Bronze Star Details

I was recently going through my grandfathers old military records and hos Discharge Paper work stated he had 2 Bronze Stars. I can not find any details. If anybody can help with this, it would be appreciated.

Name: Thomas de May
Serial Number: 33 927 103
Severed in Company B 655th Topo Engineers.

Thank you in advance

 

The answers undoubtedly lie within the records of the National Archives, College Park, MD.

When the shutdown of the Federal Govt. ends, post your query here:

Space: Military Records |History Hub

Dave

 

Thank you

 

Bob,
Scan the discharge and post it. We have a better chance of figuring out what is going on. My guess is that the bronze stars are "Battle Stars" as opposed to Bronze Star Medals.This would have been noted in context with a campaign ribbon. If he was awarded a Combat Infantry Badge he would be eligible for BS conversion.
Bob

 

Thanks, Will get it done tonight....

 

A Topo Engineer would not be eligible for the CIB.


Dave

 

My understanding he was building bridges during the battle of the bulge. Any Ways, I will get a pic of the paperwork tonight.

Thanks,

Bob

 

Kerrd5,
True.however many non infantry caught up in close combat were awarded CIBs during WW2. Over run artillery units,truck drivers and tank crews,etc.,forced to fight as infantry.
This has led to the tightening up and ultimately the creation of the Combat Action Badge.

 

This is new and interesting information (to me). I would like to learn more. Are there some sources available online?

 

WILD DUKW,
There is a lengthy thread on the U.S. Militaria Forum that deals with this exact topic.(WW2 Award of the CIB to non Infantrymen). It seems Engineers received quit a few.
Sorry I do not know how to link it to here.

 

Lou it's the one in ( ) in my post.
Bob

 

Still waiting for my father to upload my Grandfathers paper work. In the mean time, Where can I look up to see what he and his unit where doing in WWII?

 

Robert,

This is from Stanton's "WWII Order of Battle."

655th Engineer Topographic Battalion
Formed 17 Dec. 1943 Camp McCoy Wisconsin
Departed NYPE 9 Dec. 1944
Arrived England 20 Dec. 1944
Arrived France-ETO 31 Jan 1945
Campaigns Rhineland and Central Europe (Two Bronze Campaign Stars, one for each)
Location August 1945 Munster, Germany

Your grandfather's discharge papers (report of separation) will undoubtedly fill in many blanks on the personal level.
Scheduled for shipment to the SWPA

Hope this helps some.

 

This was what probably on the paper work, Campaigns Rhineland and Central Europe (Two Bronze Campaign Stars, one for each)

Still waiting. It would be interested in knowing more about his time in the Army. He never talked about it.

 

A Bronze Campaign Star is not the Bronze Star Medal awarded for valor or meritorious service.

See:

The Difference Between The Bronze Star and The Bronze Battle Star by Jeff Vicha

The histories of his battalion are likely at the NARA II, College Park. You can order them at a cost of $0.80 per page from the Archives or hire a professional researcher to scan/copy them for you.


Dave