Leonard Carlton Birdwell

These awards are based on the information below and per applicable DoD Directives and Awards Manuals:
Purple Heart Medal Awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Forces, after April 5, 1917, has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may hereafter die of wounds received in action against an enemy of the United States.
U.S. Army Good Conduct Medal Awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal military service. It is awarded on a selective basis to each Soldier who distinguishes himself or herself from among his or her fellow Soldiers by their exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity throughout a specified period of continuous enlisted active Federal military service.
American Campaign Service Medal Awarded for military service within the American Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal Awarded for military service with the Asiatic-Pacific Theater between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946.
World War II Victory Medal Awarded for military service between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946, both dates inclusive.
 Note that this list may not include all awarded medals, devices, unit citations or qualification badges.
 **It is likely but unconfirmed that PVT Birdwell was posthumously awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal.

Documents, Forms and Resources Found or Not Found:
Yes Application For Headstone or Marker, OQMG Form 623
No  Eyewitness Statement or Report
Yes Grave Marker Photo(s), Find A Grave
Yes National Archives Database, Enlistment Records
No  Official Regiment or Division After Action Report
No  Photo of veteran
Yes Washington Newspaper Obit, Tacoma New Tribune, July 18, 1949
Yes WWII Draft Card Data
Yes WWII Hospital Admission Records

WWII Draft Card Data
Leonard Carlton Birdwell
Race, Gender: White Male  -  Age: 30
Birth Date: October 23, 1909  -  Birth Place: Puyallup, Pierce County, Washington
Residence Place: McCall, Valley County, Idaho
Registration Date: October 16, 1940  -  Registration Place: McCall, Valley County, Idaho
Employer: M F Coon
Weight: 145, Height: 6' 1"
Complexion: Dark
Eye Color: Blue   -  Hair Color: Brown
Next of Kin: William T Birdwell
Members of Household: Leonard Carlton Birdwell, Self
William T Birdwell, Father

WWII Hospital Admission Records
Name: Leonard C. Birdwell
Rank: Enlisted Man
Admission Age: 35
Birth Date: abt 1909
Admission Date: July 1944
Discharge Date: July 1944
Military Branch: Infantry, General or Unspecified
Diagnosis:
  First Location: Unknown, code not applicable;
  Causative Agent: None or Unknown
Type of Injury: Casualty, battle
Injured in Line of Duty: In line of duty
Type of Discharge: Died
Service Number: 39212366

Note 1: The death location, "On Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands" is based on the best information available at this time. In the case of PVT Birdwell, this location was estimated on:

A. His Application For Headstone or Marker, OQMG Form 623, identifies his assigned unit as the 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division.

B. At the time PVT Birdwell was Killed In Action the 27th Infantry Division was conducting combat operations on Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands during July 1944.

C. Hospital Admission Records indicate that PVT Birdwell died during July 1944, as a result of unspecified combat wounds.

D. Further information on the 105th Infantry Regiment and the 27th Infantry Division can be found at the Wikipedia website 27th Infantry Division.

Anyone with additional information or a more specific location is welcomed and encouraged to submit an email to: ww2updates@withmilitaryhonors.com.

The following information on this casualty is sourced from The National Archives Database:
 Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records) - See Note 2

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