G.O. 90-45 DSM-PUC

Searching for unit(s) Awarded "Distinguished Service Medal ( aka Presidential Unit Citation) under General Order 90-45 (Issuing HQ unk.)

Also, what is the lowest command level this award can be authorized? HHQ GOs may issue duplicates at lower command...

Trying to track down if/when/how my dad (possibly) switched from MOS 844 to Infantry(?)
Tour:
06 JUL 42 - DOE Milwaukee
AUG-SEP 42 - Ft. Bragg
29 APR 43 - Dep CONUS (where? how?)
11 MAY 43 - Arr NATO (Convoy Number?)
08 JUL 43 - Dep NATO (Unit? Naval Task Force?)
10 JUL 43 - Arr MTO( OP HUSKY - poss. KOOL Force; 32d FAB/18thRCT - no assault landing credit?)
23 OCT 43 - Dep MTO (Convoy nr?)
05 NOV 43 - Arr ETO (with 1st ID?)
06 JUN 44 - Bronze Star w/"V", Battery A, 32nd Field Artillery Battalion "...securing the beachhead at Formigny and Caumont by the end of the day..."
- General Order 86, 16 September 1944 HQ, 1st Infantry Division ( blurry photocopy O/H from Ft Knox)
16 SEP 45 - Dep ETO (from where? w/ 321st GFAB?)
27 SEP 45 - Arr CONUS
4 OCT 45 - DOS Camp Mc Coy, WI, BATRY A 321st FA BN

As shown in my dad's WD AO 53-55, MOS844 directly next to CIB Award;

Also, his records, after 15 OCT 45 - when his WD AGO 53-55 was published - reflect "OLC" with Bronze Star - Bronze Star was retro to CIB... possibly explaining OLC

Distinguished Service Badge has been interpreted at CMH as Distinguished Service Medal... replaced by Presidential Unit Citation:

GO 90-45 may lead to some insight as to how/when etc. he switched to Infantry(?)
(A very common occurrence toward the end of ETO mission less artillery, more Infantry needed... opinion of CMH)

Also, "Twenty Five (25) days lost under AW 107" may be related... (highest grade held: PFC... normal?)

thanks for any info,

John

 

It is doubtful he was ever reassigned as an infantryman. In World War II, the CIB was awarded to personnel assigned or attached to infantry units and it was not always required they be an infantry MOS (that regulation wasn't made explicit until 2001).

As regards his movements:

29 APR 43 - Dep Hampton Roads POE on Convoy UGF.8
11 MAY 43 - Arr Oran, NATO

That indicates he was not assigned to the 32d FA BN, but rather one of the FA BNs of the 45th ID, which sailed at this time. WRT HUSKY he did not receive assault credit because the 45th ID was assigned to the follow-up forces.

23 OCT 43 - Dep MTO (Convoy nr?)
05 NOV 43 - Arr ETO (with 1st ID?)

Yes, given the dates he departed with one of the 1st ID convoys, arriving at Liverpool. This indicates he had been transferred as a replacement from the 45th to the 1st ID.

Note the 321st GFAB was the unit he was demobilized from. It may also have been the unit he was assigned to for return to the US, but that is difficult to establish.

 

Many thanks!

Anyone with GO 90-45 that could fit this situation?

will need to take "shot in the dark" for units, time-frames (after 16 SEP 44)... AARs, etc.

how many PUC/DSMs issued?

regards,
John

FWIW...

So, disregard KOOL Force (18th RCT/32nd FAB).



Some “best guess” requests: (to narrow down requests for AARs. etc.)



Assigned to FAB/45th ID on-board UGF8?
Or in Oran?



Convoy for Oran > Husky CENT Force = TF85?... (me. prior USAF - Mobile 407L TACS, brother, USN)



10 JUL 43; “….The Division landed beginning 0425…” (?)



...And, Track: II Corps;

45th ID;

157th IR

179th IR

180th IR

158th FAB

160th FAB

171st FAB

189th FAB

645th TDB

120th ECB



158, 160, 171 = 105mm?... 189 = 155mm?

which FAB typically “joined” to each IR? (ex. 18th RCT + 32nd FAB)



Pfc John B. Hopkins x-ferred from 45th IR to 1st ID/32nd FAB in Sicily?... Or en-route w/1st ID?



Again, Many thanks!



John

 

An interesting question. I dug out some records on the 2nd Armored Distinguished Unit Citations and found on the 29th and 30th of July, 44, the 1st platoon of company C, 238th Engr Bn was awarded the DUC. There were a few company level, but many Battalion level.
I know the entire 101 ID was given this award. Would be interesting if it was ever awarded at the squad level.

 

Thank you, better said; "approval authority"...

somehow, have the impression was higher level(s);
i.e. approval minimum at Division, then designated units would issue the decoration(s)
or, War Department: WD GO-XX for 101st Division, subordinate applicable units then publish GO-XX (IAW) for DUC/DSM...

John

 

Does this document qualify as.... or qualify as a submission for.... the Distinguished Unit Citation?
It may help in tracking down GO 90-45...

John

 

John, this is all I could find on the 32d earning (or being recommended for) it's second DUC while your father was attached.

"During the invasion of Europe, the 1st Infantry Division and the 32nd Field Artillery Battalion spearheaded the attack at the most difficult point: Omaha Beach. In the bloodiest and most chaotic of the D-Day landings, the 32nd Field Artillery Battalion was the first complete artillery unit in action on Omaha Beach, and is credited with the first Allied Field Artillery round fired in the invasion. The unequaled support rendered by the "Proud Americans" to their supported infantry resulted in the award of a second Criox de Guerre and the forwarding of a recommendation for a second Presidential Unit Citation."

Now, your paper shows the recommendation was turned down by the Commanding General of the 1st ID, but it was recommended a second time in 1945. Can't see anything that states the second request was approved. The first DUC was awarded to the 32d in N Africa.

The way the Army treats it's unit awards., including the DUC is that everyone who is assigned to a unit that was awarded one is allowed to wear the badge while assigned to that unit--regardless if he was attached to that unit during the time it was earned.
If, however, a soldier was assigned to the unit when it earned the award, it becomes a permanent award and can be worn regardless what unit he becomes assigned to in the future.

I may be wrong here, but I don't think the first award would become part of his records unless it was a typo. Maybe someone can furnish some better information.

 

John, the Unit Citations and Campaign Participation Credit Register-1961, indicates that the 32nd FA Bn did not receive a 2nd DUC.

View attachment 24017

The following link will show you how a DUC recommendation for Co. A of the 612th TD Bn was initiated, moved up and back down through the chain of command, and was ultimately denied: http://tankdestroyer.net/images/stories/ArticlePDFs/612th_DUC_Recommendation_Files_1945--16_pages.pdf


Steve

 

Steve, this link has some junk characters after the .pdf

 

I don't know why those characters are showing up, they're not in my post when I edit it, so I can't remove them?

John, if you go to this link: http://tankdestroyer.net/units/battalions600s/207-612th-tank-destroyer-battalion
scroll down to Item #10 and click the 6th file down.

Sorry for the hassle.

Steve

 

When you go to edit it, is there a space at the end of the URL?

 

Buten45,
"....resulted in the award of a second Criox de Guerre..." Issued by the French? (how might I find Citation/Docs? possibly via French friend that operates BigRedoneMuseum in Normandie)

Many thanks,

John

 

Steve,
Thank you!
I also stumbled across/downloaded the .pdf you posted with 32FA Bn.
Scrolled through and built a list of units with GO 90-45 for DUC...
May locate someone collecting data on those units that has found GO 90-45... (maybe even John Basil Hopkins!)

Also, you second post worked... a lot of back and forth... appears final was Division level...

thank again,

Best regards,

John

p.s. I am assuming: "Twenty five (25) days lost under AOW 107" likely indicates disciplinary action...
I am less concerned as, for many, this Great Crusade by far exceeded human endurance... ASR 101 notwithstanding.

 

Time Lost Under AW-107.
I see so many inquiries concerning this particular Article of War, it’s worth including-

"ART. 107. SOLDIERS TO MAKE GOOD TIME LOST. Every soldier who deserts the service of the United States, or who without proper authority absents himself from his organization, station, or duty for more than one day, or who is confined for more than one day under sentence, or while awaiting trial and disposition of his case, if the trial results in conviction, or who through the intemperate use of drugs or alcoholic liquor, or through disease the result of his own misconduct, renders himself unable for more than one day to perform duty shall be liable to serve, after his return to a full duty status, for such period as shall, with the time he may have served prior to such desertion, unauthorized absence, confinement, or inability to perform duty, amount to the full term to his enlistment."

In short, If it’s recorded on this Honorable Discharge form it wasn’t too serious--his service is still honorable but he had to make up the time. There were two additional types of discharges. AGO Form 56 was printed on blue paper and was for ineptitude or not having the ability to adapt to the military. AGO 57 was printed on yellow paper and was a dishonorable discharge given by the direction of a courts-marshal.

Inactive Service. ERC (date) to (date)
ERC stands for "Enlisted Reserve Corps”. If there was a waiting period from when a soldier was inducted until he actually shipped out to basic training he was considered ERC. He was given credit and paid for this time but he wasn’t considered on “active duty”. If the dates in box#22 and box#24 are the same, he went from the induction center to basic without being able to go home.

 

Many Thanks!
Inducted at Age 27, DOS: approaching age 31...
Either AWOL or time in the Pokey... known for his Irish Baritone... along with taste for Whiskey, could have been Stockade.
Thanks again,
John

 

25 days is quite a spell. A few days late coming back from a pass to Paris is understandable. 25 days in confinement during wartime is bordering on serious. You'll need to get his records or find it in the morning reports to be sure. Company morning reports tell Battalion the status of all the personnel in a particular company every morning-- promotions, replacements, personnel lost from duty and why. Not knowing the date could be costly.

You asked earlier how to locate documentation for the French Croix de Guerres. These were both unit awards, one earned in North Africa and one in Normandy. I will need to hand this question off to Tommy or someone more knowledgeable in foreign awards. Every time I attempt to understand how the French and Belgians make these awards I get lost. Sorry.