01-22-2003, 01:09 PM
(This post was last modified: 01-25-2003, 01:04 AM by slava1stclass.)
Munroe,
Glad to have been of assistance. Unfortunately, I'm not able to confirm the Bronze Star (BS). As I mentioned earlier, the data I have access to lists over 60,000 U.S. Army-awarded Silver Stars (SS) for valor in WW II (to both U.S. and foreign military personnel). This number is estimated to represent only 75% of the total U.S. Army SS awards during WW II!
I would assume that many more U.S. Army Bronze Stars were awarded in WW II than were Silver Stars. If the estimated SS count places it in the 80,000 range, I can only assume the BS number must be significantly higher.
I agree that the likely reason there is no reference to the U.S. decorations in his records is the fact that post-WW II relations with the USSR were defined by the Cold War mindset. That said, it would have been very difficult for the average Red Army soldier to have decorations from an "avowed" enemy reflected in his service record. When further placed in the context of the NKVD/KGB's espionage paranoia, this makes perfect sense. I personally think, however, that the Soviet regime likely viewed WW II U.S. awards in a very different light when it became a matter of the senior Red Army officers holding G.O./Marshal rank.
As for the citations, I can confirm that I've personally seen them accompanying the LOM certificates. For the ones I've seen, the accompanying LOM citation appears on White House stationery with President Truman's autopen signature.
P.S. I will soon post (likely via separate thread) a macro-level statistical breakout for U.S. Army DSC, DSM and LOM awards to Red Army personnel (SS awards may follow in the future if I can plow through the 60,000 names). I intend to include: total number of each decoration awarded, breakout of award by rank (at time of award) and breakout by degree of award (for LOM only). Hopefully this can then serve as a good baseline/tool for forum users.
Regards,
slava1stclass
Glad to have been of assistance. Unfortunately, I'm not able to confirm the Bronze Star (BS). As I mentioned earlier, the data I have access to lists over 60,000 U.S. Army-awarded Silver Stars (SS) for valor in WW II (to both U.S. and foreign military personnel). This number is estimated to represent only 75% of the total U.S. Army SS awards during WW II!
I would assume that many more U.S. Army Bronze Stars were awarded in WW II than were Silver Stars. If the estimated SS count places it in the 80,000 range, I can only assume the BS number must be significantly higher.
I agree that the likely reason there is no reference to the U.S. decorations in his records is the fact that post-WW II relations with the USSR were defined by the Cold War mindset. That said, it would have been very difficult for the average Red Army soldier to have decorations from an "avowed" enemy reflected in his service record. When further placed in the context of the NKVD/KGB's espionage paranoia, this makes perfect sense. I personally think, however, that the Soviet regime likely viewed WW II U.S. awards in a very different light when it became a matter of the senior Red Army officers holding G.O./Marshal rank.
As for the citations, I can confirm that I've personally seen them accompanying the LOM certificates. For the ones I've seen, the accompanying LOM citation appears on White House stationery with President Truman's autopen signature.
P.S. I will soon post (likely via separate thread) a macro-level statistical breakout for U.S. Army DSC, DSM and LOM awards to Red Army personnel (SS awards may follow in the future if I can plow through the 60,000 names). I intend to include: total number of each decoration awarded, breakout of award by rank (at time of award) and breakout by degree of award (for LOM only). Hopefully this can then serve as a good baseline/tool for forum users.
Regards,
slava1stclass
