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Re: WWII Belgian Order of Leopold and Croix de Guerre awards
Thomas RichardsonJun 27, 2016 9:38 AM (in response to Carol McCann)
2 people found this helpfulCarol,
Thank you for submitting your question on the History Hub! Numerous American GIs who served in Western Europe during WWII did receive foreign awards due to their service in those countries. Awards like the Croix de Guerre and the Legion d'Honneur were usually awarded to those who either fought or provided some other service relating to the ideals of the honor in some fashion. Awards like the Order of Leopold were typically reserved for those recognized for extreme bravery and courageous acts in service to Belgium, which included famous military commanders like Dwight Eisenhower, George Patton, and Bernard Montgomery.
If you'd like to access your father's military records, you can contact the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis Missouri requesting his DD214. Start Your Military Service Record (DD Form 214) Request
The NPRC can also provide you with information concerning your father's medals as well. The entire process for requesting duplicate medals can be found here on the National Archives website: Replace Veterans' Medals, Awards, and Decorations
Thank you for using the History Hub!
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Re: WWII Belgian Order of Leopold and Croix de Guerre awards
adaveredJun 27, 2016 10:39 AM (in response to Carol McCann)
2 people found this helpfulThe Fourragere is a unit award that the Belgians awarded to military organizations that distinguished themselves in combat. To cite from Wikipedia:
The Belgian fourragère of 1940 was created by Prince Charles of Belgium, Regent of the Kingdom to honour certain military formations that distinguished themselves during the Second World War. It consists of three cords terminated by a knot and a metal tag, and is braided in red and green; the colours of the Belgian Croix de guerre of 1940. The fourragère is in cotton for non-commissioned officers and soldiers and in silk for officers.
The 36th FG was one of those military formations.
The process for obtaining duplicate unit foreign awards may be a bit more involved than that for their U.S. counterparts. NPRC can confirm. You may have to work through the Belgian embassy to see about obtaining the fourragere.
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Re: WWII Belgian Order of Leopold and Croix de Guerre awards
Jonathan Deiss May 9, 2017 10:40 AM (in response to Carol McCann)1 person found this helpfulThere should be a series about "Foreign Awards" given to American officers and units, in NARA RG165, entry 201 (16 boxes).
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Re: WWII Belgian Order of Leopold and Croix de Guerre awards
Jonathan Deiss May 9, 2017 11:42 AM (in response to Jonathan Deiss)I just realized that the RG165 file I mentioned may only apply to US Army. I do not know if there is a similar thing for RG18 (Army Air Corp).
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