Marion
The award of the CIB badges had to be made in unit orders and at
an appropriate ceremony, whenever possible.
The awarding of Medal Ribbons was done in lieu of the presentation of
the actual medal in our ETO area. (I got my Medals when I returned to
the States and was at Fort Devens, Ma.)
I left my Class A Uniform in England along with my duffel bag and never
saw it again. The Class A(Dress uniform ) originally had a "Blouse" but
when we got our Class A uniforms after the war the Ike Jacket was
substituted for the Blouse. Even the higher ranking officers at "Lucky Forward"
3rd Army Hq. ,as far as I saw, also never wore Class A's.
Never saw a "visitor" from any other country present an award to a GI ever!!
The personal items we carried we minimal such as shaving gear, tooth paste
(when you could get it),Toilet Paper and there were very little other personal
effects we carried in our field packs and or on our person. Favorite place for
socks was inside shirt to keep them dry and/or warm. Men were more worried
about being able to care the ammo they might need.
Believe me and Joe and Rocky will agree (I hope) that in a fox hole all you
were concerned with was firing at the Krauts and not exposing any more of
your body than necessary to avoid getting hit.
When the "Shower Units" did show up(very rare) they took our uniforms if they
weren't walking away with the mechanized dandruff(cooties) leaving(LOL). God
they stunk to high heaven and if you dropped your socks they'd break.
Who's Fred?? Hope they don't think it was me asking that question!!!!
Sgtleo 