Need some help with Discharge papers???

[Blackgrass]

Not sure if this is the right place on the forum or the WWII section but I'll put it here first.

I am trying to do some research into my grandfathers service during WWII. Basically all I have to go on is his discharge papers and a few stories. Is there a good place to search out this type of information?
This is what I am able to tell from the discharge papers:

Unit:
Hq. Company 20th Armored Infantry Bn
Battles and Campaigns:
Ardennes, Rhineland GO 40 WD 45 and Central Europe GO 46 WD 45.
Decorations and Citations:
Good Conduct Medal AR600-68, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, Distinguished Unit Citation, GO 17 WD 13Mar45 and World War II Victory Medal.

Was the bronze stars issued to an individual or unit awards? Anything anyone could tell me would be great or possibly a good place to start my research.

Thanks all....

 

[Harp]

Military Research

Your grandfather's battalion comprised part of a larger
regimental/division/corps organization, which had a historical
section that chronicled campaign/theatre combat.
Major command archival depositories, published WWII literature,
and military history periodicals are excellent reference sources.

A ribbon bronze star device indicates combatant service
in a particular operational campaign/theatre.

 

[carebear]

google is your friend

It was originally the 2nd Bn 54th Infantry Regiment

https://www.infantry.army.mil/itb/2bn54in/254 Main Page.htm

Your grandfather was in the BN Headquarters Company which contained the support elements (medical, communications, logistics, maybe the Recon and Mortar sections). Check a WWII unit TOE to see what HQ company's contained at the time.

At the link... scroll down to see

Regiment broken up 20 September 1943 and its elements reorganized and redesignated as elements of the 10th Armored Division as follows:

- 54th Infantry (less 1st, 2d, 3d Battalions) as the 54th Infantry Battalion

-1st Battalion as the 61st Armored Infantry Battalion

-2d Battalion as the 20th Armored Infantry Battalion

-3d Battalion disbanded

Battalions inactivated 13-23 October 1945 at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia.

Bronze stars on medals also denote multiple awards, after a certain amount (3? 4?) they are replaced with single gold stars. For example, I received 2 Navy Achievement Medals, when I wore them I wore just one ribbon with a bronze star on it.

10th Armored Division details - was a spearhead division for Patton's 3rd Army

http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/documents/eto-ob/10AD-ETO.htm

A book by a guy who fought with the unit at Bastogne (probably where the DUC came from)

http://www.amazon.com/Noville-Outpost-Bastogne-Last-Battle/dp/1412034000

HQ Co in action (lists some names)

http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/Bastogne/bast-07.htm

Major William R. Desobry (Commanding Officer of the 20th Armored Infantry Battalion, 10th Armored Division) set up a perimeter defense of the town under Captain Gordon Geiger of Battalion Headquarters Company.

 

[Barbigirl]

Request Copies of Military Personnel Records

You may use this system if you are:

A military veteran, or next of kin of a deceased, former member of the military .
The next of kin can be any of the following: surviving spouse that has not remarried, father, mother, son, daughter, sister, or brother

http://www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs/index.html


I think you may be able to get a complete personnel record including reviews from commanding officers and details about why awards/medal were given.

 

[Harp]

National Persnl Rec Ctr

The National Recds Center in St Louis had a fire twenty or so
years ago, which destroyed most WWII personnel records.
Secondary sources for historical research are probably best
suited for families of WWII vets.

 

[Blackgrass]

Thanks Carebear....You hit the nail on the head. He was a Heavy Mortar Crewman.