45Felix & World War 245

Dog Tags and Uniform
Dog Tags
Dog Tags
Photo by Eli Cizewski-Robinson, Felix's grandson.
These are the type issued from July 1943 to March 1944.
Type issued between July 1943 and March 1944
Uniform
  Uniform
Items on the Uniform
This section details what is on the above uniform. The uniform contains some errors, a not uncommon occurrence during the turmoil and chaos of the massive post war demobilization. Felix was a bit of prankster and hustler so some of the errors may have been intentional.

Go to Ribbons and Awards Research for a report for what awards Felix was eligible.
Lapel
DUI
The 45th Signal Company's distinctive unit insignia (DUI) may not have been readily available so the division DUI is being worn instead.

Both have the Latin motto: Semper Anticus (Always Forward).
45th Signal Company's distinctive unit insignia (DUI)
Top Row
Victory
World War 2 Victory Medal with one service star. The star is not part of this ribbon.
Bottom Row
Purple Heart

Purple Heart: In December 1944 near Paris while constructing and maintaining wires and poles as a member of the Open Wire Section,  Co. C, 3110th Signal Service Battalion, Army Service Forces. Felix suffered severe frostbite to his hands and feet requiring hospitalization between  Soldiers who suffered severe frostbite from 7 December 1941 to 22 August 1951 were eligible for the award of the Purple  Heart.

The list of awards on Felix's discharge does not include a Purple Heart. That may be in error as his discharge was prepared by the 45th Signal Co., 45th Infantry Division, the unit to which he was assigned after recovering from frostbite, and not 3110th Signal Service Battalion, Army Service Forces, the unit in which he was serving when he suffered frostbite and may have been awarded the Purple Heart.
Good Conduct
Good Conduct: for at least 1 year wartime service without without any non-judicial punishments, disciplinary infractions, or court martial offenses.
European/African/Middle Eastern
                  Campaign
European/African/Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four service stars for the Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe Campaigns. The absence of an arrowhead suggests that Felix did not land in Normandy on D-Day, but came in after June 6, 1944.
Left Sleeve
Merit Patch
The Meritorious Unit Commendation is awarded to units for exceptionally meritorious conduct in performance of outstanding services for at least six continuous months during a period of military operations against an armed enemy on or after January 1, 1944. Although service in a combat zone is not required, the unit's accomplishments must be directly related to the larger combat.
Right Sleeve
Overseas
Overseas Service Bar: Each Overseas Service Bar indicated six months overseas. Felix was awarded three for eighteen months of overseas service. For unknown reasons he has four on his uniform.
Ribbons and Awards Research and Documentation

Where the Ribbon or Award appear among Felix's items

Ribbon
Dad's Camp Grant
(Discharge Processing Center) Record
Dad's Discharge
Dad's Uniform
Per Pentagon Websites

The Institute of Heraldry
(http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/)


US ARMY AWARDS, DECORATIONS, CAMPAIGN & SERVICE MEDALS (http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/Ribbons/OrderofPrecedence.htm)

World War 2 Victory Medal No
Yes
Yes
Eligible.
Good Conduct Medal Yes
Yes
Yes
Eligible.
European/African/Middle Eastern Campaign Medal Yes
Yes
Yes
Eligible with four service stars for the Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe campaigns.
American Campaign Medal
No
Yes
No
Eligible without the star. Almost everyone in every branch received this one for more than one year of service in the Continental U.S. Felix spent about 22 months training in Missouri. He is not eligible for a service star. A service star indicates anti-sub service in the America Theater.
Army of Occupation MedalOccupation
No
No
No
Eligible.For 30 days consecutive service while assigned to Germany  between  May 9, 1945 and late July 1945 if also awarded the European/African/Middle Eastern Campaign Campaign Medal for service prior to May 9, 1945 (see above).

This medal is not in Felix's records or on his discharge uniform or in his documentation because it was not established until April 5, 1946. The 45th Signal Company has "Occupation Credit"  documented in the Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register. (Large PDF file, long download.)
Purple Heart


No
No
Yes
Eligible: In December 1944 near Paris while constructing and maintaining wires and poles as a member of the Open Wire Section,  Co. C, 3110th Signal Service Battalion, Army Service Forces. Felix suffered severe frostbite to his hands and feet requiring hospitalization between  Soldiers who suffered severe frostbite from 7 December 1941 to 22 August 1951 were eligible for the award of the Purple  Heart.

The list of awards on Felix's discharge does not include a Purple Heart. That may be in error as his discharge was prepared by the 45th Signal Co., 45th Infantry Division, the unit to which he was assigned after recovering from frostbite, and not 3110th Signal Service Battalion, Army Service Forces, the unit in which he was serving when he suffered frostbite and may have been awarded the Purple Heart.

Purple Heart U.S. Army Human Resource Command October 18, 2021
Overseas Service Bars
Three
Three
Four
Eligible for three for 18 months of overseas service. For unknown reasons he has four. Sets of three were found among his personal items.
Meritorious Unit Commendation
No
No
Yes
Eligible: Felix's unit, the 3110th Signal Service Battalion was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendations for its work in England from March 15 until August 15, 1944 (when the other three companies of the battalion were deployed to France) for their communications work in preparation for the Normandy landings and campaign.

The 45th Signal Company, 45th Infantry Division, was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation for service from February 1 to March 30, 1944. All members of the 45th Signal Company are authorized to "wear this decoration while serving with an organization to indicate the unit has been awarded
the Meritorious Unit Commendation."

Acknowledgement: Chad Phillips, WW2 US Signal Corps Reenactors, Researchers and Collectors Worldwide and grandson of the WWII veteran of the 33rd Signal Construction Battalion provided informatino about and the photo of the distinctive unit insignia (DUI) of the 45th Signal Company.

INDEX: Cizewski, Lovetere, Musbach, & Robinson Family History

All material not in the public domain © 2006 - 2022 Leonard H. Cizewski
Last Major Update: February 9, 2022
Minor Revision:
Last Reviewed:
Posted: 2006

hosted by ibiblio