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Question about Soldiers returning home from the ETO.

Discussion in 'Information Requests' started by duckydps, Nov 29, 2011.

  1. duckydps

    duckydps Member

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    I was wondering if someone could tell they determined which soldiers would go home at which time after the war? Didn't they have some sort of system based on time overseas, rank, and years of service? Did any of the soldiers move to another unit just for the ride home?

    The reason I ask is my grandfather was with the 102nd FA Batt but on the Queen Mary passenger list he is listed under a different FA Batt. I am sure that is him on the list because the service number is correct.

    Thanks for any help!
     
  2. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Borrowed from wiki answers:

    Hi Ellen, welcome. I found a nifty little newsletter called WWII Musings and it some good details about the point system used as of 1 Sep. 1945. Soldiers earned points according to # of months in the Army (1 pt. per month), # of months overseas (1 pt. per month), # of months in a combat zone (3 pts. per month), # of wounds received (6 pts. per Purple Heart) and # of dependent children under 18 (12 pts. per child). Additional credits were given for service performed with 5 pts. for every DSC, DSM, Legion of Merit, SS, DFC Soldiers Medal, BS, Air Medal, PH & Bronze Service Stars (Battle Participation Stars). Included were awards and decorations of foreign countries accepted and worn under War Dept. Regs. Each rank had its own required points for discharge. Colonels thru Majors needed 100 pts., Captains thru 2nd Lt's 85 pts., Warrant officers 80 pts. and enlisted men 80 pts. though that was dropped to 60 pts. by Nov. Because of his rank Audie would've needed a total of 85 pts. to get his discharge. I don't know if he listed his little sisters and brother as dependents but when he counted up all his months in service and overseas, time in combat, wounds and medals Audie said he had 146 pts.! Audie Murphy was never one to do ANYTHING half way!



    [h=2]Answer[/h] The Advanced Service Rating Score was a scoring system that awarded points to a soldier and was used to determine who were sent home first. At the end of the war in Germany and Italy, a total of 85 points were required for a soldier to be allowed to return to the States. After Japan's surrender, the total points required dropped to 75 and was really only used to stage troops on the return voyages.
    Points were awarded for the following:
    +1 Point for each month of service (between 16 Sept 1940 - 12 May 1945)
    +1 Point for each month overseas (between 16 Sept 1940 - 12 May 1945)
    +5 Points for first & each award received: DSC, LM, SS, DFC, SM, BS, AM, PH
    +5 Campaign stars worn on theater ribbons
    +12 Points for each child (< 18 yrs) up to a limit of 3 children.
    [I am not aware of points assigned to Officers.]
    As it turned out, the soldiers assigned to support units usually had higher point score. The average infantryman did not live long enough to collect enough points.
    If you have a copy of a service man's discharge papers, his ASR score was entered in Block 55 at the bottom of the form.
    For example: ASR (12 May 45) 86.
    See the Link on Points System for an explanation and an example of how to calculate the ASR score and some quotes from various sources about it.
    Custermen
     
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  3. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    I suspect that the units were combined for the trip home. Frequently, the last unit mentioned had nothing to do with what they served in.
     
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  4. duckydps

    duckydps Member

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    Thanks for the great info! I looked up my granddad's ASR: 75. I figured since different people in his unit would have different ASRs they would be split up.
     

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