Skimmed through my grandpa-in-law's scrapbook from 52nd Armored Infantry Battalion, 9th Armored Division, which we had located yesterday. Lots of interesting stuff.
He apparently was wounded in February or March, 1945, and was in a photo in the Saturday Evening Post, looking much less clean-shaven than when he left Fort Hood.
Interestingly enough I just did a little background history research for a friend of mine who's dad had recently died and had been a member of the 9th AD. Here's some additional tidbits to add to your story:
"The third combat command, CCR, commanded by Col. Joseph Gilbreth, Columbus, Ga., perhaps had the roughest assignment of any outfit in the Ardennes. It was CCR that stood and slugged it out against the overwhelming might of the German panzers smashing toward Bastogne. Had it not been for CCR, Nazis would have taken the town before the
101st Airborne Div. arrived there to make its historic stand.
The small CCR task forces of tanks from the 2nd Tank Bn and doughs of the 52nd Armd Inf Bn took up positions along the roads leading to Bastogne from the east. Their mission was to block the roads at all costs. They clung to their positions even when surrounded. Masses of German tanks rolled around them; enemy infantry infiltrated in the darkness....
Although casualties were heavy and all three of its battalion commanders lost, CCR was officially credited with delaying the enemy for 36 to 48 hours east of Bastogne. When its surviving forces fell back into Bastogne, CCR was assigned to maintain a mobile reserve known as Task Force Snafu.
TF Snafu became a potent force in the ensuing battles. Organized chiefly as a trouble-shooter for the
101st, this unit operated on a 10-minute alert and sped to threatened areas as needed. Bolstered by armor, it proved to be an ace in the hole. CCR would receive
The Presidential Unit Citation for its action at Bastogne."
If the family would like the Medal/Ribbon for the Presidential Unit Citation (as it probably wasn't awarded to the members prior to their discharge in many instances), have them/you go to the local VSO (Veterans Service Officer) office in your county, pick up a SF180 (standard form 180) and mail it to the records center requesting the item and certificate of award. This can be done with the assistance of the VSO or usually any veterans organization. Happy hunting!:nod: