Robert Francis Jones 39474017 Pfc US Army Co B 7th INF (3rd ID) KIA 2 Jan 45 in France.   Born 9 Feb 1925 in Chehalis, WA.   Registered for the draft on 9 Feb 1943 at Chehalis, WA  5’11 150 lbs HOR: Klaber, WA (which no longer exists). He was still in high school when he registered. He was also working as a farm hand for his father. Source: ancestrydotcom   Enlisted in the US Army on 18 Apr 44. Source: ancestrydotcom   2-5 May 44: arrived at the Infantry Replacement Training Center (IRTC), Camp Roberts, CA for infantry training; he was attached unassigned to Co B 93rd Infantry Training Battalion (ITB) as a private.   5 Sep 44: departed IRTC Camp Roberts after completing his infantry training and was en route to the Army Ground Forces Replacement (AGF) Depot No. 1 Fort George G. Meade, MD as an infantry replacement; it is not known if he received a furlough (leave) before reporting to Fort Meade.   24 Sep 44: AGF Replacement Depot No. 1; status changed from attached unassigned to Co D 29th Battalion, 8th Replacement Regiment to transferred to Shipment GG-350 1st train c/o Postmaster NY, NY for movement to the ETO, likely via the NYC Port of Embarkation.   19 Oct 44: Delamere, England; he was at the 11th Replacement Depot APO 131, attached unassigned to Detachment 105 Ground Forces Replacement System (GFRS), 501st Replacement Company, awaiting movement to France.   31 Oct-8 Nov 44: at the 2nd Replacement Depot APO 776 Marseille, France.   8 Nov 44: Released from attachment to the 2nd Replacement Depot, GFRS Detachment 3, 379th Replacement Company and assigned in grade (Pvt) to the 3rd Infantry Division with Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) 745 (Rifleman).   11-12 Nov 44: vic Fremifontaine, France: assigned to the 7th Infantry Regiment (3rd ID) and then joined Co B as a PVT with MOS 745. Source: NARA   25 Nov 44: morning report from this date shows Co B location as vicinity Bourge Bruch (Bourg-Bruche), France; Pvt Jones was Lightly Wounded in Action (LWA) from shrapnel fragments to his chest on 20 Nov 44 and reported as MIA on 22 Nov 44; he was dropped from the company rolls on 25 Nov 44. Unfortunately, the US Army informed his parents that he was missing in action, when it turns out he was not.   Source: FOLD3   Source: IDPF NARA   30 Nov 44: Co B in vicinity of Strasbourg, France; Pvt Jones’ status was updated to “duty to MIA 22 Nov 44 to dropped 25 Nov 44 should be deleted.” It appears he was not actually MIA and that he had returned to duty quite soon after being WIA.   5 Dec 44: Co B vicinity Strasbourg, France; Pvt Jones was promoted to Pfc.   2 Jan 45: Co B vicinity Kayersberg, France (NW of the city of Colmar); morning report states: “Company in defensive position and receiving heavy mortar fire...”   5 Jan 45: Pfc Jones status from duty to KIA on 2 Jan 45. Cause of death is shown as unknown battle casualty. He was 19 years old.   Source: FOLD3     He was initially buried in the temporary US Military Cemetery at Hochfelden, France.     Source: IDPF NARA   During Aug-Oct 1948, his remains were returned to the USA via the U.S. Army Transport Carroll Victory (ship). He now rests at Boisfort Cemetery, Boisfort, Lewis County, WA.   Source: NARA     Source: Find A Grave   Combat Infantryman Badge (S.O. No. 169 HQ 7th IR APO #3 2 Dec 44) Source: NARA   Purple Heart (G.O. No. 291 HQ 3rd ID APO #3 15 Dec 44)   Posthumous Purple Heart w/OLC (orders not found)   European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 2 Battle Stars (Ardennes-Alsace and Rhineland Campaigns).    

Navy squadrons typical start with the V designation for lighter than air as VF is an air Fighter  (hence the F) group, VP (Patrol Squadron etc and Marines use VM or VMF as VM is Marine designation and F for fighter. 

Lot of speculation. A derelict us tank in France, Italy, or Germany, awaiting recovery, probably soon after the war, sensitive equipment removed earlier by ordnance unit, sitting on a road travelled by the American forces, a GInea ting a souvenir photo.

A quick glance a Sherman, it also has an Invasion star on top of the turret. 

Hello everyone, Was able to snag my own Blazing Fools patch with an envelope and passage from the company that made these. That being Xerox for the sensor balls. Just need Wescam to step up and make their own patches 😁 I want to say this is CONUS made. Thanks for looking!

The periscopes have been removed too.

This liner is for the old redesignated 38th Reconnaissance Battalion, in this time period, the very late 40s into the 50s is was at Knox as School Troops,   From the TIOH, TIOH doesn't list unit crest just the Coat of Arms, it's then possible no unit crest was approved for it, inactivated in 1958 there abouts by the CARS restructure The coat of arms was originally approved for the 38th Reconnaissance Battalion on 24 August 1951. It was redesignated for the 38th Cavalry Regiment and amended to add a crest on 1 October 2008.   And this from a PDF on unit      

Interesting picture.  It looks like the MG's have been removed.     OD  

The fact that he is in Class Bs, is he revisiting his own lost tank?

The only abbreviation I could come across for AMAS is from the Air Force, Aeromedical Airlift Squadron, but this patch doesn't strike me as medical related. I could be mistaken though. For no specific reason, I had wondered if it might be from a Marine Corps unit. Looks posibly Japanese made, about 5.5" high.  Anyone recognize it?