Amphibious Landings

I'm studying my uncle's battles and I think I'm most proud of him earning 2 Arrowheads as a invading force.

Outside of paratroopers, I can't think of anything more difficult than landing ashore with a stationary enemy picking you off. The thoughts that must rush through your head as the beachead gets closer and the guns get louder.

What amphibious landings do you consider the most difficult ? I don't know if you can rank them in order and I know Iwo Jima and Okinawa troops were allowed to land before the hell fire began, Rapido River and Market-Garden had boat landings but are they true amphibious operations ??

My 2 cents:

Tarawa
D-Day
Salerno
Dieppe

Best Regards To All,

Steve

( sorry, wanted to post in the gereral discussions, geting old )

 

Can you please explain to this Brit what award that was?
Never heard of it before.
Cheers.

 

If there's Water between you and where you're going it's Amphibious !
Debating how deep it was and its length is somewhat foolish.
If you had to get into a boat/Amtrak to get there, and then get out of it to fight, the situation is the same.
In no particular order...

Omaha Beach
Dieppe
Tarawa
Rapido River

Other attempts with Rubber boats were equally "Hairy", and too much was expected.

 

In America if you were part of a invasion force in hostile territory you earned an Arrowhead. My uncle was in the 36th ID and earned it at Salerno and S. France. Every member of the 36th I spoke with through the years cherished his Arrowhead.

 

36th Div eh?
Here's their memorial at Sant Angelo on the river Gari.
I took it back in May.

 

The view from the memorial looking at Monte Trocchio across the Gari river.
It's the Gari not as often called the Rapido which is further up-stream.

 

First off, thanks for yoyur response. I'm going to the Cassino Reunion next year. It's a multi-national reunion, can't wait !

Yes sir, it is an American Award. On his medal awards 2 of the campaigns are; Naples-Foggia (with arrowhead) and Southern France (with arrowhead). Marines also received this award in the ETO.

In my book I will have chapters listed as "Steak And Eggs" and "More Steak and Eggs". Prior to amphibious landings troops were fed steak and eggs the morning of the landings.

Best Regards,

 

Gentlemen,

Just spoke with a WW 2 vet and he informed me about the Arrowhead Award.

The Arrowhead was awarded to troops making a seaborne invasion of enemy held territiory. It was worn on the Theater ribbon along the Bronze Campaign Stars. A Silver Star could be replaced with 5 Bronze Stars. However only one Arrowhead could be worn on a Ribbon regardless of how many seaborne invasion you made.

My friend spoke of his buddy who survived 8 campaigns for 8 stars, made 3 invasions, but could only wear the one Arrowhead.

Best Regards,

Steve

 

Bronze Arrowhead
[901 DBAD]



Click to enlarge


Bronze Arrowhead Device

Criteria: Issued as an attachment for a given campaign medal to United States service members participating in an amphibious assault, a combat parachute drop, a helicopter assault landing, or a combat glider attack. The Bronze Arrowhead Device is a one-time decoration for each respective campaign medal and no more than one Bronze Arrowhead Device may be authorized per campaign medal. As of 2004, the campaign medals authorized the Bronze Arrowhead Device are: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; Korean Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and; Iraq Campaign Medal. In nearly all cases, the Bronze Arrowhead Device is issued with a corresponding campaign service star, denoting the campaign in which the assault landing was accomplished.

Bronze Arrowhead (Model #:901 DBAD)

 

Help please... I'm trying to understand my Grandfather's service medals. He was a private in the Army during WWII. A few years ago I asked the Army to reissue his medals and they sent the following: American Campaign, WWII Victory, Good Conduct, European African Middle Eastern Campaign with 4 bronze stars, and 6 bronze arrowheads.

My question is about the bronze arrowheads. I've read that only one bronze arrowhead can be awarded per ribbon. If that's true, how is it that he has 6 bronze arrowheads?

You help appreciated.

Bill

 

I hope someone here can shed some light. I also sent an email to Veterans Medal Team at the US Army. They responded by quoting the regulations that state only one arrowhead is to be worn on a ribbon. I responded by asking if perhaps one is issued for each assault landing but only one is to be actually worn. They responded with, "That may be it but I can't say for sure."

So I'm back at square one.

Thanks again