U.S. Naval Ship Battle Stars

I'm conducting more research on my Grandfather's WWII naval service. On his discharge paperwork it shows he should have 2 stars on his Pacific Campaign Medal and 1 star on his Philippine Liberation medal. He served on the U.S.S. Bowers DE-637 and the U.S.S. Bristol DD-857. From what I've found the Bowers earned four battle stars and the Bristol earned one. I can't find any information as to what actions those two ships earned battle credit for. What I'm trying to find out is what specific actions my Grandfather earned the stars for. His discharge paper doesn't specify. He was in from 43-46. I'm assuming he was assigned to the Bowers until it was disabled by a kamikaze in April of 1945 and then reassigned to the Bristol. Any help, as always, is appreciated.

 

I considered it an accomplishment just to find a complete list of US Navy battles in the Pacific.

http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/stream/faq45-21.htm

 

This site shows the campaigns under the wavy flag for the USS Bowers.
http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/04/04040.htm

I'll see what I can find on the Bristol

 

I assume you have seen the wiki site at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Bowers_(DE-637)
perhaps this one as well:
http://www.bowers.com/node/77
There is also apparently a book on her. Here is the Barnes and Noble listing:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/uss-bowers-jesse-russell/1113481244
Here are similar sites for the Bristol:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Bristol_(DD-857)
http://www.ussbristoldd857.org/
http://www.destroyers.org/smrdd/USS_Bristol.html
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/uss-bristol-jesse-russell/1113480754

The "books" may be just wiki articles so be careful.

 

USS Briston DD-453 was sunk while on escort duty in N. Africa in October 1943.This one earned three battle stars.
Another USS Bristol DD-857 was commissioned in March of 1945. It earned one battle star and it should say where on this site..
http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/destroy/dd857txt.htm

While researching my brothers Navy service I would have been completely lost without his private journals. Navy records are very difficult to transulate compared to Army records--and much more difficult to acquire.

 

Thanks Buten42! I've been able to determine the four battles of the U.S.S. Bowers from your web link. They are listed below.

Western New Guinea Operations
Toem-Walde-Sarmi area operation, 20 to 21 May, 4 to 6, 10 to 13 and 20 June 1944

Consolidation of Solomon Islands
Consolidation of northern Solomons, 15 June and 22 June to 26 October 1944

Leyte Operation
Leyte landings, 12 October to 14 November 1944

Okinawa Gunto Operation
Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 25 March to 24 April 1945


Based on that source I believe my Grandfather was on the Bowers during the Leyte Operation and the Okinawa Operation. Leyte would have accounted for the first star on his Pacific Campaign Medal and the battle star on his Philippine Liberation Medal. Okinawa would have accounted for the second star on his PCM. Since the second Bristol wasn't launched until after Okinawa he could not have been on it prior to any of the Bowers campaigns. I still have no idea what the second Bristol earned her battle star for. I assume it was earned during her far east occupation duty. My Grandfather was separated on 01/07/46 which would have been before the Bristol completed this far eastern duty.

 

Th star on the Phillippine Liberation Medal is because he met two criteria for earning the medal as indicated on the link below.
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/navawards/blpiliberation.htm
Looks like it couuld be any combination of the three. I believe your guess for the two campaign stars on the PCM is pretty sound.

Lets see, the article says the Bristol, DD 857, "Bristol departed San Diego 13 June 1945 enroute to Pearl Harbor, arriving 19 June . Arriving at Guam 29 July she Joined TG 30.8, a logistic support group supplying TF 38.

The Battle of Okinawa "The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945."

If the Bower was disabled in April of 45 and went to Pearl for repairs, he may have been transferred to the Bristol while she was there in June.
Just trying to figure out how he ended up on the Bower. Have you tried to get more of his records?
Dave

 

Dave,

I've been working so sorry for the late reply. I haven't tried to get any of his other records and frankly wouldn't even know what to ask for or where to go ask. All I have is his NAVPERS discharge form and his Honorable Discharge certificate which I obtained from my Mother after my Grandmother passed away.

By the way I would post copies of the paperwork I have but I'm having trouble figuring out how to do so on the new site.

Todd