bobgee Posted March 17, 2009 Share #1 Posted March 17, 2009 I picked this group up at the OMSA Convention in Jacksonville, FL last August. No glamorous gallantry but a few more than intersting items. Cpl. Ernest A. Parent was from Holyoke, MA and enlisted in 1917. After training he arrived in France in January 1918. He was serving with the 133rd Replacement Co, 1st Replacement Bn and was promoted to Corporal in Feb 1918. The Muster rolls show his companions being assigned to 4th Brigade units but his entry in February 1918 Muster Roll shows"March 15th - died at Infirmary #1 St. Aignan, France. See Hosp. report and S/R Book, Case#98725". This appears to be a recapping Muster roll as the dates are before and after Feb 1918. A bit confusing. No cause of death is shown in the Muster Roll. I have not tried to obtain his SRB hoping to do this on a personal visit to NARA, St. Louis. The group contains his GCM No. 58942, WWI Victory Medal with France Clasp & Maltese Cross device and a Holyoke Mass Victory Medal. The Federal Medals were obviously awarded posthumously and his SRB should reflect correspondence to support this. There are several other WWI USMC items that came with the group that are very interesting and pics of which follow. Semper Fi......Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted March 17, 2009 Author Share #2 Posted March 17, 2009 Also included is the scarce "USMC Son in Service" window banner as well as an unusual USMC Gilt Bugle Pin. Have never seen one like it. There is a fine original 5th Brigade shoulder patch but I doubt that it was his and finally a WWI vintage Cpl chevron with Sharpshooter Badge pinned on it. All in all an interesting group worthy of more research. Semper Fi.....Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCR79 Posted March 17, 2009 Share #3 Posted March 17, 2009 Bob I did not think that the Marine Corps awarded the Good Conduct Medal posthumously. I have 2 Marine WWI KIA groups including a copy of the SRB that do not indicate any awards other than the Victory Medal w/ Clasps Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted March 17, 2009 Author Share #4 Posted March 17, 2009 Bob I did not think that the Marine Corps awarded the Good Conduct Medal posthumously. I have 2 Marine WWI KIA groups including a copy of the SRB that do not indicate any awards other than the Victory Medal w/ Clasps Bill When I eventually get his SRB the answer will be revealed. The guidelines for award of GCMs to "Duration of the War" enlistees (Rim Numbered Medals- any period of service qualified) were different than for "Regular" Marines who had to complete 4 years to get a GCM. Semper Fi.....Bob ' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchbuff Posted March 17, 2009 Share #5 Posted March 17, 2009 Great group Bob. It's nice to see the victory medal with the France bar and cross device which I've seen in several 5th Brigade groups at some point before his death. It'll be interesting to see what his file says. Maybe he was a 5th Brigade Marine? Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted March 18, 2009 Author Share #6 Posted March 18, 2009 Great group Bob. It's nice to see the victory medal with the France bar and cross device which I've seen in several 5th Brigade groups at some point before his death. It'll be interesting to see what his file says. Maybe he was a 5th Brigade Marine? Mark Mark - Don't think he made it to the 5th Brigade - he was in France way too early for that. I think this fine 5th Brigade patch was "dropped in" on the same assumption. It now remains to determine if the GCM was posthumously sent to his family. If I understand the Navy Victory Medal regs correctly, the award of the "France" bar, a non-combat clasp, automatically included a "maltese" cross, intended for wear on the Ribbon not on the medal, in lieu of a "bronze" battle star. But we most often see them on the medal itself because that's where the vet put them when they got the medal in 1920/21. Best.........Semper Fi......Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popo367 Posted March 18, 2009 Share #7 Posted March 18, 2009 Bob, Quick question about going to St Louis. Do you actually get to see the files or do they just make copies of them? Is it pretty easy to go there as far as them helping you? Must be very interesting. Enrique Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted March 18, 2009 Author Share #8 Posted March 18, 2009 Bob, Quick question about going to St Louis. Do you actually get to see the files or do they just make copies of them? Is it pretty easy to go there as far as them helping you? Must be very interesting. Enrique Enrique - Yes, you actually get the complete original file delivered to you. USMC & USN files were not effected by the 1973 fire. Then you can make copies or have them do it. All of the pages or the ones you select. The staff is very helpful. And, yes, it's a trip! Semper Fi.....Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhunde.ret Posted March 18, 2009 Share #9 Posted March 18, 2009 .... automatically included a "maltese" cross, intended for wear on the Ribbon not on the medal, in lieu of a "bronze" battle star. But we most often see them on the medal itself because that's where the vet put them when they got the medal in 1920/21.Best.........Semper Fi......Bob Another very unique group Bob, love seeing these types as they pose so many questions.... here's one, re the maltese cross, base on your comment above - is that why we see so few ribbon bars with the cross present? Semper Fi, Darrell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Marine Posted March 18, 2009 Share #10 Posted March 18, 2009 Everyday, I learn something new here. Sorry for the dumb question, but what does the Maltese Cross ribbon device signify? Maybe I haven't been paying attention but I have never seen one of those. By the way that's a very nice grouping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted March 18, 2009 Author Share #11 Posted March 18, 2009 Everyday, I learn something new here. Sorry for the dumb question, but what does the Maltese Cross ribbon device signify? Maybe I haven't been paying attention but I have never seen one of those. By the way that's a very nice grouping. Thanks. Quoting from Strandberg/Bender's medal book "The Call of Duty", "BRONZE MALTESE CROSS - The Bronze Maltese Cross is worn centered on the World War I Victory Medal (sic) by members of the Marine Corps, Medical Corps and Navy who served with the A.E.F. in France between 6 April 1917 and 11 November 1918. To qualify for the device personnel must not qualify for any battle clasps as issued by the Army." Actually, as mentioned previously, it was intended for wear on the ribbon bar. Semper Fi.....Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted March 18, 2009 Author Share #12 Posted March 18, 2009 Thanks. Quoting from Strandberg/Bender's medal book "The Call of Duty", "BRONZE MALTESE CROSS - The Bronze Maltese Cross is worn centered on the World War I Victory Medal (sic) by members of the Marine Corps, Medical Corps and Navy who served with the A.E.F. in France between 6 April 1917 and 11 November 1918. To qualify for the device personnel must not qualify for any battle clasps as issued by the Army." Actually, as mentioned previously, it was intended for wear on the ribbon bar. Semper Fi.....Bobgee FYI - Here's an example of the Maltese Cross device being correctly worn on a 1930s vintage ribbon bar set which belonged to Col. Wm. C. Powers USMC ret. I have his full-size and miniature medals on which only the "France" clasp is worn with no "Maltese Cross". Semper Fi.....Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhunde.ret Posted March 18, 2009 Share #13 Posted March 18, 2009 ............ To qualify for the device personnel must not qualify for any battle clasps as issued by the Army. Actually, as mentioned previously, it was intended for wear on the ribbon bar. Semper Fi.....Bobgee Bob, would the same rule you mention above also apply to Naval clasps? s/f Darrell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted March 18, 2009 Author Share #14 Posted March 18, 2009 Bob, would the same rule you mention above also apply to Naval clasps? s/f Darrell Darrell - I think the criteria is based on being in the A.E.F. i.e. Marines, USN doctors, corpsmen etc. Most of those serving in the 5th Brigade which did not see combat qualified for the device. USN/USMC aviators and members of aviation in units in France qualified for the Navy "Aviation" clasp but I don't know if this precluded the award of the "Maltese Cross". I believe recipients of the Naval "Aviation" clasp wore a "bronze star" on their Victory Medal ribbon. Semper Fi.......Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Marine Posted March 18, 2009 Share #15 Posted March 18, 2009 Amazing! Something new everyday. Thank you for the information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogfacedsoldier Posted March 18, 2009 Share #16 Posted March 18, 2009 Great grouping! I like it. An interesting set of medals, and some mystery. I wonder if he died from the spanish influenza epidemic. My uncle was wounded and in a hospital in France in 1918. He lost an eye and was gassed, he also had some shrapnel frags in his face. He survived the flu, and a lot didn't. Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted March 18, 2009 Share #17 Posted March 18, 2009 very nice little group, Bob. thanks for sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMPERIAL QUEST Posted March 19, 2009 Share #18 Posted March 19, 2009 Great group Bob. I don't collect Marine items, but this Army boy can certainly appreciate their significance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhunde.ret Posted March 20, 2009 Share #19 Posted March 20, 2009 Great group Bob. I don't collect Marine items, but this Army boy can certainly appreciate their significance. ... we forgive you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bank Vault Posted March 25, 2009 Share #20 Posted March 25, 2009 What was the maltese cross issued on the medal for? Dumb question I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhunde.ret Posted March 26, 2009 Share #21 Posted March 26, 2009 What was the maltese cross issued on the medal for? Dumb question I know. The answer is found within the context of posts 11 & 12. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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