us-005578-irn60841-irn84690
record resource extent: overall: Height: 2.375 inches (6.033 cm) | Width: 4.125 inches (10.478 cm)
scope and content: US Combat Infantryman Badge issued to Captain James (Jim) Edward Kirkebo, who served in the US Army from 1940-1945, and fought in Europe in from December 1944-May 1945. The badge has a model of a 1795 Springfield Arsenal musket, the first official US shoulder arm, on an infantry blue field, over an oak leaf wreath, symbolizing strength and loyalty. It is awarded for performing duties while under fire in active ground combat. Kirkebo, 19, enlisted in the US Army in 1940 and, in August 1942, 2nd Lt. Kirkebo became commanding officer, C Company, 21st Armored Infantry Battalion, 11th Armored Division. In December 1944, Kirkebo's unit landed in Normandy, defended Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, and spearheaded the Allied advance into Germany. Kirkebo received a battlefield promotion to captain on February 1, 1945. On May 5 and 6, soldiers from the 11th Armored liberated Gusen and Mauthausen concentration camps. At Mauthausen, the unit was tasked with caring for 19,000 starving inmates. On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered. Kirkebo was awarded a Silver Star and 3 Bronze Stars for his leadership and heroism in action.
conditions of access: No restrictions on access
identifier: irn84690
has end date: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/dates/1945-12-31
conditions of use: No restrictions on use
physical characterisitics and technical requirements: Combat badge consisting of a light blue cloth bar with an attached, silver bullion thread musket placed over an elongated oval, oak leaved wreath, open at the top, made of silver bullion thread. This badge is hand sewn with white thread onto a rectangle of frayed olive drab wool cloth with white cloth backing. It may have been crafted in the field.
has or had identifier: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/units/us-005578-irn60841-irn84690/alternateIDs/1
history: The military badge was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2013 by Jamie Kirkebo, on behalf of the Estate of his father, James Edward Kirkebo.
has beginning date: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/dates/1939-01-01
title: US Combat Infantryman Badge in silver bullion awarded to a US soldier
is or was included in: us-005578-irn60841
has beginning date: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/dates/1944-01-01
results or resulted from: http://lod.ehri-project-test.eu/units/us-005578-irn60841-irn84690/acquisitions/1
has record set type: Item
has or had holder: us-005578
type: RecordSet
date: after 1943 October 07
history: James (Jim) Edward Kirkebo was born on April 22, 1921, in Tacoma, Washington. He was the second of three children born to Gerhard and Irene Kirkebo. His parents were both born in Norway and immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s. Gerhard was a building contractor. In spring 1939, James graduated from high school and took a job as a shipping clerk. On September 14, 1940, he enlisted in the US Army. Following the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States entered World War II. James was deployed for four and a half months with the Asia Pacific Technical Operations (APTO) unit, through December 1941. James rose to the rank of Sergeant, with a specialty in reconnaissance. On December 7, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor,a, and a few days later the US entered World War II. On May 11, 1942, James was selected to attend the Army’s newly formed Officer Candidate Course at Fort Benning in Georgia. In early August, Staff Sergeant Kirkebo, 2nd Training Regiment, 16th Co., graduated from the Officer’s Candidate Course and was reenlisted as a Second Lieutenant with a specialty in automotive maintenance and repair. In mid-August, the 11th Armored Division, the Thunderbolt Division, was activated, as part of the Third Army. James was made commanding officer of C Company, 21st Armored Infantry Battalion. The unit was deployed in September to Great Britain. In early December, his unit landed in Normandy, France, and moved north into Belgium. They entered combat on December 30, defending the road to Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. In January 1945, the Division spearheaded the Allied advance into Germany. On February 1, James received a field promotion to Captain. In February and March, the 11th Armored overran several cities, then crossed the Rhine River. In April, the unit turned south towards the Danube River and Austria. James was wounded by shrapnel on April 25, but continued fighting. On May 5 and 6, the Division liberated Gusen and Mauthausen con…