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#1
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U.S. 9th Armored Division Group
This is a grouping to Clarence A. Williams a Medical Corpsman in the 9th Armored Division. He was from my home state of Illinois. The recipient of the Silver Star during the Battle of the Bulge and the Bronze Star in early March 45.
These decorations coming from the fighting during the Battle of the Bulge as well as the lead up to the capture of the Ludendorf Bridge at Remagen. His citations explain the actions better then I can. In a letter home to his parents in May 1945 he tells of being part of the first medical unit over the bridge the next morning. Setting up an aid station on the other side of the river. In addition he tells of all the attacks via plane, artillery and rocket to take the bridge down. The Germans had launched a V2 against the bridge however it landed in the river missing the target. Clarence said it rained down debris for 5 minutes after. The article from the local newspaper got the decorations mixed up In the group photo Clarence is in the back row far right. The division earned the nickname of "Phantom" at the end of the war. It originated during the Battle of the Bulge, when the 9th Armored Division seemed, like a phantom, to be everywhere along the front. I have copied a bit of the division history and attached below. The 9th Armored Division landed in Normandy late in September 1944, and first went into line, 23 October 1944, on patrol duty in a quiet sector along the Luxembourg-German frontier. When the Germans launched their winter offensive on 16 December 1944, the 9th, with no real combat experience, suddenly found itself engaged in heavy fighting. The Division saw its severest action at St. Vith, Echternach, and Bastogne, its units fighting in widely separated areas. Its stand at Bastogne held off the Germans long enough to enable the 101st Airborne Division to dig in for a defense of the city. After a rest period in January 1945, the Division prepared to drive across the Roer River. The offensive was launched on 28 February 1945 and the 9th crossed the Roer to Rheinbach, sending patrols into Remagen. On 7 March 1945, elements of the 9th Armored found that the Ludendorff Bridge was still standing. When German demolition charges failed to bring the bridge down, they crossed it, disarming and removing the remaining charges, which could have exploded at any time. The Division exploited the bridgehead, moving south and east across the Lahn River toward Limburg, where thousands of Allied prisoners were liberated from Stalag XIIA. The Division drove on to Frankfurt and then turned to assist in the closing of the Ruhr Pocket. In April it continued east, encircling Leipzig and securing a line along the Mulde River. The Division was shifting south to Czechoslovakia when the war in Europe ended on 9 May 1945. Jack
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"We must make our mistakes quickly"
Major General George Alan Vasey CB, CBE, DSO and Bar New Guinea 1942 |
#2
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An excellent group and a very brave man. Mike
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#3
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Hello Jack
very nice indeed !! thanks for sharing cordially Didier |
#4
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Jack,
A great piece of history commemorating a brave man I love all the ephemera citation photographs etc and better still from your home area. Their is nothing better than acquiring such a piece of History. Is the Silver Star named I understand very few are of this period. I note the Battle Stars on European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal very nice. Regards Stephen |
#5
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Very interesting.
Do you know what happened to him after the war?
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Orationem pulchram non habens, scribo ista linea in lingua Latina |
#6
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Hello Stephen, as you commented, neither the Silver Star or Bronze Star are name engraved. This was typical for medals and decorations awarded in the field.
BWEF, as far as I know he went home to Toulon Illinois and back into the family painting and decorating business. thanks Jack
__________________
"We must make our mistakes quickly"
Major General George Alan Vasey CB, CBE, DSO and Bar New Guinea 1942 |
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