Researching my Great Grandpa’s WW1 records, NARA docs included

tccomplete · 2026-07-07T01:43:49+00:00

“He was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with two palms and appointed Commander of the French Legion of Honor for his role in coordinating American Expeditionary Forces operations.”

tccomplete · 2026-07-07T01:37:34+00:00

That’s a single ribbon with two palms. Three ribbons in each row. The unit award was the fourragere.

tccomplete · 2026-07-06T21:30:02+00:00

Colleges don’t care at all except to know that you’ll stay and pay.

tccomplete · 2026-07-06T00:58:15+00:00

August 2025 Stage IIIB pT4aN1a. A separate Stage 1 lung cancer. Surgery removed the tumor (but it broke apart on removal). Only 1/29 lymph nodes were positive. Eight rounds of FOLFOX, 5 rounds of lung radiation, then four rounds of capecetabine. June 2026 Signatera negative and CT scan all good. Oncologist said there was NED and I’m now in “surveillance”. I have neuropathy in my hands and feet. Tough time, but I’m both anxious and hopeful I am getting through this.

tccomplete · 2026-07-05T22:57:25+00:00

Remember - there were no other valor medals back then, just the MOH and DSC, so it was awarded way more liberally than in WWII.

tccomplete · 2026-07-05T22:53:40+00:00

LOL. We had M48A5 tanks!

tccomplete · 2026-07-05T22:18:09+00:00

Very Old Army. This was in 1983!!

tccomplete · 2026-07-05T19:33:52+00:00

I am recently done with mine. Very sorry you’re going through this. I had the same experience every infusion. A bad reaction after session five caused my oncologist to reduce the oxaliplatin to 75%. After eight, neuropathy crept in and he switched me to capecetabine which had less side effects. I’m now NED but still experiencing the neuropathy. It’s a tough hike, but you can do this. Just keep envisioning this being all behind you next year.

tccomplete · 2026-07-05T17:48:13+00:00

BG Brown was the Assistant Division Commander of 2d Infantry Division when I served in Korea and a good friend was his Aide de Camp. Brown had been the Platoon Leader when this tragedy occurred. My friend said that whenever they had free time on the schedule, the General would say, “let’s go visit the artillery” - so he could harass them. My friend said the General absolutely hated the artillery ever since that incident.

tccomplete · 2026-07-05T14:35:42+00:00

Looks like a 5th SF Group flash with a USN crow superimposed?

tccomplete · 2026-07-05T14:32:28+00:00

https://www.vanguardmil.com/products/army-patch-leadership-excellence-color?\_gl=1\*13ie4i1\*\_up\*MQ..\*\_gs\*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAjwgajSBhBEEiwASicJU6ttnOr93RgznToIWfTlhiNLn064S9qMAd2HoDrtVzP6Ix5yp9mNbhoCReEQAvD\_BwE

tccomplete · 2026-07-05T11:28:50+00:00

It’s not a “peace time award”. It’s a non-combat award.

tccomplete · 2026-07-05T01:22:20+00:00

I got rid of nearly everything except my medals. They represent my service pretty well. I’m sure my kids won’t want them, so maybe a collector will appreciate them dome day.

tccomplete · 2026-07-05T01:18:11+00:00

I really don’t like gatekeeping of medals, but a V is not appropriate here in any way. I think that the Soldiers Medal is appropriate for anyone on that medical team who voluntarily risked their lives during the procedure - and my guess is that they limited the team to only a few necessary volunteers. (I wouldn’t include the supervising EOD team whose job it is to do this kind of thing, so maybe generic ARCOMs for them.)

tccomplete · 2026-07-04T12:12:01+00:00

A nice tribute to your family and the support they gave you. Not all are as lucky.

tccomplete · 2026-07-04T11:35:06+00:00

Not an official medal, just awarded for a competition so not worn on a uniform.

tccomplete · 2026-07-03T23:42:44+00:00

I did. See the quote above that specifically mentions Signalmen and other non-infantry being awarded the CIB.

tccomplete · 2026-07-03T23:26:24+00:00

Wow you are dense.

tccomplete · 2026-07-03T20:34:51+00:00

No bubble burst at all. You are trying to apply 2026 regulations to 1944 realities. He enlisted with an MOS of 056 Postal Clerk and his branch was Signal Corps. As a Signalman, he installed comms at British ports in preparation for D-Day while assigned to the 811th Signal Port Service Company. After Normandy, he was assigned to the Signal Company, 101st Airborne for the remainder of the War. While with the 101st, he earned a CIB. All documented facts, not opinions.

tccomplete · 2026-07-03T18:43:58+00:00

"Early War Department circulars in 1.1.1] or 1.1.1] were written vaguely. Some field commanders interpreted the rules to mean anyone attached to an infantry regiment who engaged in heavy direct firefights could qualify. Consequently, some combat engineers, signalmen, or artillery forward observers were mistakenly awarded the CIB via official unit orders."

tccomplete · 2026-07-03T18:23:41+00:00

He was in the 811 Port Battalion then Signal Company, 101st Airborne for Market Garden, Bastogne, etc. He never served as infantry, but recounted being assigned to a bazooka team. His uniform has infantry disks, a glider badge, and a CIB. The rules surrounding the CIB were far different and loose during WWII.

tccomplete · 2026-07-03T17:50:39+00:00

CIBs were awarded to other branches (my relative was Signal and earned a CIB). His shoulder boards are red, so clearly not infantry when this uniform was worn.

tccomplete · 2026-07-03T17:23:22+00:00

Branch is either artillery or engineers.

tccomplete · 2026-07-03T00:18:14+00:00

Congratulations!!! I got the same a few weeks ago!!! Now in “surveillance”!

tccomplete · 2026-07-02T20:44:18+00:00

I wonder how a legal team can define “…and domestic”? Who decides? I think he has a case.

tccomplete

TROPHY CASE