WWII Named Bronze Star w/ V to POW in the Pacific

[Austin_Militaria]

I picked up this engraved Bronze Star with Valor device a few weeks ago at an Antique shop in Ft. Worth, this was the only item they had of his. I just now started to do the research.

 

Shows him enlisting 2-24-1941 in the Coastal Artillery. Was in the Philippines at the Battle of Corregidor with one of the 4 coastal artillery regiments there, when the US surrendered May 6th 1942. Released Oct 1945. 

 

Re-enlisted in 1946 into the Air Corps, was attached to the 492nd Bomb Squadron. 

 

Raymond B. Enright  - 18048998

 

SERVICE: U.S. ARMY; ARM OR SERVICE: Coast Artillery Corps; DATE REPORTED: May 7, 1942; STATE OF RESIDENCE: Texas; AREA: Southwest Pacific Theatre: Philippine Islands; LATEST REPORT DATE: October 15, 1945; STATUS: Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated; DETAINING CAMP: Osaka Main Camp Chikko Osaka 34-135; DETAINING POWER: JAPAN

 

I find it interesting his headstone does not mention him being a POW.

 

 

 

[Austin_Militaria]

Was this Bronze Star Awarded for action during Battle of Corregidor? Or later when he was in a POW camp?

 

I do realize the Broze Star was not authorized until 1944. I saw a recent thread of a Bataan Death March KIA being awarded a bronze star in 1946. Is it possible this was for actions during Corregidor?

[KASTAUFFER]

The older headstones dont always list POW status.

 

His Bronze Star was awarded on War Dept GO 78 of 1946 for an action with Battery E , 60th CA , I would assume for Corregidor. 

 

Kurt

[CinamonToastCrunch]

He was mostly likely retroactively awarded the decoration for his service as a POW. I have another decoration like it awarded to a FA Colonel who was awarded the Bronze Star for his service as a POW.

[Austin_Militaria]

Thanks for the feedback.