Index of Medal Awards

AWARDS
A-Z
_________________
The Registrar

Posthumous

PROJECT : To list the 503d PRCT recipients of the major awards.

In these days of pandering politicians, a selfish and all-pervading misuse of media, and legions of venal bureaucrats, it is almost impossible to conceive of the manner in which fighting men routinely confront great dangers and personal risk. What more if you were one of a thousand men who were each and all willing to accept the risk that, at someone else's throw of the dice, all would be lost? How would you spend today if you knew that you would be shot at tomorrow morning? That's the ordinary, everyday bravery of the Soldier.

These medals are awarded not on the basis of what we, in our soft and comfortable lives, think of today as bravery or valor, but for conduct recognised by soldiers in the midst of a battlefield understand of those qualities - for acts which, to them, are regarded as being highly conspicuous.

The system isn't perfect. Some awards were politic and selfish, but most all were deserved.

Before he died, Colonel Jones admitted that perhaps he had not approved awards to the extent that other commanders had, or that truly merited them. He had, for instance, opposed the granting of the CMH to Pvt. McCarter, because he considered him to be of a personality that didn't justify such recognition.

This is a continuing project and will be added to when we come across the necessary information. For that, we seek any assistance which you can render.

The Silver Star is awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Army, is cited for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force. The required gallantry, while of a lesser degree than that required for the Distinguished Service Cross, must nevertheless have been performed with marked distinction.

(Click on the parachute device to see the individual entry)

The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Army of the United States after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy; or while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The required gallantry is of a lesser degree than that required for the award of the Legion of Merit, but must nevertheless have been meritorious and accomplished with distinction.

I do not have all the General Orders making awards to the 503d or to the units comprising the Rock Force, so I do not know all the men and officers who received awards for valor. These I know:

Serial No.	Last Name	First Name, Initial	Rank	Company	CMH	DSC	SS	BS	V	P

14818965	Allen	Lloyd S.	T5							*
	ASHTON	William E.	T-5	2d. Bn. Hqd. Medical			*
15089889	BAUER	Donald G.	Pvt.	Hq. Co., 503 Inf.				*
0888703	BITALA	Joseph A.	1st. Lt.	Hq.Co.2d Bn, 503d Inf.				*
11018378	Bowers	John	T4
35609719	BOWMAN	Charles	Pfc.	Reg't Hq. Co., 503d Inf				*
0348272	BRADFORD	Charles H.	Capt.	2d. Bn. Hqd. Medical			*
01284094	BROWNE	Laurence S.	1st.Lt.	Hq.Co.2d Bn, 503d Inf.				*
01298821	Calhoun	William T.	1st Lt.	"F" Company, 503d Inf					*
11013558	CHARTIER	Joseph J.	Pvt.	"C" Co., 161st AB Engr Bn.				*
01301388	CORDER	Roscoe	1st.Lt.	"E" Company, 503d Inf.				*	*
38077010	CORNETT	James A.		Reg't Hq. Co., 503d Inf				*
14009068	CUBBAGE	Joseph M.	Pfc.	"E" Company, 503d Inf.				*	*
0400784	EPPLEMAN	Herbert O.	Capt.	DC Med Det, 503d Inf				*
	EUBANKS	Ray E.	Sgt.	"D" Company, 503d Inf.						*
	FLASH	Edward T.	1st Lt.	"F" Company, 503d Inf.				*	*
02036054	GIFFORD	James P. Jr.	1st. Lt.	CO, "D" Company, 503d Inf			*
	GOUVIN	Joseph	S/Sgt	"D" Company, 503d Inf			*
	GULSVICK	Edward	S/Sgt	"E" Company, 503d Inf.		*				*
1108424	HANDY	Robert A.	S/Sgt.	Hq.Co.2d Bn, 503d Inf.				*
0379623	HILL	Hudson C.	1st. Lt.	"E" Company, 503d Inf.			*
	Howard	Nelson H.	S/Sgt
	JANDRO	Howard	Pfc.	"D" Company, 503d Inf			*			*
	KAMBAKUMIS	Angelos	Pfc.	"F" Company, 503d Inf.				*	*
36737199	KELLER	Frank B.	Pfc	"D" Company, 503d Inf			*
01821733	LEE	Daniel A.	1st Lt.	"F" Company, 503d Inf.				*	*
	LOPEZ	Anthony D.	Pfc.	"F" Company, 503d Inf.				*	*
026417	McAFEE	George D.	Capt.
39561967	McBRIDE	George G.	Pfc.	2d. Bn. Hqd. Medical Det			*
	McCARTER	Lloyd G.	Pvt.	"F" Company, 503d Inf.
7032312	MICKEL	George J.	Pvt.	"F" Company, 503d Inf.						*
	O'CONNELL	Robert	Pfc.	"F" Company, 503d Inf.				*	*
18040835	OWNBY	Bryan	S/Sgt	Hq.Co.2d Bn, 503d Inf.				*	*
7023908	PARSONS	Delbert L.	Cpl.	"F" Company, 503d Inf.			*
01289135	PRESTON	Charles M.	1st Lt.	"D" Company, 503d Inf				*	*
	PUCKETT	Clifton L.	Pfc.	"D" Company, 503d Inf			*			*
39260422	SANCHEZ	Arthur E.	Pfc.
37187958	SCHILLI	Benedict J.	Pvt.	"F" Company, 503d Inf.					*
	SCHMIDDLE	Howard W.	S/Sgt	"D" Company, 503d Inf			*
0418702	SPICER	Emmett R.	Capt.
	TAMAROFF	Morris	Pfc.	"E" Company, 503d Inf.					*
33268901	TAYLOR	Richard M.	Cpl.	Hq.Co.2d Bn, 503d Inf.				*
19063140	THOMPSON	Robert L.	S/Sgt.	"F" Company, 503d Inf.			*
020826	TOLSON	John J.III	Lt. Col.
	TURINSKY	Joseph A.	1st Lt.	"D" Company, 503d Inf			*			*
02036716	WADDLE	Samuel E.	2d. Lt.	Hq.Co.2d Bn, 503d Inf.				*	*
39116126	WHITE	Donald E.	S/Sgt	"F" Company, 503d Inf.						*
	WHITSON	Joe M.	1st. Lt.	"E" Company, 503d Inf.		*
39565583	WILSON	James P.	Pfc	"F" Company, 503d Inf.
37414151	WINTER	Kenneth E.	Pvt.							*

WHITSON, JOSEPH M.
Synopsis:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Joseph M. Whitson, First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment, in action against enemy forces on 19 February 1945. First Lieutenant Whitson's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 117 (1945)

*GULSVICK, EDWARD (KIA)
Synopsis:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Edward Gulsvick (37276019), Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment, in action against enemy forces on 16 February 1945. Staff Sergeant Gulsvick's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 96 (1945)
Home Town: Ramsey County, Minnesota