THANK YOU ,,,THIS IS WHY YOU ARE NO.1 M-1 Rocky

In the case of Operation Dragoon (by the way, there is a great article in Military History Quarterly on Op Dragoon - I will post it in the near future)

Well the scan of the MHQ article on Dragoon turned out to be 2.38 MB so never mind. Anyway, it's in the Winter 2008 issue if you are interested.

We don't have a subscription to it, but I'm sure they will post it on their site once the next issue comes out. Maybe I can copy it then.

Great post Capt O! My dad's MP company was also assigned directly to VI Corps and under whoever the commanding Army was - 5th Army in Italy, 7th army in France. He was always "VI Corps" and would wear that patch, but also either 5th or 7th army patches.

I have all three patches in his footlocker along with the american flag armband that was worn by American forces on the August 15th D-day landing in Southern France. I imagine they wore the armband to be distinguished from the french forces who landed with them. Was that the reason, does anyone know?

Here's the" VI Corps (American) of the 5th Army" Order Of Battle for 1943.

It shows the separate infantry divisions - the 3rd, the 34th, and the 45th (which would of course have their own attached units) and then all the individual units assigned directly

to the Corps - the FA, engineers,quartermaster units, tank destroyer battalions, medical battalion, signal battalions etc. As you can see, there were 2 military police companies,

my Dad's 206th MP Co and 504th MP Battalion's Co "A" that were directly under VI Corps command.

http://www.milhist.net/ordbat/6corpsus.html

What's the highest rank available? that's what we should give Marion! We should get her a uniform with the ranks, insignias, unit designations of all our folks! M1 - Honorary Infantry, Field Artillery, Medic, bomb disposal unit, fighter pilot, military police, anti-aircraft battalion, glider pilot etc etc. Add all the "fruit salad" and she'd be so weighed down, we'd have to tote her around!

mary ann

Oh sheesh, just when I started to lose a few pounds! Well at least underneath it all I could feel skinny!

Okay no offense to Capt Todd, but I'll have to stick with the Army and honor our dads, so you can make me a five-star general. I like the sounds of that. Actually though my husband said I make a kick-ass sargeant. I like that even better! Okay men (and women), fall in line, hup, hup!

What's the highest rank available?

In the US Army, Air Force and Navy, the highest rank is an O-11 - General of the Army or Air Force and Fleet Admiral. Although there were men who had this rank prior to WWII (Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan) there was no 5 star rank. The first time the 5 star rank was worn was during WWII.

The reciepients were:

• Adm William D. Leahy December 15, 1944

• Gen George C. Marshall 16 December 1944

• Adm Ernest King December 17, 1944

• Gen Douglas MacArthur 18 December 1944

• Adm Chester Nimitz December 19, 1944

• Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower 20 December 1944

• Gen Henry H. Arnold 21 December 1944

• Adm William Halsey December 11, 1945

• Gen Omar Bradley 20 September 1950

No doubt their date of rank was carefully planned out. These men held that rank until retirement so you had big Mac wearing his in Korea. Marshall retired in 1945. Eisenhower was chief of staff of the Army until 48 then became Supreme Commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization before becoming president. Arnold had four heart attacks during the war requiring hospitalization so he retired right after the war. Bradley was not actually promoted during WWII but afterward when he became Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Of course those in power at the time were wise enough to not grant this to any Marine general or who knows what would have happened!

-- attachment is not available --

Oh sheesh, just when I started to lose a few pounds! Well at least underneath it all I could feel skinny!

 

Okay no offense to Capt Todd, but I'll have to stick with the Army and honor our dads, so you can make me a five-star general. I like the sounds of that. Actually though my husband said I make a kick-ass sargeant. I like that even better! Okay men (and women), fall in line, hup, hup!

KICK ASS SARGEANT IS BEST CAUSE YOU WOULD BE RIGHT ALONGSIDE US and not

in the rear echelon.

M-1 YOUR HUSBAND MADE A GOOD CALL.

just a used to be muddy dogface!!!

Thanks Rocky, would be mighty honored to be in a foxhole right by your side. I like to get my hands dirty anyway. And if we get stuck in the foxholes for a long time, I can plant some flowers right alongside. They're good for the soul. Hey and I'm a damned good cook too. Now where'd that dag-nabbit rabbit go?

I agree, Rock. Sergeant was a great rank. Unfortunately, when I was a Sgt. I didn't have any troops to lead due to my specialty (Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Warfare Defense [NBCD]). There were only me and a SSgt in my section so there wasn't a lot of troop leading to be done.

On the officer side I must say that my time as a captain has been pretty good. I got to be a infantry platoon commander (platoon leader in army lingo) in Iraq and platoon commander for two different comm platoons since then. As of last June I transferred to the Division's Higher Headquarters (HHQ), the Second Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF.) It's been a lot of staff work since then and I see no relief in the near future. Once I get to be a major there are still a few good jobs for commo's out there but mostly its staff work.

Thanks Rocky, would be mighty honored to be in a foxhole right by your side. I like to get my hands dirty anyway. And if we get stuck in the foxholes for a long time, I can plant some flowers right alongside. They're good for the soul. Hey and I'm a damned good cook too. Now where'd that dag-nabbit rabbit go?

don't worryabout the rabbit---I'll get another chicken. thing is you gotta

skin it. yuk.,yuk,yuk, Flowers around a foxhole, what a hell of a good idea !!! All we

had were rocks. They were good cause when we smoked, we (each in his foxhole)

would throw our blanket over us so the lit cig. couldn't be seen. blew smoke towards

bottom. there went the theory of the flowers. It was pure hell when it rained or

snowed up on the North Appenines. Just thinking of what you just said--being in a

foxhole hole with me. To me it is an honor for you to say that about me. Rocky

Roque: I imagine it was the same for you buddy on the shoulder patch bit but all we used was our divisioanal patches. Fact is our clean clothes sent up were without patches stripes or anything. For "dress up" after the war we did wear our regimental crests on our blouse. To most of us line dogfaces , Corp or Army patches reeked of behind the lines people in most cases. So, whats your take on this bit Roque.

Joe; You are right on the money on this one. Dress was woolens and Ike jacket.

What kind of combat boots did you have. Mine were the rough leather and had a

hell of a time cleaning them. Your right, only people in the rear wore other patches.

Damn Joe, you're making me go back 63 years. And I truly believe that

GOD has blessed you and me. Take care----Roque

Right Roque. Rough leather with the 2 buckles on the flap for the boots. Sure did beat the old canvas lace up leggings though. Took forever to put on those damn canvas leggings on. And yes, the Good Lord does

watch over us. I had a weeks stay in the hospitsl, getting out about 10 days ago and today was out in the ATV in the woods clearing the deadfall from the trails from the last storm. Will probably feel it by tomorro though.

I do hope you are OK now, JUST DON'T OVERDO,but I think it's like talking

to a tornado. Can you imagine, I go to the Vets Medical Center, Sunday

Easter for an MRI. Had one done 6 months ago and they found a spot

behind my left ear so they want to check it again. Man there went my

Easteregg hunt. Leggins, We got rid of them going overseas, I agree

with you, they were a pain in the -------s. I think the only ones that wore

them were the MPS. Again take care, it was awful nice to hear from you

again. God Keep Blessing you and yours. Roque

Joe: Oh gee, should have known something was up. Sorry to hear about your hospitalization, but glad you are home again and can enjoy your deer and such. My best to you.

Rocky: Good luck on your MRI. I will keep you in my prayers.

God bless both of you, for the forum wouldn't be the same without you guys.