Michael Johnson

Thank you, Captain. I agree that the Constellation W D Smart is a good bet, quite apart from the fact that I've always had a thing for U.S. Navy aviation. I'd like to think he served on carriers throughout his service. And Vietnam service takes me back to my teenaged years, with Phantoms and Skyhawks and Crusaders. So I need to cross-correlate the carriers which qualified for the Occupation Service Europe with the ones with China Service, and maybe Korea. It's a pity the Navy Muster rolls aren't available online past 1949. Michael

I think the second language on the 1965 Medal is likely Bengali. No need for it on the 1971 medal, for obvious reasons. http://www.ancientscripts.com/bengali.html Michael

I've sent an email to the veterans' support agency in Seneca County which he heads. Hopefully it will be passed on to him, and he'll get back to me. As a VFW member he would know what he's entitled to from his discharge. Michael

Well my back-up is my email to a reporter who covered an award in 2013 to a VFW branch leader who served in the 343rd. http://www.fltimes.com/news/local/article_2422572a-ab58-11e2-b075-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=jqm Michael

I may have the answer. http://genealogytrails.com/ill/alexander/veterans.html Under Denfip. Her medals are listed, and she has the UN Korea, but not the U.S. Korea Service Medal. She served with the 343rd. But strangely she is listed as also "171st Evacuation Hospital in Korea in 1953". So which did she get the UN Medal for, and why no U.S. Medal? Michael

Thanks, Doc. In this case I find it interesting that the family didn't mention his Korea service in the obituary (and his sister, who lived with him, would certainly have known). And his DVA BIRLS file only shows his AAC service from 1942-45. Still, the Senate list is fairly conclusive proof that he served. Michael

Oh, and is he missing a National Defense Service Medal for his Korean service? Michael

I have an Army Good Conduct named to Eldred L. McCoy. I was able to find his 2007 obituary, which mentions service in Africa, Italy and Corsica. He was with the AAC, a Sergeant, and probably a Cook, as that was his civilian occupation. He also worked at the Willard Mental Hospital. Taking a second look, I found a resolution of the New York State Senate, honouring the service of the "Willard Hospital Division of the 343rd General Hospital Unit upon the occasion of their deployment to serve their country during the Korean War." and Eldred L. McCoy is on the list. The 343rd served in Japan only. Under Commonwealth rules, this service would qualify for the UN Korea Medal. But I'm not clear if the U.S. qualification was the same. From my reading he isn't qualified for the U.S. Korea Medal. Would he have the National Defense Service Medal? U.S. experts, please help me out here. (I'm assuming his WWII entitlement would be American Campaign Service, Europe-Africa-Middle East Medal, WWII Victory Medal) Michael

Of course the Ross III was shipped in some numbers to the U.K. in 1940 to arm the Home Guard. Michael

There are a number of other Lancasters, but they are not currently in flying condition. I'd just be easier in my mind if the didn't try to fly the CWHM Lanc over. We are dealing with an almost 70-year-old airframe, no matter how lovingly cared for. Michael

I have a book on Canadian bayonets produced back in the 1970s that states that United Cigar Stores bought a lot of Ross bayonets, ground off the locking spring and barrel ring, and re-cut the edge to a bowie shape. They were sold after the Second World War as hunting knives. And having owned several Ross bayonets 40 years ago, they take a marvellous edge, and have good weight. Your example lacks the bowie point, so I doubt it is one of these, unless the point was reground. I'm away from my sources, so I couldn't tell you whether the current blade length is shorter. Michael

Hey, it's nothing to lose your head over!

Naming on the Good Conduct.

The group. It's interesting that although his service seems to be mostly Pacific, he has a Europe clasp on his Occupation.

Still working on this one, and have come up with a possible for the end of his career. There was: SPCM W D Smart USS Constellation CVA-64 1967 ADJAN W D Smart USS America CVA-66 1968 USN ranks are a mystery to me, but I understand the first has to do with steam catapults on carriers. So it looks like he may be missing Vietnam medals as well. How does a non-U.S. citizen access USN service records? b. 1931 in Pennsylvania enlisted 15 Nov. 1948 discharged 15 Nov. 1968 died San Diego 16 November 1980 Any help greatly appreciated.

It sounds like he name-erased the GSM and decided to keep the Long Service/Efficiency/Coronation. Michael

Rosario was undoubtedly serving in one of the Indian Railway regiments of the A.F.(I.) Here are the India qualifying dates: (iii) India and Burma Burma (Enemy Invasion) 22.2.42 15.5.42 Burma (First Arakan Campaign) (See Appendix A). 1.12.42 31.5.43 Burma (Brig.Wingate's Force) 7.2.43 15.7.43 Burma (Special Force, Generals Wingate and Lentaigne). 15.2.44 27.8.44 India (North West Frontier) (See Appendix B) { 3.2.40 24.5.40 { 18.6.41 26.8.41 { 28.7.42 18.8.42 Unfortunately the NZDF site doesn't give the appendices, but from an earlier mention I suspect that "Burma" also included parts of Assam and Bengal. The lack of a Burma Star makes the NWF more likely. Michael

PM sent

So if we're looking at an O.B.E. I would say Lieutenant Colonel or Colonel. Michael

And I've seen Canadian groups to the 1st and 5th Canadian Divisions which had both the Italy and France and Germany Stars, but no 1939-45 Star. Michael

According to his MIC it is a 1914-15 Star, and the rank is Staff Sergeant, Can Ord.Cor. [Canadian Ordnance Corps]. Michael

I agree that the group is quite possibly authentic. The Defence medal could be explained by a shore posting in Gibraltar or Ceylon, or South India, and while the Burma Star is perhaps scarcer than the Pacific to the Royal Navy, it is still quite possible. Here is the official word on sea service for the Burma Star: So Ceylon looks like a good bet. Michael

The 2/25th took 21 casualties, most in 1920, including three men December 13, 1920. Fifty-one years later I was born to comment on them. And Peter will remember a group to a British officer in the 25th, F. Martin by name, which graced both of our collections sometime before the Flood. Michael

As an interesting sidelight to the Sullivans story, my wife (an English teacher) set a writing exercise for the class. One girl wrote the Sullivans story. I can only guess that a family member must have served in the U.S.N. (probably as a Filipino mess-boy) and passed the story down in the family. Otherwise it's a strange thing for a teenaged Filipina-Canadian girl to choosed to write about. Michael

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-e.php?q2=36&q3=2874&sqn=878&tt=1243&PHPSESSID=l30qgh1bufn83cp319oho3vd56 p.878. Acute Myocardial Failure, death due to service (so Cross authorized). Died January 1, 1958, Lower Yarmouth, N.S. Michael