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Post by Henry J. Kaden on Jul 22, 2010 8:39:03 GMT 8
I found a certificate in my 94 year old father in law's stuff from the 503rd Parachute Infantry indicated that he participated in a "Combat Mission" by jumping in a parachute attack against the Japanese Garrison at Lae, New Guinea, on September 5, 1943 signed by Colonel Kenneth Kinsler the commanding officer. Is this the same unit as indicated on this page? I would like to know if a photo of his shoulder patch is available? I recently received his medals which included a Bronze Star, CIB and Jump wings with a star for his combat jump. I am trying to piece together his service record since they were destroyed in the St. Louis fire in 1973. Thank you! Henry Kaden Vietnam 67-68 Attachments:
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Post by Nowhere Man on Jul 22, 2010 11:20:38 GMT 8
Yes, that's the certificate for the jump in the Markham Valley. Col. Kinsler didn't get around to signing them - he had committed suicide under circumstances which, if known, have never been adequately disclosed. For more reading in this era, start browsing through Bless 'em All. The 503d of WWII didn't have an official shoulder patch at this time. (In fact, during its existence, the 503d of WWII never had a patch which had been officially authorised by the Army.) Until Corregidor, they used the Wildcat patch on blue - though again, unofficially. This patch had been designed by the Disney Studio, and the Army was" rather rigid" in the types of symbolism it allowed for Official patches. Have a look at: corregidor.org/heritage_battalion/heraldry/heraldry_503_cat.htmlOnly on Mindoro, after Corregidor, did they recognize that they had done something that needed to be memorialized by a patch of its own - that's when they started with hand embroidered versions of what would develop into the Rock Patch. Patch belonging to Jim Mullaney The definitive original design traces to Tom McNeill, a "G" Company 'trooper, who painted his barracks bag. The McNeill Patch There's a gallery of Rock Patches at corregidor.org/503_patches/rock_patch_glry.htmDiscovering a man's history in the 503d during WWII depends greatly on which Battalion he was with. For instance, things like whether he might have jumped on Noemfoor (and when), how he arrived on Corregidor (1st or 2nd drop, "A" or "B" Field, beach landing), where he fought on Corregidor, what combat patrols or attacks he made - ALL depend on his Battalion. Once that is known, then you can go through the website and rebuild your knowledge of the individual man by getting to learn of his brothers. The website is mostly about 2nd Bn., and this is because it was some young Lieutenants of 2nd Bn who lived until the internet era. Histories were collected, and manuscripts drawn - but next to nobody got to know of them. The photographic images which survive are mostly of the 3d Bn., because the men in "G" had an arrangement to pool and share their images - again, a butterfly effect upon recording history. The reason not much is written of the personal experiences of the men from the 1st Bn. is, sadly, Monkey Point. The entire website has become, virtually, a Regimental History. It just hasn't been done in a book form.
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Post by Henry J. Kaden on Jul 22, 2010 21:58:45 GMT 8
Thanks for the information. I will follow up on it and see where it leads me.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2010 19:02:48 GMT 8
My brother J T Coffee was in 503d, 2d BN, "G" Company. He participated in the combat jump on the Markham Valley, near Lae, Dutch New Guinea. Pvt. J T Coffee and Pvt. Franklin Gunderman were KIA on Biak Island on or about July 12,1944. The two men failed to show up for morning formation on or about July 3, 1944. It was determined that the two men went into the interior of Biak Island looking for souvenirs with the intention of joining an element of the 41st Infantry Division or an Australian unit. Unknown to the two men at the time, the 2d BN of the 503d PIR was scheduled to leave for Noemfoor Island the next day and was to participate in an amphibious invasion. The two men were not reported AWOL after missing roll call because they would have surely been court martialed by Col. Jones. Instead they were reported being on an "independent recon patrol."
On July 3, after the two men failed to show up at the morning formation, Lt. Bill Calhoun took an eight man patrol into the interior of the island looking for them. After Lt. Calhoun's patrol moved north of the battalion bivouac area for about two miles, they came upon a fortified position occupied by a detachment of the U.S. 41st Infantry Division. The captain of the company invited Lt. Calhoun and his patrol to remain overnight and return to the battalion bivouac the next morning with an armored unit. The captain at the fortification was was amazed that Lt. Calhoun's patrol did not come upon enemy troops. The island was not secured and there were enemy troops still roaming the island. After thorough searches of the area, the body of Pvt. Coffee was found but the body of Pvt. Gunderman was never found and he was listed as MIA.
Pvt. J T Coffee and Pvt. Franklin Gunderman were the only men of the 503d PIR who were KIA/MIA on Biak Island. A coincidence is that Roy D. Hughes, my 7th grade school teacher at Coggin Ward in Brownwood Texas, was in the 41st Division "Jungleers". Hughes was in the fortified position that Lt. Calhoun's patrol came upon. Pvt. J T Coffee is buried in Greenleaf Cemetery, Brownwood Texas alongside our parents.
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Post by dmether on Jan 20, 2011 19:22:19 GMT 8
I had a chance to visit Lae in 2004, here is a picture of the airfield used by the Japanese during the war. It was also the airfield Amelia Earhart took off from before she disappeared. Attachments:
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Post by EXO on Jan 20, 2011 19:40:33 GMT 8
what were you flying?
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Post by dmether on Jan 20, 2011 19:47:17 GMT 8
Passenger; this is the helicoper we used. Was in a military unit looking for American MIAs from WWII. Attachments:
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