Campaign Credits

[roger]

I have a VERY basic question.....what are the official campaigns credited to the 106th? The Order of Battle, ETO data I have seen states the 106th is credited with the following campaigns: Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes. Many other similar sources have recorded the same. However, in the most recent edition of the "CUB" magazine, I think there was a reference to Central Europe as a credited campaign.

Could someone clarify? Thanks.

Roger

[floydragsdale]

Hi Roger

I cannot clarify your question except to say that the Division did not go past the Rhineland Valley.

My discharge papers give credit for Northern France, Ardennes and the Rhineland campaigns but nothing else.

Floyd

[connie]

Roger,

Well, Floyd can obviously tell you more than I. I'll see if I can talk someone else to check in on this one.

I haven't yet received the latest Cub (need to check that out.) Can you note the page on which this was mentioned?

Connie

[connie]

These notes came from the division historian:

Hi Connie,
This is a FAQ (frequently asked question), and I can only answer with what is on my papers. I am credited with:
Northern France GO 33 WD 45
Ardennes GO 40 WD 45
Rhineland GO 40 WD 45
Central Europe GO 40 WD 45
Since I was active with the 106th from inception and participated in all of these areas I may be an exception.
Especially with Northern France. This was the surrender of the Germans at the sub pens of Lorient. Not all units of the division were called on for that operation though the 589th and probably some command people, were involved.
Central Europe may not be on those papers for men made POW at the Ardennes. I simply don’t know what the rules were at the time. (Or now, for that matter.)
Best,
John

[connie]

This AM John adds:
Hi Connie,

There must records somewhere that define how a campaign credit is awarded. I have never run across it however. I had a hard copy letter from one of our vets who wondered how come we don’t include Northern France on The Cub masthead (as we used to.) It is only because so many of our vets didn’t have it credited to them at discharge. He did, as I did. We ought to restore that. I will put in a plug when we meet again, maybe sooner.
All the best,
John

[roger]

The information I got originally came from the Order of Battle, ETO and it stated Northern France, Ardennes and Rhineland. The CUB magazine has The Ardennes, The Rhineland and Central Europe on the cover. I had never actually noticed that before....but, I checked earler editions of The CUB and they are the same. Perhaps John Shaffner or Carl could weigh in as well.

Roger

[roger]

Oooops....RED FACE....I seen John already weighed in!!

[roger]

Just to clarify my interest (and EXTREME confusion).....my father was credited with Central Europe but I always thought it was for his presumed service with the 89th Division. He was not connected with the 106th Division until about April or May (6951 Prov Guard Bn at PWTE A-2, Remagen) when the 106th assumed responsibility for handling German PoWs. He also had the CIB (although his papers did not include it) and I had assumed he would not have received the CIB for service of handling PoWs starting in April or May. So, I connected the CIB and the Central Europe Campaign credit together with his presumed service with the 89th....partially because I was not aware that the 106th Division was given credit for Central Europe.

Roger

[Carl W.]

Hi Roger

What looks like an easy question, turns out to be a tough nut to crack. This afternoon I have been looking a few things up regarding the campaign credits for the units of the 106th division. Some answers and an equal amount of new questions have come to my mind.

First of all the process of eligibility for a campaign credit. According to army regulations an organization is given campaign participation credit if it actually engaged the enemy in combat, was stationed in the combat zone, or performed duties either in the air or on the ground in any part of the combat zone during the time limitations of the campaign. Service
stars (the bronze camaign stars) are worn on the service and campaign medals to denote participation in campaigns.

Okay that makes perfect sense so far. The second thing to know is that all army campaigns were limited in time and in place.

25 July 1944 till 14 September 1944
(ETO excl UK and Iceland): Northern France Campaign.

15 September 1944 till 21 March 1945
(Belgium, Holland, Luxemburg, Germany and France excl area of the Ardennes Breakthrough): Rhineland Campaign

16 December 1944 till 25 January 1945
(Ardennes Forest in Belgium and Luxemburg and Alsace region of France): Ardennes-Alsace Campaign

22 March 1945 till 11 May 1945 (area starting area ten miles west of Rhine): Central European Campaign



I searched the official US Army Citation and Campaign register for (the largest) units of the 106th, including some of the units that reconstructed the division after the Ardennes.

The division itself is credited with only three campaigns, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. All of the main units of the division participated in the Rhineland Campaign (one week prior to the Bulge). Those who didn't were units like the 3rd and 159th Infantry which reconstructed the division after the Ardennes and didn't arrive in the ETO till 1945. Looking at individual units, there are some that were credited with a certain campaign as others were not. For instance, there are only five units that are credited for all four campaigns. These are the 331st Medical, the 81st Engineers, the 591st and 592nd Artillery Battalions and the 806th Ordnance Company. All three original infantry regiments and the 589th and 590th artillery battalions are credited for three campaigns (Ardennes, Rhineland and Nothern France).

Out of 22 researched units (all main units including some of the replacement units such as the 159th Infantry, the 401st Artillery and an attached unit the 168th Engineers), 18 participated in the Rhineland and Ardennes Campaign, 15 in the Northern France Campaign and 14 in the Central European Campaign. Keeping everything in mind I think it is fair to state that the 106th as a whole can also be credited for the Central European Campaign. But, campaign stars are issue don a individual unit basis.

Now some questions (and PLAUSIBLE/POSSIBLE answers):

1) The Northern France Campaign ended on 14 September 1944 and 15 units of the 106th (including the 3rd and 159th Infantry Regiments who didn¡¦t arrive in the ETO till May 1945) were credited for it. The 106th arrived in the ETO in November 1944 and was on the front Lines on 9 December 1944.

How can the division be credited for a campaign which ended a month and a half prior to its installment on the front Lines? To this I found an answer. Apparently battle participation credit for this campaign can be awarded by the Theatre CO to units or individuals who actually engaged the enemy after 14 September 1944 in the area WEST of the Rhineland Combat Zone. Like John S said: This goes for the units who participated in the siege of the St Nazaire and Lorient areas. At the time the remaining units of the division were attached to the 66th Infantry Division as tactical reserve. This is probably why they are credited for the Northern France Campaign. This is the only campaign the 66th was credited for.

2) The 106th was reconstructed mid-April 1945 and started the POW operations in the Rhine valley. How comes ome units are credited for the Central European Campaign while others were in the same area and were not credited? The Central European Campaign lasted from March 22 till 11 May 1945 (three days after VE-Day)

As GO 24 WD 47 explains (about the campaigns in World War II), the combat zone for this campaign started east of a line 10 miles west of the Rhine River between Switzerland and the Waal River in Holland. The west bank of the Rhine was not included after 28 March 1945. As far as I know only DIVARTY had PWTE's on the East bank of the Rhine, which could explain the credit for the Central European Campaign to the 591st and 592nd FA Bn's. Other units, such as the 81st engineers, the QM company, signal and ordnance units worked on both banks and thus are all credited for the campaign.

There :-)
It's hard to keep an overview but I would love to hear your input on this theory. There might be something that I¡¦m still missing so keep in mind that this is only a theory.

Greetings from Belgium
Carl

PS Here's an overview I made with the citations and campaign credits for the division
www.scribd.com/doc/47421263/RESEARCH-Unit-Awards-and-Campaign-Credits

[roger]

Carl
Now THAT is quite an overview! :-) So....what about those units identified as Provisional Guard Battalions serving specifically at PWTE A-2 at Remagen?

A related question, would the issuance of the CIB naturally follow since the campaign credit required that there be engagement with the enemy?

You referenced some General Orders....are those available on the internet?

Finally, do you know how the Provisional Guard Battalions traveled to their respective assigned locations (e.g. PWTE A-2)? Where were they originally formed and would they have had occasion to engage in combat enroute?

I have a copy of the Daily Journal for the 6951 Prov Guard Bn, but it basically starts at the time it began arriving at PWTE A-2.

Isn't it interesting how one question and answer leads to more questions! You do a geat service for those of us who are continually looking for clues and answers....many thanks!!

Roger

[Carl W.]

Hi Roger,

It's always a pleasure to help oit. That’s brings up another funny thing about research. While looking for answers, one only finds more questions.

The General Order (from 1947 explaining the scope of the ETO campaigns) is one I found available on the internet. However I have not come across the GO’s for 1945 or prior. At least not the ones pertaining to the 106th.

I did do a search in the Unit citation and campaign credit register for the provisional units that were involved with the PWTE’s. Sadly enough there was no trace of any of them. The closest I could find was the 6953rd Guard battalion, which I believe was not attached to the 106th. I think that due to their very temporary nature, these were not credited for any campaign in the ETO, also since they were not in the combat zone (if my assessment of the geographical zone is correct).

About the Combat Infantry Badge. At the time (WWII) there were basically three requirements for award of the CIB. A soldier must be an infantryman performing infantry duties, assigned to an infantry unit during the time the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and must actively participate in ground combat. Campaign or battle credit alone is not sufficient for award of the CIB.

War Department rules required infantrymen to demonstrate "satisfactory performance of duty in action against the enemy." The words "in action" thus meant actual combat. Also "action against the enemy" (in the sense of the CIB) was to be understood as "ground combat against enemy ground forces."

This leads me to believe that your father possibly/probably earned his Combat Infantry Badge with the 89th, prior to being part of the 6951st Bn. Or there must be some exception that was made (not too uncommon in those days) although I do not believe the 6951st’s duties fell into the requirements of engaging the enemy in active grond combat (which would at least include an exchange of fire).

Greetings
Carl