Could you possibly provide a scanned copy of the document in question? My experience is that sometimes key information gets lots in translation when people try to share what is on discharge papers. For starters, "Rhineland" would not be part of a General Order designation. Also, it is unclear if you are referencing as Bronze Service Star of a Bronze Star Medal, which are two separate things.

How To: Add a Photo or Image to your Post or Comment

Thank you for your reply!  He is was awarded the Bronze Star Medal as a result of his Combat Infantry Badge and he also has a bronze star on his European Theater medal. Attached is a pdf and jpeg of his discharge record. Thanks again.

Dear Mr. Ebbeson,

Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

One series among the Publications of the U.S. Government (Record Group 287) – namely UD Entry 347, Department of the Army; Office of the Chief of Staff; The Adjutant General’s Office Publications, General Orders, 1941-1980 – includes general orders of the final few years of the War Department.  Those from 1945 should be in Box GO/1.  These records have not been scanned. For more information about these non-digitized records, please contact the National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference (RDT2) via email at Archives2reference@nara.gov.  RDT2 can provide you information about your options for viewing the records in person or requesting a reproduction quote.

You may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgment as well as a substantive response to your reference request from RDT2. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience as we balance mission-critical work and the safety of our staff during the pandemic.  Please check NARA’s web page about COVID-19 updates for the latest information.

We hope this information is helpful.

The discharge document indicates that he has campaign credit for participation in the Rhineland Campaign as defined by War Department General Order Number 40 published by 21 May 1945 (page 927 of linked document). 

I searched Ancestry and found some additional things for him. Apologies if I'm just duplicating what you already have.

The service number for this matches your father, though I think that "Jul 1944" is an error and they meant to put Jul 1945, which would match the discharge date on the form you shared

U.S., World War II Hospital Admission Card Files, 1942-1954

Thank you so very much! This is some great information, some of which I had seen, but several others I had not. The GO turned out to be a bit of a disappointment in that it only added his area to the definition of battle. I was hoping it would have described the actions of the Unit.

He received a French Cross, probably for the liberation of Metz. It would be nice to find the wording of the citation from the French. He also had a Presidential Unit Citation ribbon but I don't know where to go find the working of it either. Any suggestions???

The discharge documents cite the award of a CIB but not a separate Bronze Star.

He was eligible for the Bronze Star based upon the CIB.  These generally

required the individual to request the BSM from the War Department.  Many

GIs were unaware of this award and failed to request it after the war.

Dave

Dave,

Family members can still request provided the proper documentation of CIB on discharge papers or at most have a infantry MOS designated by the DA. You need to place your request through the Army Awards and Decorations branch directly and not through NARA. If they issue an award for BSM they will forward any new medal issued to soldiers records through General Orders and will be placed in soldiers file.

Also, WD GO 118 dated 12 December 1945 (PDF pages 33-114 of the DAGO1945.pdf file linked in "A.A." post of Nov 25, 2022 8:59 AM)) lists the "Units Entitled to Battle Credits" for the Rhineland Campaign, although it also does not describe unit activities.

Some additional files containing General Orders can be found at URL "https://www.benning.army.mil/Library/General%20Orders/index.html"

Dear Walter Ricks,

We searched the National Archives Catalog and located the World War II Operations Reports, 1940-1948 in the Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1917 - 1985 (Record Group 407) that includes records of the 2nd Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division during WWII. Next, we located Awards Files, 1943–1946 and Foreign Awards to American Units, 1945–1946 in the Records of Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, United States Army (World War II) (Record Group 498), which includes records concerning French awards to American units. We also located Records Related to Infantry Level Unit Citations, 1944 - 1946, Records Related to Unit Citations, 1944–1946, Copies of Records Related to Unit Citations, 1945–1946, Records Related to Distinguished Unit Badges, 1945 - 1946, and Correspondence Relating to Awards, Badges, and Citations, 1945 - 1945 in Record Group 498, which may include records related to unit awards and campaign credit. For more information about these non-digitized records, please contact the National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference (RDT2) via email at Archives2reference@nara.gov.

You may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgment as well as a substantive response to your reference request from RDT2. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience as we balance mission-critical work and the safety of our staff during the pandemic.  Please check NARA’s web page about COVID-19 updates for the latest information.

The U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center, 950 Soldiers Drive, Carlisle, PA 17013, has a large collection of published unit histories. Additionally, the Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library Digital Library has a collection of World War II Operational Documents which may include documents relating to the 2nd Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division. You may also wish to contact the US Army Center of Military History for information about unit history, lineage and awards.

We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your research!