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Need help with Dad's WWII Service - Otto Spitzer

Discussion in 'Military Service Records & Genealogical Research' started by jspitzer, Mar 29, 2015.

  1. jspitzer

    jspitzer New Member

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    Hi Everyone,

    Just joined and was hoping someone could direct me in the right direction to find out information about my Dad - World War 2. My Dad did not talk about the war even if we asked him as kids. My mom who died 2 weeks ago could not provide any insight either.

    My Dad's discharge papers have per my Brother (I do not have a copy yet):

    PFC
    37th
    MRUM

    Medals:
    Victory
    Europe Africa
    3 Bronze Medal

    My brother also mentioned were on the discharge papers:
    Northern France
    Reinland
    Central Europe

    My Dad and Mom would tell the story that his legs were so bad from jungle rot that they could not stop the oozing. The VA was not able to stop it, but he had an actuarial friend that recommended him to a doctor in Chicago that was able to get it to stop.

    When my Dad died there as a man who came by and knew my Dad from DPMA. He was actually my Dad's roommate before going to be processed for boot. He told me a story that he and my dad worked on computers (way back then) and so they kept them for about a month before shipping them out to boot. Having the clothes on their backs, they had to wash their laundry in the sink every night and hang it to dry. He said that they transfered out to boot in a Pulman train car. He was stationed in France, but lost track of my Dad after boot, but reconnected with him years later in the Chicago area where they both lived at DPMA.

    I do not really know more that that. I do not know if he was in Europe or in Asia or both.

    His discharge was 1-9-1946.

    I will try to fill out the government paperwork for information, but with my luck his record may also be one that was destroyed by the fire. I do have his Army Serial Number but have found no record so far on any government site I have searched.

    Any suggestions?

    His name was Otto Spitzer. He was from Chicago Illinois.

    Thanks,

    John Spitzer
     
  2. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    John, welcome to the Forum. (Note: I have given you your own topic.)


    From the info you have provided, I am sure your father did not serve in the 37th Infantry Division. The 37th Division was strictly Pacific Theater. The "Europe Africa" ribbon (actually EAME, or Europe-Africa-Middle East) and the campaign credits of Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe clearly put him in the European Theater.

    Incidentally, the "3 bronze medal" is most likely a reference to 3 Bronze Battle Stars which are often confused with the Bronze Star Medal. The battle stars, also called bronze star devices, are worn on the campaign ribbons (i.e. the EAME) to indicate how many major combat actions a soldier participated in.

    The reference to "jungle rot", could also have been "trench foot" which was a problem for soldiers in WWII.

    When you do get a copy of his discharge paper, it would help a great deal to post it on the Forum.
     
  3. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    Hello John. Since there seems to be no mention of the Pacific, I'll agree with Tommy. It seems as though he was awarded the EAME medal with three battle stars for the campaigns listed. As far as his unit is concerned, we would be better served if you could scan and post the document when you get it.
     
  4. Buten42

    Buten42 Member

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    Tommy and Lou are right on concerning the trench foot. He served during the Bulge where many more men were casualties of the weather with trench foot and frostbite than enemy action. By all means try to get his personnel records from NARA. With his persisting medical condition after the war I'm sure the VA has a file with many of his records from his personnel file--and these didn't burn in the fire. There is so much information on the separation document--a posted copy will help a lot.
     

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