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KIA grouping USMC WW2. Cpl William J. Berndl


P-59A
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1 hour ago, Kurt Barickman said:

The Guadalcanal snake is from the early SSI and the one on the right is probably the most likely from what it should be for the group.

 

Kurt

I found that information at a USMC site. I agree the far right patch would have been what he wore. So far nothing indicates he went back to San Diego after Tarawa. 

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postmanusnac

You will find the 1st MarDiv “snake” on Americal Div uniforms, sometimes on the shoulder and others on the cuff of the right sleeve.

PhotoRoom_20230523_194119.jpeg

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5 minutes ago, postmanusnac said:

You will find the 1st MarDiv “snake” on Americal Div uniforms, sometimes on the shoulder and others on the cuff of the right sleeve.

PhotoRoom_20230523_194119.jpeg

So, how did that work? Was it authorized? I went to a Marine Corps site that stated that patch was not authorized by the USMC. They said Marines that went to San Diego from Guadalcanal likley had that made.

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postmanusnac

Guys did lots of things during WW2 that were not within regulation.  In general, these were not professional soldiers.  There is also nothing stopping a vet adding something to his uniform after discharge.

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Linedoggie
12 minutes ago, postmanusnac said:

A prior photo of an army guy with 1st Mar Div on the shoulder.

IMG_0541.png

164th Inf was ND NG served on the Canal from October 42 as a emergency reinforcement for 1MARDIV before the full Americal Division arrived in Dec 42. Allegedly, They were referred by some as the 164th Marines and Vandegrift was apparently pleased with their efforts

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10 minutes ago, Linedoggie said:

164th Inf was ND NG served on the Canal from October 42 as a emergency reinforcement for 1MARDIV before the full Americal Division arrived in Dec 42. Allegedly, They were referred by some as the 164th Marines and Vandegrift was apparently pleased with their efforts

Now I read that units assighned to 1st MARDIV could wear the 1st MARDIV patch, but they did not expand on who they were.

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Kurt Barickman

That is actually the first unofficial 2nd Marine Division patch.

 

Kurt

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"2d Marine Division

The 2d Marine Division was officially organized on 1 February 1941 by change of designation from the 2d Marine Brigade.

The 2d Marine Division was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, 20-24 November 1943. The 2d and 8th Marines (reinforced by other units of the 2d Marine Division) were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation while attached to the 1st Marine Division from 7 August and 4 November 1942, respectively, for the Guadalcanal operation.

The 2d Marine Division (Headquarters) participated in authorized operations and engagements in the Asiatic-Pacific Area as follows:

Capture and defense of Guadalcanal - 4 January to 8 February 1943. (2d Marines, reinforced: Guadalcanal-Tulagi landings, 7-9 August 1942; capture and defense of Guadalcanal, 10 August 1942 to 31 January 1943. 8th Marines, reinforced: capture and defense of Guadalcanal,
2 November 1942 to 8 February 1943).
Gilbert Islands (Tarawa) operation - 20 November to 4 December 1943.
Capture and occupation of Saipan - 15 June to 24 July 1944.
Capture and occupation of Tinian - 24 July to 10 August 1944.

Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto (floating Reserve) - "   
                                                                                                        If I read this correctly 

"The 2d Marine Division was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, 20-24 November 1943. The 2d and 8th Marines (reinforced by other units of the 2d Marine Division) were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation while attached to the 1st Marine Division from 7 August and 4 November 1942, respectively, for the Guadalcanal operation.

The 2d Marine Division (Headquarters) participated in authorized operations and engagements in the Asiatic-Pacific Area as follows:" 
                                                                                      Does this mean the 2nd was authorized the 1st patch?
                                                                                      The following seems to says the same thing

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=974a16f00a57e69dJmltdHM9MTY4NDgwMDAwMCZpZ3VpZD0xZjJkZDU2Mi1jYmVmLTZmYjktMWQ4My1kYWY5Y2ExNDZlMDUmaW5zaWQ9NTIxNg&ptn=3&hsh=3&fclid=1f2dd562-cbef-6fb9-1d83-daf9ca146e05&psq=1st+MARDIV+patch+WW2&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuMXN0bWFyZGl2Lm1hcmluZXMubWlsL0Fib3V0L0luc2lnbmlhLw&ntb=1

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Thought you guys might enjoy some more photos of Army guys wearing Marine patches.

Alfred Piscitello 121st Med.jpg

Anthony Zanghi 57th Engineers.jpg

Arthur Congleton (Right) Merrills Marauders.jpg

Frederick C Nolan Guadalcanal to Marauders.jpg

John C Enlow.PNG

Unofficial 2nd Marine Division on Shoulder.png

20038793.jpg

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On a second note, I've seen 2nd Marine Div guys who served on Guadalcanal wear 1st Marine Div patches since the Division Hq of the 2nd didn't arrive on Guadalcanal until 1943. I have a uniform of a guy from G/2/8 who was WIA on Nov 23rd, 1942 and evacuated stateside the next day. He wears the 1st Marine Div patch on his discharge uniform from 1944. 

 

Here is a photo of John Yaksich who was awarded the Navy Cross on Guadalcanal with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment. However, he wears the 1st Marine Division patch in the photo. 

 

John T Yaksich 2nd Marines.jpg

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  • 6 months later...

The National Archives sent very little formation.  In the section marked Posterior, exactly whatare they saying? What isthe left trunk and upper 1/3 of the left thigh talking about? Does anyone have deeper info on Co "A". 1st Bn. 8th Marines. 2nd Mar Div FMF on 06-17-44 in Saipan? His sister always understood he was lilled by a landmine or a sniper. The death report sounds like MG fire. One other thing, the awards Cpl Berndl earned as listed sound off to me. I do not see the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal nor a Good Conduct checked off. I question  the Navy Occupation and Combat Action award. Did things change post war?

WJB.jpg

WJB1.jpg

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On 11/26/2023 at 4:46 PM, P-59A said:

The National Archives sent very little formation.  In the section marked Posterior, exactly whatare they saying? What isthe left trunk and upper 1/3 of the left thigh talking about? Does anyone have deeper info on Co "A". 1st Bn. 8th Marines. 2nd Mar Div FMF on 06-17-44 in Saipan? His sister always understood he was lilled by a landmine or a sniper. The death report sounds like MG fire. One other thing, the awards Cpl Berndl earned as listed sound off to me. I do not see the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal nor a Good Conduct checked off. I question  the Navy Occupation and Combat Action award. Did things change post war?

WJB.jpg

WJB1.jpg

I am assuming that the section "posterior" is referring to the physical attributes of his posterior appearance (ante-mortem). His cause of death looks to be "WOUND GUNSHOT; MULTIPLE". It is quite possible he was killed by a sniper and still shot afterward by any number of Japanese soldiers who thought he was an enemy advancing on their position.

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