June 15, 20242 yr #1 I just came across this photo… a South Carolina veteran I’ve been researching for a while (thank you Ancestry!) He originally enlisted in 1941 (at the age of 16 1/2, his dad signed off showing his age as 18), and was sent to Northern Ireland in May 1942. His early paybook shows he was promoted sometime in 1942 from PFC to Tech 5. I do have what appears to be his final uniform with ruptured duck and a 106th Golden Lions SSI. His discharge papers show a MOS as “Baker”, Tech 5 serving with the 424th Infantry, and was discharged/separated June 1945. I have a couple of questions… photo shows an early black tie but I believe some soldiers continued to wear them throughout the war. He is also wearing 2 ribbons.. probably Good Conduct and EAME. How long would he had to have been in theater to qualify for these? His rank in the photo and the uniform I have both show standard corporal stripes without the tech “”T”. Is it plausible he went from Services of Supply to Infantry, earning a CBI badge (also noted on his discharge, along with EAME with one star). Thanks for your opinions.
June 16, 20242 yr #2 WWII. 106th Division. They were overun by the Germans at the Battle of the Bulge. See Charles Whiting's book - "Death of a Division".
June 16, 20242 yr Author #3 Gudmar, thanks for the info on the book. This fellow was with the 424th… I think just about all of the 422nd and 423rd were captured.
June 19, 20242 yr #4 If he enlisted in 1941, then one of those ribbons, maybe the one on the left, is the American Defense ribbon. Awarded for service prior to the U.S. entry to the war. The other ribbon may be the American Campaign ribbon. I think movement from services of supply to infantry is very plausible. Especially as the war progressed and the need for infantrymen took precedence over most everything else.
June 19, 20242 yr Author #5 It could very well be that the first one is an American Defense ribbon - established on June 28, 1941. The EAME medal but in ribbon form was created on Nov. 6, 1942 but what I read didn’t start to appear until December of ‘42. Along with his uniform, there was an assortment of stuff in the uniform pocket… I did not see an American Defense ribbon.. but it could have been lost. Here are some black and white images of three ribbons.. the last being a good conduct ribbon.
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