This Ike jacket photo belonged to Captain James D. Dietrich, C.O. of Company C.

  A Dutch foundation, “Remember September 1944”, is the proud owner of this jacket and it is on display in Mook, The Netherlands.

   Capt.. Dietrich's decorations arrayed here include Parachutist's Wings with what may be a single combat jump star.  The wings are mounted on the 508th's white "flash" oval.  Also shown is the Combat Infantry Badge (CIB).

 The top row of ribbons are for the Silver Star, Purple Heart and Good Conduct Medal (implying that the owner may have originally been an enlisted man).

   Ribbons on row two include the American Defense Service Medal with one combat star,  the European-Africa-Middle-East Campaign ribbon with what appears to be the Bronze Service Arrowhead and two combat stars.  The absence of additional combat stars may infer that this man was wounded in France and did not rejoin the unit until they went into the Ardennes.  The last ribbon is for the American Campaign Medal.

   Also displayed are the Presidential Unit Citation, and the French Fourragere. The absence of the Netherlands Orange Lanyard supports the hypothesis that this may did not recuperate in time for the jump into Holland.  Further evidence of his recuperation during the Holland Campaign is the presence of the Belgian Fourragere.

   If anyone can identify the proper owner, please e-mail the Jumpmaster