21st IR 24th Division MIA Purple Heart

[scottplen]

Heres my latest ! Officially small blakened machine engraved PH

To

SSgt Elmer W Stief Jr

MIA dec 23 1944

Not sure what battle?

[scottplen]

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[scottplen]

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[Guest Darrell]

Interesting. Seems to have died after their major action at Leyte ended and before their battles at Mindoro.

On 5 November the 21st Infantry relieved the 34th Infantry at Breakneck Ridge located west of Pinamopoan on the north coast of Leyte. Here the Japanese were well dug in and fiercely resisted the American advance. On 8 November in the midst of a raging typhoon, the Gimlets assaulted the ridge. But the typhoon hampered the attack and it was not until 12 November after bitter fighting and suffering heavy casualties that the Gimlets secured the ridge, ending significant Japanese resistance on Leyte.

On 30 December 1944 the 21st Infantry was attached to the Western Visayan Task Force and participated in the liberation of Mindoro Island. Located less than 100 air miles southwest of Manila, Mindoro was used as a base to launch air strikes in support of the invasion of Luzon. On 3 January 1945 Company K, 21st Infantry liberated Marinduque Island located twenty miles east of Mindoro and only eleven miles from Luzon in part to facilitate contacts and support of Filipino guerillas operating in southern Luzon. Cannon Company, 21st Infantry, serving on Luzon in support of the 11th Airborne Division's drive to Manila, received a Presidential Unit Citation for the period 31 January- 5 February 1945 for its aggressive destruction of heavily dug-in enemy defensive positions. (Note: a one company PUC award does not accrue as a regimental PUC award) As the liberations of Mindoro and Marinduque islands were considered to be part of the operation to liberate Luzon, the entire 21st Infantry Regiment was awarded participation credit for the Luzon campaign.

[scottplen]

Interesting. Seems to have died after their major action at Leyte ended and before their battles at Mindoro.

On 5 November the 21st Infantry relieved the 34th Infantry at Breakneck Ridge located west of Pinamopoan on the north coast of Leyte. Here the Japanese were well dug in and fiercely resisted the American advance. On 8 November in the midst of a raging typhoon, the Gimlets assaulted the ridge. But the typhoon hampered the attack and it was not until 12 November after bitter fighting and suffering heavy casualties that the Gimlets secured the ridge, ending significant Japanese resistance on Leyte.

On 30 December 1944 the 21st Infantry was attached to the Western Visayan Task Force and participated in the liberation of Mindoro Island. Located less than 100 air miles southwest of Manila, Mindoro was used as a base to launch air strikes in support of the invasion of Luzon. On 3 January 1945 Company K, 21st Infantry liberated Marinduque Island located twenty miles east of Mindoro and only eleven miles from Luzon in part to facilitate contacts and support of Filipino guerillas operating in southern Luzon. Cannon Company, 21st Infantry, serving on Luzon in support of the 11th Airborne Division's drive to Manila, received a Presidential Unit Citation for the period 31 January- 5 February 1945 for its aggressive destruction of heavily dug-in enemy defensive positions. (Note: a one company PUC award does not accrue as a regimental PUC award) As the liberations of Mindoro and Marinduque islands were considered to be part of the operation to liberate Luzon, the entire 21st Infantry Regiment was awarded participation credit for the Luzon campaign.

I know can't figure it out? Unless he was MIA / same date as KIA ?

[scottplen]

Recieved newpaper article on Stief He was MIA on Mindoro Island PIs So guess Date of death is when they declared him dead or got info on him Body was never recovered!