Bill Brouillard Jr.

Rozier #2 mentioned in "Marine Recruiter" March 1942

It looks like there are 2 William N. Rozier's in the Marine Corps Rolls - #1 served 1931-37 and was discharged at his own convenience (Bought his way out) #2 shows up in April 1941 as a Cpl with a Service Company at Parris Island and later as a Recruiting Sgt. in Chicago 1941-42 by 1945 he is a Platoon Sgt. with the Marine Detachment on the USS Hornet. He serves until 1953 in various supply billets. Possibly the same guy with an interesting career but his first Good Conduct medal would have been in the 1930's Bill

I have been collecting them since I was 13 - which was 52 years ago!! These are just the Rim Numbered singles - I have some in groups but overall I think I have 150 +/- Bill

Thanks for the Kudos!!

At the end of WWI the Marine Corps determined that the "Duration of War" Enlisted Men were entitled to the award of the Good Conduct Medal regardless of how long they served between April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918. If they performed Honorable Service than the medal and certificate were sent to the Marine whether he was discharged or not. These medals can be found as the standard design but with the edge of the medal stamped Mno. XXXXX. The numbers begin at 20000 and end at 70500 (approximately) - About 10% of these medals can be traced to a recipient from information taken from the Marine Corps Muster Rolls on Ancestry. Unfortunately the Marine Corps did not keep a master list of who was issued who medal, also it is a misconception that these medals were awarded to "Draftees" - The Marine Corps did not draft men in WWI however in WWII and Korea some Marines were drafted into service. Dogtags for these men would be stamped USMC-SS or USMCSS - The SS means Selective Service. Occasionally the WWI rim numbered medals can be found privately engraved and the command a larger price than the unnamed/untraceable medal which is priced at $45 +/-. Also it is possible to find official replacement medals that fall in the number range usually to replace a lost medal in the 1920's or 1930's to a Career Marine. I have attached some photos from my collection. Bill

Hugh - Prior to 1947 the Navy/Marine Corps/Coast Guard Order of Precedence was 1) Decorations 2) Unit Awards 3) Campaign Ribbons in order earned 4) Service Medals - The Marine Corps, Navy, and CG considered the Good Conduct as a "Service Medal" and was worn last. - This is a good test to see if ribbons were "Our Together" since it is not a well known fact except to long time Navy and Marine Corps Collectors. The Army on the other hand declared when the Army Good Conduct medal was created in 1940/41 that it was a "Decoration" and always worn first. This was important since the armed forces declared in 1942 that campaign medal production would cease due to material shortages but decorations would still be manufactured - That is why collectors today see so many Army Good Conduct Medals from WWII. Bill

Michael - I think I have 150+/- as singles and with groups - a lot of varied service - I think I posted a few in my gallery on this forum I think I once owned the Phelps medal about 25 years ago!! Bill

Michael Johnson - Good to see a fellow Navy GCM collector on this forum Bill

Ribbons (1945) to M/Tech Sgt. Louis N. Gosselin - As a Cpl in August 1942 he was an aircraft mechanic with VMF-212 on Guadalcanal (Cactus Air Force) his CO was "Indian Joe" Bauer who earned a posthumous Medal of Honor.

I used to be a driver/delivery guy for the Springfield Newspapers while I was in College (AIC) and I delivered in Westfield (1976-80). Ken Smith was buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Springfield. Bill

I have about 150+ Navy Good Conduct Medals in my collection - They are relatively inexpensive, fun to research and most of the time the individuals service is interesting. Carry On!! - But if you don't you can leave them to me!! Bill

I had an opportunity years ago to examine the US Medal Bar of General Andre Brewster and his bar had at the end a Gold Panama Solidarity Medal (It was marked 14k) - I think he was Pershings Chief of Staff in WWI. Bill

Very Nice - My Hometown is Springfield and I see he flew with a guy from Chicopee too!! My Mom's family is from Chicopee. Thanks for showing this Bill Joe Zagula is buried near my parents at St. Stanislaus Cemetery in Chicopee - Prior to enlisting he worked at American Bosch in Springfield - I had 2 Uncles that worked at Bosch and I would guess at least one of the knew him. Sergeant, 332nd Bomb Squadron, 94th Bomb Group, World War II. Ball Turret Gunner aboard B-17F Flying Fortress #42-31013 "Myasam Dragon." Shot down by anti-aircraft artillery flak on mission to Regensburg and crashed near Molenschot, Netherlands. MACR 7836. All ten crew members were Killed In Action: 2nd Lt. Kenneth L Gregg, Pilot 2nd Lt. Kenneth E Smith, Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. John T Peterson, Navigator 2nd Lt. Joseph J George, Bombardier Sgt. Carl H Allen, Tail Gunner S/Sgt. Frederick R Kendig, Radio Operator Sgt. Latham W Neal, Right Waist Gunner S/Sgt. John G Price, Top Turret Gunner Sgt. Walter L Woolf, Left Waist Gunner Sgt. Joseph M Zagula, Ball Turret Gunner ~ Enlisted April 15, 1943. Service ID #31286912. Inscription

The NY WWI Medals attribution can be found in the 2 volume set of books - Medals of NY State. Bill

Very Nice - My Hometown is Springfield and I see he flew with a guy from Chicopee too!! My Mom's family is from Chicopee. Thanks for showing this Bill

The French medals have a brassy finish that indicates that they were manufactured in the late 1960's or 70's and were readily available at a lot of Gun Shows at that time. Since he was born in 1922 and enlisted for WWII and the FFL Enlistment was 7 to 9 years I don't think that FFL service was possible. I think that there would have been an issue of retaining his American Citizenship had he enlisted with the FFL. Bill

Appears to be a copy Bill

I believe that the Gold version was awarded to General Officers, Holders of the Medal of Honor, and The Unknown Soldier. The one in the photo may be a French period copy due to the large ball suspension. Bill

Some medals from my collection depicting The Queen over the years God Bless The Queen!! Bill

Thank you - I have had it for many years in my collection Bill

No one with this name is listed in the WWII Planchet Press Silver Star Books (3 volume set) Bill

Jens - Norris Newton Jones service number 644-35-42 enlisted in March 1942 in New Orleans LA - He was a Ships Cook and served his entire war service on the USS Carina. Bill

A good solid medal that is inexpensive - congratulations!! Bill

Great group!! Bill