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Help needed on information regarding B Company of the 119th Infantry

Discussion in '☆☆ New Recruits ☆☆' started by Marty and Ann Williams, Jul 17, 2020.

  1. Marty and Ann Williams

    Marty and Ann Williams New Member

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    Can someone tell me how to get information on WWII servicemen? My great-uncle was in Company B of the 119th Infantry. His name was Irl R Williams from Bonesteel, SD. He was injured on July 31, 1944 and again on October 12, 1944. When he came home, he rarely spoke of his experiences. From his discharge paperwork I know that he manned an anti-tank gun of some sort. All I have are his discharge papers. Irl never married so there are no direct descendants. He had some nephews (including my father) and nieces but they are now deceased as well. Any guidance will be appreciated. Thanks.
     
  2. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Do you have his discharge form where we can look at it directly?

    @KodiakBeer Keith, do you have anything to offer?
     
  3. Marty and Ann Williams

    Marty and Ann Williams New Member

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    That is all that I have - his discharge paperwork. I attempted to attach it to my reply but was unable due to its' size. I can email it. It is currently in jpeg format on my computer. Thank you for your assistance
     
  4. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    Tipnring likes this.
  5. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    I'll be on the road until late next week.

    Can I contact you then?
     
  6. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    I'm on vacation until next week. I'll look him up on Fold 3 then.
     
  7. Marty and Ann Williams

    Marty and Ann Williams New Member

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  8. Marty and Ann Williams

    Marty and Ann Williams New Member

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    Absolutely!!
     
  9. Marty and Ann Williams

    Marty and Ann Williams New Member

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    I appreciate your help. Thank you very much!
     
  10. Marty and Ann Williams

    Marty and Ann Williams New Member

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    Lou:
    By the way, what is Fold 3?
     
  11. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    Fold3 is a website for searching information about veterans. There are some free functions but for more data it is a subscription site. I'll be home next week, so remind me to look him up.
     
  12. firstf1abn

    firstf1abn Member

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    It would be helpful if you could post his discharge. Company B of an infantry regiment is a rifle company and has no anti-tank guns, so something is askew.

    Often this results from a GI being reassigned to a convenient company for the trip home and subsequent discharge. If your info on his service on an AT gun comes from somewhere other than his discharge, please describe.
     
  13. Marty and Ann Williams

    Marty and Ann Williams New Member

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    I was unable to upload the discharge paperwork.
     
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2020
  14. Marty and Ann Williams

    Marty and Ann Williams New Member

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    I am unable to upload his discharge paperwork. I tried sending them as a jpg file and received an error message that it could not be uploaded due to its' size. So I converted them to a pdf file and again received the same message. Is there a way that I could send them to you by email? I made an image of the front and a separate image of the back of his paperwork in an attempt to reduce their size..
    Your response may answer one of my questions. He arrived back in the U.S. February 8, 1945 but was not discharged until April 27, 1945. On his discharge papers it states that the reason and authority for separation (line 40) was for "Certificate of Disability for Discharge AR 615-361". He was discharged from McCaw General Hospital in Walla Walla, WA. So he was probably assigned to an AT gun unit for the return home.
     
  15. Marty and Ann Williams

    Marty and Ann Williams New Member

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    I am unable to upload his discharge paperwork. I tried sending them as a jpg file and received an error message that it could not be uploaded due to its' size. So I converted them to a pdf file and again received the same message. Is there a way that I could send them to you by email? I made an image of the front and a separate image of the back of his paperwork in an attempt to reduce their size..
     
  16. RichTO90

    RichTO90 Well-Known Member

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    That tends to put the various clues together. If he retured to the US 8 February 1945 from the ETOUSA, it was prior to VE Day, the end of the war in Europe. So he was not returned home assigned to a unit of convenience. He was evacuated to the Zone of the Interior (Z/I, what we now call "CONUS") due to wounds, injuries, or illness that were considered severe enough that he would be unable to return to duty of limited duty in the ETOUSA. So whatever unit was listed on his discharge was the actual last unit he was assigned to, if it is listed as Co B, 119th Inf then that was it. It is difficult to say for sure, but he was probably flown out on a medical evacuation flight on an aircraft of the 27th Air Transport Group. If he was wounded 12 October 1944, he was probably flown out after he was stabilized and a medical board determined he was unfit for further service. He was then discharged from McCaw once his condition stabilized and he was able to convalesce outside a hospital environment.

    Are you assuming he was an antitank gunner based upon a qualification in his paperwork? Is it from an MOS code or other remarks? It would help to know what you based that on, but I suspect he was originally assigned to the Antitank Company, 119th Inf or the AT Platoon, 1st Battalion, 119th Inf and was later reassigned as an infantryman due to the rifleman replacement shortages in the ETOUSA.
     
  17. Tipnring

    Tipnring Active Member

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    Last edited: Jul 20, 2020
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  18. Marty and Ann Williams

    Marty and Ann Williams New Member

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    This is great! Many thanks!
     
  19. Marty and Ann Williams

    Marty and Ann Williams New Member

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    What is the source for this last item, card #31?
     
  20. Tipnring

    Tipnring Active Member

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