Hello everyone. I am looking for information about my grandfather. My mother found his awards recently, decided to look them up, and found that he was in combat in WWII. He told everyone that he knew that he didn't do anything there and was only in Hawaii. His discharge papers have him in the 111th Infantry Company H. Research by my mother has determined that he became a detachment of the 81st. Another place it read that some of the 111th became a part of the 88th Chemical Weapons Battalion, which was a part of the 81st in another location. In this last site it said that Company D of the 88th participated in the battle of Peleliu/Angaur. I believe that from one of the bronze stars on his Asian-Pacific ribbon that he was either on LCI (M) 740 or LCI (M) 741. His name was Thomas Bauer. Any help or information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Need more info:

What year entered service?
Do you mean Company H 111th Infantry Regiment?
By detachment of the 81st, do you mean 81st Division?
When you say discharge papers, do you mean his "WD AGO" form? If so, what was his 'job' in the military?
What about his campaign star connects to one of two LCI (M) craft?

The 111th Infantry Regiment was detached from the 28th Division in Feb. 1942 and operated independently in the Pacific. In a situation like this, having any known dates can help construct probable movements.

Thank you for your reply. I had to get this information from my mom. She has done most of the research, however I am trying to help her out.

Entered service April 26, 1941

Under Organization on his "Enlisted Record and Report of Separation" paper it says Co. H 111th Inf.

I think the 81st is a Division.

His MOS Number was 605 described as Heavy Machine Gunner.

I am unsure about the term WD AGO. I am thinking it is his "Enlisted Record and Report of Separation" paper. There is just one, and it is a copy, just one side with information, the other blank.

Trying to find info on the one bronze star on the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon I ended up at NavSource Online:Amphibious Photo Archive, where there was info on the LCI(M)739, 740, 741 and 742. The LCI(M)739 and 742 received more than 1 bronze star, so they could be eliminated. If I am reading things right, he could have been on either 740 http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/15/150740.htm or 741 http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/15/150741.htm to receive the one battle star.

There are still unanswered questions, and some may have to remain that way. I think if I find a bit here or there, more things may fall into place, as they have been. I do have a time line, and am trying to investigate each part or join things together to form some sort of history that "might" be close to what he actually experienced.

Awards during a conflict can be confusing. Most campaign designations happen only after the event. It's possible that your father's Asian-Pacific Campaign Medal should have more Campaign Stars on it or not. At the time he put it away, maybe only one star was on it. The 111th is listed for three campaign participations BUT the 111th was a separate, nondivisional infantry regiment after 17 Feb 1942 and that makes it harder to follow.

When the war started, the 28th Infantry Division was National Guard with four Regiments. In Feb 1942 the 28th Division was “triangularized” (organized into three Regiments) One Regiment (the 111th Infantry) had to be dropped from the 28th Division.
The three Battalions of the 111th Infantry initially guarded stateside War Factories, Power Plants, Railroads and Railroad Tunnels and other such critical War Installations as a part of the Army Ground Forces-Reserve.
In February, 1942, the Regiment was relocated to the East Coast of the US. As a part of the 3rd Coastal Artillery District (Chesapeake Bay Sector), and patrolled a part of our Eastern Shoreline against saboteurs, invasion and any other type of enemy action.

The 111th Infantry was reorganized into a Combat Team and departed Camp Ashby VA. on 28 OCT 43. They arrived at Camp Stoneman, San Francisco CA on 3 NOV 43. The 111th Infantry departed on 9 NOV 43 for Hawaii and arrived on 12 NOV43.

At this point it sounds like the 111th is together and your father has been with it most of the time (The 3rd Coastal Artillery patches were just a higher attachment, he was still 111th Inf.) while operating under other commands. His separation document lists Company H, which usually was the Heavy Weapons Company of the 2nd Battalion of a regiment. If this was his starting company, not just his last assigned company, the 111th timeline from this point (as I find it) is:


12 NOV43. 111th arrives Hawaii.
3 DEC 43 3rd Battalion 111th Infantry departs Hawaii.
21 DEC 43 3rd BN 111th arrives Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Islands and relieves the 3rd BN 165th Infantry, 27th Infantry Division.
3rd Battalion continued mopping up operations and defended the Atoll until 23 MAR 44 when they departed Makin for Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands arriving there on 27 MAR 44.
31 Jan 1944 1st BN 111th Infantry Regiment assaults Kwajalein and remain as the garrison.
22 Apr 1944 111th Infantry Regiment Company I assaulted Ujelan Atoll near Eniwetok.
15 SEPT 44 Members of "D" and “H” Companies, Detached to the 88th Chemical Mortar BN (supporting the 81st Division) are credited with firing 4.2” Mortars from LCIs (M) for the first time in Military History against the Japanese on Peleliu and Anguar Islands in the Palaus.
17 JAN 45 The 111th Infantry Combat Team departed Hawaii (This would probably been the remaining units)
01 Feb 1945 The 111th Infantry Combat Team arrive in the Palau Islands and assumed the tactical duties of the 321st Infantry RCT, 81st Infantry Division. The 111th Infantry received casualties during mopping up operations on Peleliu Island.
15 May 1945 111th Infantry Regiment attached to the Western Pacific Base Command.
1 OCT 44 Units of the 111th Infantry Combat team that served in the Gilberts and Marshalls Campaigns depart for Hawaii
6 OCT 44 Arrive Schofield Barracks, Oahu, Hawaii.
02 Nov 1945 111th Infantry Regiment leaves for the states on board the USS Custer APA 40. (Probably the Peleliu unit)
21 Nov 1945 111th Infantry Regiment arrives at Los Angeles.
22 Nov 1945 111th Infantry Regiment inactivated at Camp Anza in Arlington, California.

As I construct it 1st Bn Kwajalein
Co I (3rd Bn) Ujelan Atoll
3rd Bn(- Co. I) Makin Atoll
2nd Bn Peleliu
Elements Co D and H Peleliu Invasion LCM support

As you can see it makes for a difficult task and some of it has to be 'read between the lines'.


The detachment to the 88th CMB is listed as 88 men. I calculate the mortar platoons from both companies combined to be about 60 men. This leaves a small amount of about 28 men that would give your father (as I see it at this time) the possibility to have been in the group.

I have no doubt he served in a theater since it appears that after 17 Jan 45 there was no 111th left in Hawaii, but I would like to ask a few more last questions before I post a final finding:

What makes you believe he was one of the CMB attachments? (other than having a campaign star which could have been for the Peleliu mop-up)
What total awards do you have of his?
Do you have a cloth patch with an wreath embordered on it?
Does he have a CIB?

Thanks again for your reply. Here is some more information that my mom gave me.

In regards to being attached to CMB, my mother has done considerable searching trying to put things together. At http://www.4point2.org/gunboats.htm#peleliu it says Major Leland E. Anderson of the 88th Chemical Mortar Battalion commanded the mortarmen who had come from diverse sources: 4 officers from the 88th, 12 enlisted men from the 91st Chemical Mortar Company, and 4 officers and 88 enlisted men from the 111th Infantry Regiment. Designated as LCI(M) numbers 739, 740, 741, and 742, the mortar boats were earmarked for the campaign in the Palaus. Not as detailed http://findarticles.com/p/arti...00_July/ai_74700476/ mentions The crews came from diverse sources--the commanding officer and some soldiers from the 88th Chemical Mortar Battalion and some from the 111th Infantry Regiment.

The awards in the box were Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with 1 bronze star, American Theater Ribbon, American Defence Service Medal, 4 Good Conduct Ribbons, World War II Victory Medal and Combat Infantry Badge. Marksman Pistol is on his discharge paper next to CIB, but there was nothing for that, if there should have been. When requesting his military history in St. Louis they sent repeats of some of these plus a bronze star medal. My mother read that this was sent to all who received a CIB in 1947.

There was no cloth patch with an embroidered wreath, but there were Chesapeake Bay Defense Sector insignias.

Yes he has a CIB, if fact he has two, but with one the pin back isn't complete, so it might be that he requested and received a second one to be able to wear it.

I hope that this can be some more help. Thank you.

H Company would by TO&E have contained an HQ Platoon, an 81mm Mortar platoon, and a machine gun platoon. I would expect the personnel from H company taken to fill a 4.2" mortar position with the 88th CMB would have come first from the mortar platoon. As I stated, a fill from the mortar platoons of D and H company would have been around 60, leaving about 28 positions that could have been filled in by personnel from the HQ or MG platoons.

It's clear he went to Peleiu, either with 2nd Bn during the mop-up and consolidation actions (after releiving the 81st division) or possibly as part of the fill used on the LCI(M). All elements of the regiment were deployed but in three areas and were never fully reunited even after return to the US.

On his discharge/release paper you should have a Box 37 noting time amounts for service in and outside the Continental US (CONUS) what are the amounts?
Also, to the far right of that section, what is listed for his service dates outside the CONUS? This should show his movement dates.

One last bit of info I do have is that DA Pam 672-1 dated July 1961 (with changes of 1962) List the 111th Infantry Regt. as having received the Meritorious Unit Commendation for service 1 Jan 42 - 2 Sep 45. General Order #1114 Hqs West Pacific Base Command dated 25 Oct 45. Your father probably left Peleiu about 8 days after the order was made and may have never known or took much notice of it.

Members of units that received the MUC were entitled to wear on their right sleeve a two inch square of olive drab cloth on which appeared a golden yellow laurel wreath one and five-eighths inches in diameter. Change 12 to Army Regulation 672-5-1 dated April 6, 1966, replaced the patch with a scarlet ribbon worn inside a gold frame. For Army personnel the MUC unit award would be worn on above the right pocket with individual awards worn above the left pocket.

If you have not run across this, you may try to find it, I don't know if it has anything more:

We can't all be heroes: a history of the separate infantry regiments in World War II
By Melvin C. Walthall
Published by Exposition Press, 1975
Original from the University of Michigan
Digitized Jun 11, 2008
ISBN 0682482099, 9780682482097
159 pages

or

Three Years with the 111th Infantry, December 1942-December 1945
By Don C Harris
Published by Don C. Harris

Continental service was 2 years, 7 months, and 24 days. Foreign service was 1 year, 11 months and 17days. There is a typo in the next bit of info (service outside the continental US and return). As typed it is 8 Nov 43 Asiatic-Pacific 12 Nov 45. And under that 9 Nov 45 USA 24 Nov 45.

Have just finished reading Finding Your Father's War. I am using it as a frame work for a military history of my father as well. With the notes, when I can, I am adding the appropriate information from his discharge paper and pictures of the decorations as well. There was a section in the book on UNIT AWARDS. I told myself, being at Peleliu (and the area), from what I have been reading, the unit may have received a unit award. I chose the wrong one, and typed all the info with photo of the DSC. Thank you for the correct choice. I have changed it. I just read today in another book that the 1st Marine Division received a DSC, and they more than deserved it. The wording in the DSM seemed more non-combat, which didn't seem to fit. I am inexperienced in the military and its terms, but am enjoying learning about it. Oh, and about my father in regards to the DSM, I am not sure that it was of concern to him. After almost 5 years in the Army he just wanted to return home, and marry my mother. I do wish I would have found his uniform in the attic, since there had to have been items on there that could tell a little more as well.

The books I have read have come from inter-library loan. I will make a request for both of the books you have suggested. I hope both will be available.

It sounds like you have everything figured out for your Grandfather. My great Grandfather was in WW2 also.

I am speaking with my mom now, and she had another question. I thought it would be easier to copy and paste rather than put it in my own words.

I was unable to acquire the book, Three Years with the 111th Infantry ... through inter-library loan, and am now waiting to see if We Can't All Be Heroes ... is available. Recently I have been working with photos my father took while in the Army. On some he wrote descriptions. On more than one he mentioned it was taken on, or after they had returned from the 81mm mortar range. Is that a general term for a practice area that included other weapons, like machine guns, or was it just for mortar practice?

Thanks again.

Alibris is currently listing several used copies of 'We Can't All Be Heroes' for sale $15.00-$29.99 price range.

Hard to say on the range question. I've been on enough posts to see it done different ways. I know the ranges areas on Hawaii are limited and probably haven't changed much so input from someone who's been there would be best.