Army Medals World War II

According to Cpl. John S. Hopkins’ Army Separation Qualification Record, the courses he took were Radio at Camp Mackall, North Carolina, Parachute at Fort Benning, Georgia and Photography at the Wakeman Convalescent Hospital at Camp Atterbury, Indiana.  His military specialties were 4 months as a Private, Basic Training and 1 year as a Corporal, Heavy Weapons, Non-commissioned Officer.  John was a “member of the 81 millimeter crew (mortar).  Used fire control instruments such as aiming circle, range finder, and aerial photographs for directing of fire from maps. Served with 513^th Parachute Infantry, 17^th Division in European Theatre of Operations.”[1]

The following badges are on his blouse:

Combat Infantry Badge

Basic Parachutist Badge

Expert Weapons Qualification Badge

Carbine Bar

Rifle Bar

Mortar Bar

Sharpshooter Weapons Qualification Badge

Machine Gun Bar

Infantry Enlisted

U.S. Letters Enlisted

Bronze Star

Bronze Arrowhead

Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

U.S. Army Overseas Service 1-Stripe

Purple Heart

Prisoner of War Medal

Army Good Conduct Medal

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal

World War II Victory Medal

To aid us in recreating John's uniform we used this website: http://www.usamilitarymedals.com/

Kelly

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[1]Army of the United States Enlisted Record & Report of Separation Honorable Discharge, 2 October 1945, privately held by Mrs. Kelly L. Coghan Holderbaum, [address for private use], Norton, Ohio, 2013. Cpl. John S. Hopkins Discharge Papers. John S. Hopkins to Ruby E. Rogers Hopkins to Kelly L. Coghan Holderbaum.