd as it sounds he seems not to have transferred to infantry, even as he was in the Infantry, an Infantry Regimental Commander and wears Infantry BOS, had he lived till the end of the war and didn't get killed maybe by war end he would be officially Infantry.

 

Keep in mind, that if this picture was taken in late 43 to early 44, the CIB was not established until November 1943. Therefore it would highly unlikely that it would have been manufactured and sent to England in any large quantity for anyone to be wearing one at the time of this photo.

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11 hours ago, DocCollector1441 said:

 

Keep in mind, that if this picture was taken in late 43 to early 44, the CIB was not established until November 1943. Therefore it would highly unlikely that it would have been manufactured and sent to England in any large quantity for anyone to be wearing one at the time of this photo.

Yes, good point, can't find no others of him really after a point, there is one  of himwhere he's wearing a jump jack in Normandy though.

 

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