My father served in the 69th Medical Depot Company from Oct 1944 through the end of the war the unit was in Kunming China by July 10,1945. Does anyone know if he is eligible to to receive a campaign star for the China Offensive Campain? I can not seem to find on the internet exact information about where you had to be during this time frame. One reference states you had to be in mainland China another source says you had to be in Japanese occupied China. Can somebody give me the answer? My father states that while traveling the Burma Road in China his unit was being shot at by Japanese snipers.
69th Medical Depot Company - CBI Theater Near the end, it speaks of awards. Not sure which part pertains to your father. Hope it helps.
I'm not sure, but maybe this pamphlet would help China Offensive: The U.S. Army Campaigns of World War II (Pamphlet) | U.S. Government Bookstore
Here's a PDF on the the Fort Benning website which has the War Departement GOs for 1946. In GO 12, it states the following: "XX CHINA OFFENSIVE — 1. Announcement is made of units awarded battle participation credit under the provisions of paragraph 21b(2), AR 260-10, 25 October 1944, in the China Offensive campaign. a. Combat zone — Enemy-held portions of China and contiguous countries, plus a zone 50 miles in width extending into territory held by Allied forces. b. Time limitation — 5 May 1945 to 2 September 1945. 2. When entering individual credit on officers’ qualification cards (WD AGO Forms 66-1 and 66-22) or in the service record of enlisted personnel (WD AGO Form 24), this general orders may be cited as authority for such entries for personnel who were present for duty as a member of or attached to a unit listed at some time during the limiting dates of the China Offensive campaign." Unfortunately, it also lists the units given credit and the 69th Medical Depot Company is not listed.
Thanks for the web site it's wonderful. My fathers DD-214 separation papers say that he and his unit were awarded a campaign star for Central Burma Campaign but when I looked it up the unit is not listed. Also was wondering were in China would you need to have served in order to be involved in the China Offensive? Very little information on the internet.
Could he have been in more than one unit? My father detached and was in atleast 4 different units. The CBI was nicknamed "confusion beyond imagination." Another thought, more likely.... I would take another look at ALL the units listed. Dad's unit was listed under a different name, but apparently meant the same thing or encompassed his... I don't want to confuse you, but I will use dad's as an example so you know what I mean. I knew my dad was Casual Detachment 8925-b which included The Chinese Combat Command. On this GO for Burma, his unit was listed as Headquarters and Headquarters Company NCAC. That included his unit but if I didn't know that, I would think his unit wasn't listed....
At present I have Golden Arrow research working on it. You are right he starts off as a army medic is send to Oran North Africa and stationed at the 7th Station Hospital. From there he is sent and stationed at the 181st General Hospital in Karachi India stays there until late July 1944 tells me he is being used as a nurse working in the Lab and the X-ray unit then is sent to the 9th medical lab and is used in many different duties some where around this point it gets sketchy he then joins the 69th medical depot company at Camp Balijan North Balijan Chubua then he begins to ship and receive medical supplies. At this point his unit the 3rd platoon goes to Kunming and joins up with the rest of the 69th Medical Depot Company 1st and 2nd platoons. After Oct of 45 he is transferred back to India and is assigned to a Quarter master unit then to an ord unit.
I hope your experience with Golden Arrow is successful. I used Geoff to research my father and I learned quite a bit. You have a great deal of knowledge already and the use of a researcher will help fill in the gaps better than we can. Good luck in your quest. Be sure to let us know the results.
Thanks for your input to my queries. I was wondering if you or someone out there knows of a map or document that states the location of Japanese occupied parts of western Yunnan China? My father said that although the Salween campaign was over Jan 45 when his convoy went down the Burma Road in June and July of 1945 they were still being shot at and had to be escorted by the Mars Task force. They were only escorted on certain parts of the road.
There are some maps here: Salween Offensive and here: https://www.eucmh.com/2015/09/26/y-force-salween-campaign-yunnan-china-may-1944-january-1945/ and this book has one listed: China-Burma-India Theater: Time Runs Out in CBI This animated map doesn't have a lot of detail but may be useful: BBC - History - World Wars: Animated Map: The Burma Campaign and quite a few more here: map Salween campaign - Google Search Figuring out what is relevant is a more difficult issue though.
Do you know of any other research group out there other then Golden Arrow? They are good and I have received a great deal of information from them but maybe two heads are better then one.
I have not used a researcher yet. Self taught online searching and the going is slow. Lol I just keep digging and familiarizing myself with terminology and the CBI. Others here probably know. I'd be interested for future reference...
My fathers military service has been a nightmare to follow if not for Golden Arrow Research I don't know what I would have done. Their main researcher Geoff is great. I am trying to put a personal military history for my father who is still alive and a unit history. Geoff has found morning reports of the 69th from the founding of the organization to their deactivation. Need more info.
Was wondering if anyone out there can answer this question? If part of a unit lets say a platoon is transported by air transport to an advanced base and flies over a combat zone to get there do they get combat credit?
It might not apply in all situations, but I once read some where that if you are in an area 50 miles or closer to combat, it is still counted. Now, where I read this, I can't recall. Seems like it was in a GO. Hopefully others will chime in soon. If I had to guess I would say no. Just a guess though. I would look at all the units that did receive credit. Perhaps he was attached to one of those?
I would guess no as well. It doesn't seen to me that flying over a combat zone qualifies as having been in that zone, especially if the unit was detached and flown to another area. I could be wrong, but it makes sense to me.
If they gave credit for flying (or even traveling through) a combat zone almost everyone who went "overseas" at least by (and possibly by ship) would qualify. The Pacific and Atlantic were considered combat zones weren't they? At least the North Atlantic was and regions of the Pacfic. I don't recall my uncle mentioning getting credit for a combat mission flying from North Africa to Wales.