Help me decipher?

Found out a bit more information on my grandfather and was hoping you gentlemen might be able to help me decipher it?

Here's what I got:

Honerable Discharge: 2 Dec 45

Army Serial #: 13056543

Grade: Tech 4

Arm or Service: MD

Component: AUS

ORG: 44th Hospital Train

Date of Separation: 2 Dec 45

Place of Separation: SEP CTR INDIANTOWN GAP MIL RES PA

Place of Entry: Ft. Meade, MD

MOS: Surgical Technician 861

Qualifications: Rifle M1 SS

Battles and Campaigns: GO 33 & 40 WD 45 Northern France Rhineland

Decorations and Citations: Eurpoean African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Starts; Good conduct medal; American Campaign Medal; WW II Victory medal

Wounds in Action: None

Service outside US: Departed 12 Oct 43 to Scotland, arrived 20 Oct 43; Departed 21 Nov 45 to USA, arrived 27 Nov 45

Service Schools Attended: MD Surgical Technician

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There are a few million questions I have at the moment, but I'll try to narrow it down..lol

1: We were told my grandfather was security on the hospital train (by my grandfather.) Do you think it possible/plausible that he served in both capacities (security/surgical tech?)

2: The statement 'Wounds in Action: None' is interesting, since he was injured while driving a jeep (which hit a land mine). He had injuries from impacting the steering wheel and from the shrapnel. I know my grandmother (that missing Army nurse of mine!) was on the 44 and she treated his wounds- it was an often-told story in our family. So, is it possible they never reported the injury? Or that they weren't severe enough to be counted as 'wounded in action'?

3. what do these mean?

Grade: Tech 4, Arm or Service: MD, Component: AUS, Qualifications: Rifle M1 SS

4. Can anyone explain this part? 'Battles and Campaigns: GO 33 & 40 WD 45 Northern France Rhineland'

5. Why would my grandfather have gotten a victory medal and/or good conduct medal, but not my grandmother- who served on the same train with him? I can somewhat understand the good conduct medal (I knew my grandmother well, and she wasn't the quiet, obedient sort..lol) but she should have a victory medal as well, yes?

I think that's it for now- I can't wait to see what you guys can explain for me! On a side note, it seems it'll be my lot in life to track down this mysterious 44 Hospital Train that no one can find record of.

 

Wanted to add a picture of my grandfather in uniform that I just received from my Aunt

 

[4. Can anyone explain this part? 'Battles and Campaigns: GO 33 & 40 WD 45 Northern France Rhineland']

Don't mean to barge in on Russ, but I'll give this one some light-
"GO" Stands for General Order, "WD" is for War Department, The date "45" Stands for the year the War Department gave the general order that authorized a certain area/time period as a designated "Campaign". The War Department may have authorized other things under the same General Order--for instance, the Normandy Campaign and Northern France Campaign are both authorized and described in GO 33 1945. The Rhineland Campaign came later in the war and was authorized in GO WD 40 45. If you want to know the exact dates and area the Campaign entailed, you can research the general order.

Regarding him not receiving the Purple Heart, there are certain guidelines/ criteria that must be met. For instance, the wound must be serious enough to be treated by medical staff, it must be the cause of enemy action at a time of declared war, and it must be reported among other things. Sounds like it was serious enough--it was either not reported or some other technicality (an Allied mind). He may have turned it down (?)

Regarding your Grandmothers medals, she should have received the campaign medals for the area she served, and most definitely the WWII Victory Medal.(one day in the military during the war -anywhere, makes you qualified) You should ask for a replacement set of medals and decorations from NARA for her. Many times all that the military presented was the ribbons instead of the actual medals because brass was pretty scarce during the war. I helped vets get their actual medals and they were simply shocked they had them coming. Hope this helps, Dave

 

This is pretty straight forward. Tech 4 is his final rank (equivalent to a corporal).

Medical Department. This was his branch of service.

Army of the United States. This means he was drafted. This will be marked USA: United States Army or someone who has volunteered for service, or USAR, a reservist or ANG Army National Guard. The Army of the United States is the draft army in wartime.

This would be the last unit he served with. A DD 214 does not give a full service history. For that you need someone's service record.

He was discharged on 12/2/45 at the seperation center at the Indiantown Gap Military Reservation Pennslyvania.

This is where he was inducted.

He was officially trained as a surgical technician. The 861 is the Military Occupation Speciality (MOS) code for that skill set.

He qualified as a rifleman and as a sharpshooter.

He was obviously shipped overseas to Europe at some point and got credit for the Northern France / Rhineland operation most likely as part of First Army in some unit within that command.

The two Bronze Stars shows at some point he was in combat and showed heroism. The other medals are basically for having been there.

This is pretty straight forward too.
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He was trained as a surgical technician. Most likely he spent most or all of his time at an army field hospital or on hospital trains assisting doctors and surgeons in their work.

There are many instances of people being wounded in action and it not being noted for various reasons. A friend's father served in WW 2, Korea, and Vietnam and received several minor wounds. He finally got a Purple Heart for being in a bunker in Vietnam and getting injured when a VC mortar round shattered the light bulb in the bunker and cut him up!
They may have counted his injury as a non-combat traffic accident or something else. This isn't uncommon in the military.

Depends on her status. She might not have been offically in the US military or, might have been counted as being a non-combatant or, something else. The military can be strange this way.

 

Thanks for your help everyone. I know the stars were just his campaign medals.

In regards to his wounds, I spoke with my aunt (his eldest daughter and also a nurse) and she informed me that the wounds were pretty severe. Apparently he required surgery on his stomach numerous times throughout the remainder of his life- all done through the VA hospital (mostly in Miami) and all relating to the original injury.

Does anyone know if there is a way to request records from the VA? I looked at their site, but I couldn't find any information.

 

Probably. I am just used to calling those second, third award etc., as opposed to a bronze star medal. The confusion was with the way it was worded.

 

Well, we just received the reply from NARA. There are no records available; they have only a pay schedule that has the same information I've already posted. I'm at a loss as to where to go from here.

 

Do you think the VA, who treated my grandfather for the wounds he received (apparently he had several surgeries on his abdomen throughout the years) would have any more information- and if so, would they release it?

 

lunafate, The VA may well have a copy of your grandfathers medical records, as well as his service records. Usually medical records must me requested by the individual they belong to. Find your nearest VA office and see what they say. Sometime a letter from your Representative is helpful to clear the paperwork. Your grandfather is still alive so it should be no problem. Good luck

 

Hi Buten. Thanks for the reply. I'm contacting the VA to see what requirements they have for releasing the records, as my grandfather passed away several years ago.

 

I'm curious to see if you have any luck with the VA. Please keep us informed.

 

I just saw your note. I also am trying to get additional history on the train. My Father Eugene A Trout was the FirstSgt on the train but he passed away 6 years ago. He never spoke much about it. But I do have some maps showing its routes in Northern Ireland, England, France and Germany. As to your questions. Injuries that were like your Grandfathers was probably never reported. As to why your Grandmother a nurse would not receive citations....as an officer you did not get good conduct medals....(I believe) but also during my Air Force career of 30 years I often saw women not put in for awards that they should have had. AUS I believe is Army United States... GO often meant General Order which was probably the orders that sent your grandfather to his station...I hope you see this and that some of it helps. I just read on down and saw that some of these same things were mentioned by others to you. I also have some pictures of their original posting in Whitehead Northern Ireland. my email is ggtrout@aol.com

 

T-4 _______ boarded the RMS Queen Elizabeth at the New York Port of Embarkation October 12, 1943. Departing on October 13, 1943 with over 13,000 men onboard, the ship arrived at Gourock, Scotland, October 18, 1943. Since the men onboard had to be ferried ashore, T-4 _______ did not actually stand upon the dock until October 20, 1943.
T-4 _______ boarded the RMS Queen Mary at Southampton, England, November 21, 1945. Departing Southampton November 22, 1945, the ship arrived at the New York Port of Embarkation November 27, 1945.

Richard V. Horrell

 

Thank you GGTrout (sent you an email) and Richard. I don't know why, but I wasn't receiving notifications from the board (I think my mail program might have marked them as spam..grr.), so I apologize for taking so very long to reply. I appreciate your help!

Richard - can you tell me where the information you posted came from?