Aloha Everyone,

 

I picked up this grouping from an Artillery Colonel who lives in Hawaii, still kicking at 98 years old! By virtue of his advanced years, he's not able to reply to fill in some blanks on his service, so hopefully some of you can comment on his personal items I've come to possess.

 

The son of a career Army man and CAC officer, he was born in 1918 and entered the Army in 1939 as a newly minted CAC 2nd Lieutenant. He was posted to the 65th Coast Artillery in 1939 primarily engaged in Anti-Aircraft Artillery which was the emphasis of his 30 year career. His last active rank was Lieutenant Colonel and he was retired as a full Colonel.

 

 

 

CAC fabric insignia and pin back no hallmark 65th CAC insignia.

Any thoughts on what era these are?

 

 

Here's where the USAAF angle comes in. He had these with his keepsakes and I'm thinking that as a AAA officer, he was assigned to training USAAF personnel in 1942 and 1943

 

 

 

Common but original cut edge

 

 

Air University cut edge - Were AAA/CAC officers assigned to train at Air University?

 

 

He was a 1st LT (permanent) and temporary Captain in 42-43. Original 3rd Air Force patch, The continental USAAF training Air Force.

 

Circa 1942 patch?

 

 

He has no trail or record of Pacific service, but has a 5th Air Force patch. Looks original but not sure of the connection

 

In 43-44 he's back with the AAA training recruits in Anti-Aircraft gunnery and tactics.

One of the nice items is a hand made direct fire training manual using pasted photographs. Here's a sampling

 

 

 

 

 

During his career, he developed several new sighting mechanisms which I'm certain came in handy later in Europe with his 2nd Armored Division service from Normandy to Germany.

 

 

Here's another mystery item, 5th Army cut edge patch, but he was never in the MTO unless it figures into his later Korea/post-Korean service.

 

Anyone know the age of this patch?

 

He was transported via priority air travel to England in 1944 as a Major assigned to the advance force of 9th Army, G-2 section

 

Pinback ribbons and Jacket buttons. Still haven't a lead on the Bronze Star so it could be WWII or Korea. As for the star on the Victory ribbon, we've seen this before on other vet racks.

 

 

Back with the Triple-A as XO of an AAA (SP) Battalion, his BN was assigned to the 2nd Armored Division and remained with them from Normandy to the end in Germany.

 

At some point in he was associated with the 18th Airborne Corps, perhaps in the Bulge?

 

Original 1944 WWII patch and Airborne rocker I believe?

These were also in the box of keepsakes, several different types of Major insignia, and also some airborne insignia.

These appear to be later fabric jump wings, Korea or post-Korea?

 

Are some of the Major oak leaves Korean made?

 

In 1949 he was advanced to the permanent rank of Major and he served with the 7th Division in Korea, first as an AAA (SP) Battalion commander and then as a Field Artillery Battalion commander with the 7th ID

 

 

7th ID patch, Korean war removed from uniform

 

 

(2nd) 7th ID Korean war patch

 

After his Korean service, he was promoted to LTC and assigned to the faculty of the US Army Command and General Staff College, specializing in Atomic Air Defense

 

He had three USAC&GS patches, all blue, not the red flame types normally seen. I'm thinking these are period 1958

 

 

One of his next posts was as Commander of the 82nd Division Artillery in 1965, and then a stint with Army Chief of Staff Intelligence, Department of the Army (ACSI, DA) He was sent as the head of an intelligence inspection committee to RVN in July of 1967 and retired after 30 years active duty service in 1969 as a full Colonel.

 

Closeup USAC&GS College circa 1958?

 

There ya go, any comments or corrections would be appreciated, I'll return the favor if you have any USN queries. A last item which I'll probably post in the Ordnance section was this 1918 Grenade manual which may have been his fathers.

 

Manual for Hand Bombers and Rifle Grenadiers, July 1918 - Encompasses all types of US, French, German and British grenades in use in the trenches of World War One

 

 

 

I've always held the assumption that the star on the WWII victory was for enlistment prior to Pearl Harbor. Seems like I read that somewhere and I've always kept it as that. And in all the cases I've seen, it's matched up as is this case too.

I have never heard that before, But I dont know it all for sure. My father enlisted in May of 1940. He always refered to the American Defence medal as a "Pre Pearl Harbor medal" I have often wondered about that battle star on the Victory ribbon ? He does not have one. Nor does his separation paper say he is entitled to one ? I'll follow this one for sure to see what others have to say. Thanks for bringing this up! Great question. Regards, David

My father was 5th. Army, 31st division and odd as it seems, his entire overseas service in WW2 was in the south pacific. Received battle stars for the liberation of New Guinea and the Philippines. So one can be 5th. army and have served in the PTO.

I have never heard that before, But I dont know it all for sure. My father enlisted in May of 1940. He always refered to the American Defence medal as a "Pre Pearl Harbor medal" I have often wondered about that battle star on the Victory ribbon ? He does not have one. Nor does his separation paper say he is entitled to one ? I'll follow this one for sure to see what others have to say. Thanks for bringing this up! Great question. Regards, David

 

That was my understanding too, the added star was on the defense medal denoting pre-war service (which is missing from his ribbons, probably some others are missing too)

 

I've seen it theorized that the added star on the victory ribbon was put on for Korea (unofficial of course)

 

The campaign stars on his EAME would be the same as the 2nd Armored after June 11th, 1944

Normandy * Northern France * Rhineland * Ardennes-Alsace * Central Europe

Interesting that they appear to be different sizes

On 5/20/2017 at 3:24 AM, Bluelabs2 said:

My father was 5th. Army, 31st division and odd as it seems, his entire overseas service in WW2 was in the south pacific. Received battle stars for the liberation of New Guinea and the Philippines. So one can be 5th. army and have served in the PTO.

 

I'm thinking that his 5th US Army patch is for a post-1957 assignment when the 5th Army was a training command headquartered in Chicago.

 

Nice grouping !

As for the bronze star on the WW2 medal, I have a 26th ID artilleryman with it. Joined the Army after Pearl Habor.

From what I read and understood, some combat units veterans used such a star on their WW2 medal to show they had won it on the frontline and not stateside, as every man serving at the end of WW2 would receive it.

 

Ben

On 5/19/2017 at 3:39 PM, Salvage Sailor said:

Air University cut edge - Were AAA/CAC officers assigned to train at Air University?

 

Received the following info from a USAF vet friend and member via email in regard to Air University:

 

Afraid the I can't shed much light on why the Col. has so many USAAF and USAF patches, except that it would not have been at all unusual for a CAC officer to be assigned to the Air University as either faculty or student. The Air University was designated as such in March 1946 after being around in some form since 1920. By the way, AU patch was not approved until May 1948, several months after the USAF was separated from the Army, which narrows down the window of opportunity for Col. X's likely association with AU.

 

So his Air University duty would fit into his post-war assignments before/after Korea

 

Bump for fresh eyes in regard to my questions on his cloth insignia, etc.

Lost my detailed notes and photos of Jack Evans service career in a PC crash several years ago, but these are my  scratch notes on his service.  He commanded a AAA unit attached to the 2nd Armored Division from Normandy to Germany, and a AAA and FA Battalion in Korea.  He was the commander of the 82nd Divisional artillery in 1965.

 

NOTES - not detailed, nor in order so if someone wishes to fill in the blanks I'd be obliged.

 

Father, Jack Cecil Evans, Colonel, CAC

 

JACK CECIL EVANS, O-23517 Graduated UC Berkeley 1939 2nd Lt Reserves CAC, Economics.

2nd LT 65th CAC 1939

 

 

Second Lieutenant Jack C. Evans to Panama Canal Department, sailing San Francisco, November 30, Coast Artillery Journal, November-December, 1940, Volume LXXXIII Number 6

 

2nd LT Evans, Jack C., Jr. (O23517) Born California 14 Aug. 1918, A-Calif. A.B., Univ. of Calif., 39. Source Army Register 1941 & 1942.

 

Active List promotions, 1944, 1st LT 3204 Evans, Jack C., Jr CAC (as of 1 Jul 43)

 

Regular Army CAC Officers - Evans, Jack C, Maj., TAS, Ft. Sill, Okla., July 1948

 

Btry A, 6th FA Bn Sep 1949 Jack C. Evans, Jr., Capt. FA Fort Sill. Oklahoma

 

15th AAA AW BN (SP) Lt. Col. Jack C. Evans, Jr., Comdg. (KOREA)

By Capt. Michael G. Collins

 

Recently the 15th AAA AW Bn (SP), organic to the 7th Infantry Division in Korea, has undergone an intensive training program in preparation for ATT44-3.

To prepare for the AAA Firing Phase of the test with so many new men, Lt. Co!. Evans devised a plan to use a second lVII8 sight, mounted adjacent to the primary sight on the M16 sight bar, as a means of checking each gunner's ability to use "image spin" in tracking aerial targets.

 

To mount this sight an additional bracket is placed on the sight bar !-2" to the left of the primary sight bracket with the machined clamp up. The auxiliary sight is then rotated upward and to the rear before being inserted into the bracket. Normal procedures are then employed to orient the primary sight and to boresight the guns. Following orientation, the hub of the primary sight is placed upon the orienting point and the auxiliary sight is then oriented on the same point by use of the orienting cam screws and locking bolts until the auxiliary sight is oriented with both the primary sight and the guns.

 

The gunner is then instructed to track the aerial target employing "image spin" to gain proper line, correct lead. The instructor is enabled to check each gunner and verify that he is employing the proper techniques by means of the auxiliary sight.

 

This system provided a rapid and effective means of training the gunners, and the improvement was reflected in the AAA Firing conducted at Inchon in September.

Source:  Antiaircraft Journal, November-December, 1954, Volume LXXXXVII Number 6

 

Air University Periodical Index - Atom rockets for bases. ANR 78:9 Mr 2 '57  Atomic air defense. Lt Col Jack C. Evans, Jr. diag Military R 38:21-31 Apr '58

 

January 1965, 82nd Divisional Artillery, Col. Jack C. Evans Commanding.  Source:  The National Guardsman, January, 1965.

 

Army Register 1965 – EVANS, Jack Cecil Jr 023517 B-Calif 14 Aug 18 A-Calif BSM(OLC) Grad US AWC 63 C&GS Coll 52 Arty Sch O Adv Crse (ShC) 48 O Adv Crse 50 AB in Econ Univ of Calif 39 MA Geo Wash Univ 63 2lt CA Res 19 Sep 39 to Col AUS 7 Jul 61 RA 2lt CAC 1 July 40 D/R 1 July 40 to Lt Col 1 July 60 PL 2525           

 

Army Register 1966 – EVANS, Jack Cecil Jr 023517 B-Calif 14 Aug 18 A-Calif LM BSM (OLC) Grad US AWC 63 C&GS Coll 52 Arty Sch O Adv Crse (ShC) 48 O Adv Crse 50 AB in Econ Univ of Calif 39 MA Geo Wash Univ 63 2lt CA Res 19 Sep 39 to Col AUS 7 Jul 61 RA 2lt CAC 1 July 40 D/R 1 July 40 to Col 1 July 65 PL 1637

 

Office of the Chief, Research and Development, Data Automation Panel, Department of the Army February 1967,  Col. Jack C. Evans, Jr., Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence.

 

Jack Evans, 95 years young – Kauai magazine April 2014

Jack was born and raised in California cattle country.  He joined the military, served in the United States Army and made his career as an officer for 28 years, retiring at a full Colonel.  He moved to Kauai to live with his son and daughter in law in Princeville.  In 2006 he moved to Regency at Pukea.  He has lived an extraordinary life and enjoys each day as it comes.

On 5/20/2017 at 8:20 AM, Salvage Sailor said:

 

That was my understanding too, the added star was on the defense medal denoting pre-war service (which is missing from his ribbons, probably some others are missing too)

 

I've seen it theorized that the added star on the victory ribbon was put on for Korea (unofficial of course)

 

The campaign stars on his EAME would be the same as the 2nd Armored after June 11th, 1944

Normandy * Northern France * Rhineland * Ardennes-Alsace * Central Europe

Interesting that they appear to be different sizes

 

Major Jack C. Evans

Executive Officer, 195th AAA AW Bn (SP)

CCA 2nd Armored Division

 

The Tracer, From Mojave to Berlin, 1945 published in occupied Germany

 

On 5/19/2017 at 3:58 PM, Salvage Sailor said:

He was transported via priority air travel to England in 1944 as a Major assigned to the advance force of 9th Army, G-2 section

 

Pinback ribbons and Jacket buttons. Still haven't a lead on the Bronze Star so it could be WWII or Korea. As for the star on the Victory ribbon, we've seen this before on other vet racks.

 

 

 

Awarded Bronze Star for ETO service with the 195th AAA Bn, CCA 2nd Armored Division

OLC for Korea 7th Infantry Division (thanks to Matt, AZNation for the following info)

 

 

CO of AAA & FA Bn in Korea (7th Division)

 

 

195th AAA Bn (2nd AD), Faculty of the Artillery School, CO 80th Airborne AAA Bn (82nd Abn), CO 15th AAA Bn & 57 FA Bn Korea (7th ID), KMAG 22nd ROK Division advisor, Faculty USA CGSC.  It all fits with his insignia in this grouping.  He had Airborne training with the 82nd Abn.

 

 

 

Vietnam