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(Courtesy Rex Combs collection) |
HEADQUARTERS; 508TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY
APO 230, U.S. ARMY |
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CITATION WORK SHEET |
| a. |
Dietrich, James D,
Capt |
| b. |
For Meritorious
Service of an outstanding nature |
| c. |
15 May - 13 July 1944
d. Nottingham, England, Normandy, France |
| e. |
Bn S-3, 1st Bn,
508th Prcht Inf |
| f. |
During the period 15
May - 5 June 1944, Captain (then 1st Lt.) James D.
Dietrich, Battalion S-3, 1st Bn, 508th Prcht Inf,
averaged sixteen working hours a day in untiring
efforts to prepare the unit in its initial mission
in the invasion of the Cherbourg peninsula.
His painstaking briefing of personnel, preparation
and dissemination of orders of the battalion
commander, were of an extraordinary nature and
instrumental in achieving the success of the
battalion even though the battalion was badly
scattered and had to fight in small combat groups
over a wide area. From 6 June - 12 June 1944,
Capt. (then Lt.) Dietrich acted as executive
officer, S-1, S-2, S-3 and S-4 of a battle group
commanded by Lt. Col (the Major) Warren. This
group along with another battle group of equal size
held Hill 30 in the edge between the Douve and
Merderet rivers, a position which denied two vitally
important bridges over these rivers to the enemy.
This position was held despite ceaseless attacks by
a greatly numerically superior force reinforced by
armor and artillery. Capt Dietrich's untiring
assistance, often at great personal risk to himself,
was of the utmost importance and contributed greatly
to this successful defense. During the period
15 June - 13 July 1944, Capt (the 1st Lt) Dietrich's
duties were of a battalion S-3 only, but his
devotion to duty, abundant energy, and keenness of
mind contributed greatly to the successful operation
of a Bn which had lost 50% of its staff and 60% of
its combat personnel in the first five days of the
operation. |
| g. |
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| h. |
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| i. |
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| j. |
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| k. |
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LEGEND |
a. Name, Rank, ASN
b. Award Phrase
c. When?
d. Where? |
e. Position, Unit & Orgn
f. What?
g. Why?
h. How? |
i.. Status?
j. Result?
k. Hometown?
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NOTE: Handwritten addenda
included: "Legion of Merit",
"written by Col. Warren",
"Previously submitted on or about 12 July 1944"
and "SW Jr, Lt.Col"
CONCLUSION: Capt Dietrich may
have never
received the Legion of Merit as recommended but it
may account for the Silver Star he did receive if
the Division HQ chose to downgrade the award level. |
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