Belgian Army Order of the Day

I have a question, through some more research I found out that my grandfather's unit (4th Cavalry Group) were "Cited in Belgian Army Order of the Day for action in the Ardennes"

What is it and what does it mean??? I never heard of this before, also was a medal awarded???

If anyone has any answers that would help. I am finding out what an amazing story my grandfathers unit did during the war, and each passing day I become more prouder and prouder of what he had done!!!!!!

 

The Belgian Fouragette is awarded to units that receive the Belgian "Order of the Day" It's a red knotted shoulder cord - My father-in-law has his, and we've mounted it with his other awards received during his service 42-45. he (89) and mom-in-law (88) are living with us. Not sure if it was awarded when he was flying or with his air-ground cooperation infantry unit. I found more info here: Belgium Fourragere Shoulder Cord Happy Hunting.

 

Thanks for the info!!! When I think I have found everything their is, something new comes up

 

Cobblejohn--I have an index of the Belgian Orders and Decorations awarded to U.S. service members during WWII. If his unit was awarded the the Belgian Croix de Guerre by being cited twice in the Belgium Orders, everyone in the unit would be allowed to wear the Belgium Fourragere on the right side, as jonmwatson said. An individual award of the Croix de Guerre by the Belgian Government is an actual medal. If I knew his name I'd look in the index and see if he's listed, but I suspect it's a unit award. I'm a little fuzzy on how the Belgian Government did things so he may also be entitled to the actual Belgian Croix de Guerre medal.

 

Buten 42- that would be great if you can find that out, his name was John Bruszewski. I too susect it is a unit award and his unit was the 4th cavalry Reconnaissance Group. Thanks for the help

 

I didn't find his name in the book so they gave the award to the entire unit.
You might write:
Embassy of Belgium,
Military, Naval, and Air Attache,
3330 Garfield Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
They have been good at answering my questions regarding my brothers Belgium awards.
They would not replace his medals but told me the cost and where to get them.
Hope this helps, Dave

 

Thanks for the info. I had a feeling that it was his unit, I will definately write and find out.

 

Hello Dave, saw your post and I had to ask same kind of the same question. My grandfather was in the 23rd Inf. Regiment, 2nd Inf. Division. The regiment was "awarded" the Belgian Army Order of the Day twice. [Dept. of Army General Order 43-50. This was for actions on 13-19 December 1944 and 19-30 December 1944.]

Do you have an index for this general order? can you get a copy of the citation, if there is one?

My grandfather was killed on December 18, 1944. Would he now not be eligible for the Fourragere because he technically wasn't around for the 2nd "Belgian Army Order of the Day? I know you get the Fourragere only after being cited twice of the Belgian Army Order of the Day. I guess that begs the question. If my grandfather is not eligible for the fourragere, would he get some kind of citation or medal for the first Belgian Army Order of the Day?

I know I have thrown alot at you, but i'm dying to find these answers. Thanks for any help you can give.

 

According to wiki, the US 23rd Infantry Regiment was awarded the Belgian and the French Fourragere for actions in WW2. It was a unit award, not a personal award, so your grandfather would be elgible for the award if he or anyone was in the unit. I was in the 23rd Infantry (1978-80), and we wore the Belgian Fourregere on our Class A's (dress uniform) and Khakis, but not the French award.

 

I thought the French Fourragere was for WWI?

So in your opinion, say, if I was doing a shadow box, my grandfather would or would not be eligible to have the Belgian Fourragere?

 

Was the Belgian Fourregere you wore in the 23rd Inf. from the regiment being awarded it in 1944? Sorry for my ignorance, but I was never in the military.

 

Yes, I went back and checked, it was for awarded for action during WW1, but it was awarded to the unit, not the individual. So your grandfather would be elgible to wear it as I was at the time, as long as I was assigned to the 23rd Infantry. When I transferred to the 325th Infantry, I was still authorized to wear it as well, since the 325th Infantry was awarded the same decoration in WW2 also. He would be also authorized to wear the US Presidential Unit Citation as well, just as I did when I was in the unit since it was a unit award and not a personal award.

Here's the combat decorations earned by the 23rd Infantry Regiment:

Decorations
Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for BREST, FRANCE
Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for WIRTZFELD, BELGIUM
Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for KRINKELTER WALD, BELGIUM
Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for ST. VITH
Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for TWIN TUNNELS
Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for CHIPYONG-NI
Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for HONGCHON
Valorous Unit Award for SAIGON
Valorous Unit Award for TAY NINH PROVINCE
French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War I for CHATEAU THIERRY
French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War I for AISNE-MARNE
French Croix de Guerre with Palm, World War I for MEUSE-ARGONNE
French Croix de Guerre, World War I, Fourragere
Belgian Fourragere 1940
Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action in the Ardennes
Cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at Elsenborn Crest
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for NAKTONG RIVER LINE
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for KOREA 1950-1953
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for KOREA 1952-1953
Meritorious Unit Citation for Operation Iraqi Freedom in Mosul,tal afar,Samarra and al kut(November 2003 - November 2004 - Baghdad (June 2006 - September 2007))
Valorous Unit Award for action in Baquabah as part of Operation Arrowhead Ripper

The bolded passages are for WW2 actions.

 

Yes it was issued for combat action in Belgium in 1944. All you have to do to have one added to your grandfathers shadow box and be legit is to have some sort of proof that he was assigned to the 23rd Infantry. Since he was KIA on 18 Dec 44, that means he was with them when the regiment earned the right to wear it. That's the only way I got to wear it, because of their gallant actions. My only action was fighting with the MPs at Ft. Richardson, Alaska, which cost me the good conduct medal. Oh well. It was glorious I guess.

 

Yes I was aware of the Presidential Unit Citation. His Battalion was awarded that for its actions on 17-18 December 1944 pursuant to War Dept. General Order 58-45. I am still trying to get a copy of that Order. I requested my grandfather's medals and they do not list that on there, so I am going to the Review Board to have his records amended. They left off his Silver Star as well, but luckily I have a copy of the Citation for that.

The way you explain it, once a unit receives an award, all soldiers in that unit from then on iinto the future (as long as they stay i that unit) will be eligible to wear it?? Like the Fourragere?

 

That's pretty funny. But I have a technical question. My grandfather died before the Regiment was awarded the second Belgium Army Order of the Day, which is required for the Fourragere. Would he still be eligible for it?

 

Roger that, the award is worn by all members of the regiment from that point on, as long as they are in the regiment.

That probably explains why we wore the Belgian Fourregere and not the French one. The Belgian award was the most recent award. Too many decorations and awards makes one look like a "Guatemalan Generalisimo" if you know what I mean.

 

I found this online. May explain why you only wore one fourragere at a time. Both go on left shoulder and only one at a time..................


Information about Army Fourrageres
Who is authorized to wear a fourragere?
A Soldier who earned the fourragere or a Soldier assigned to a unit that was awarded the fourragere.
What uniform is a fourragere worn on?
A male Soldier wears a fourragere on:

• The Army Green Coat
• The Army Blue Coat
• The Army White Coat
• The AG shade 415 shirt

A female Soldier wears a fourragere on:

• The Army Green Coat
• The Army Blue Coat
• The Army White Coat
• The AG shade 415 shirt
• The Army Green maternity tunic

How is a fourragere worn?

• At least one other US decoration, service medal, or unit award must be worn with the fourragere, cord, or lanyard
• After US unit awards by date of receipt
• French fourragere - when authorized for permanent or temporary wear
• Belgian fourragere - only when authorized for permanent wear
• Netherlands orange lanyard - only when authorized for permanent wear
• All are worn on the left shoulder with the cord passing under the sleeve and attached to the shoulder loop of the green and white uniforms, and on the enlisted blue uniforms.
• Officers authorized to wear a fourragere or lanyard on the blue coat must attach a 20 ligne button to the left shoulder seam, 1/2 inch outside the collar edge
• Only one fourragere, cord, lanyard, or aiguillette is authorized for wear on each shoulder
• Brass tips are kept polished

For additional information, please see AR 670-1.

 

I think if you were part of the unit that received the award, the fourragere is permanant and you wear it regardless of whether you leave the unit (at least for the Belgain Fourragere).................

 

Yes, you are correct, if you are in the unit at the time it was earned it stays with you. Same with the Presidential Unit Citation. People like me could only wear it while actively assigned to the unit.

And thanks for clarifying the order of wearing the fourregeres.

 

have you any idea where I can find an index for general orders? I am looking for the citations for the fourragere and the Pres Unit citation....