us-005578-irn60841-irn84692
type: RecordSet
archival 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.
biographical 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…
physical characteristics and technical requirements: Equilateral triangular patch machine embroidered on white netting with an evenly divided, 3 color field: the top is yellow; bottom left, blue; bottom right, red. Embroidered in black at the apex is an Arabic numeral 9 over a 2-wheeled cannon within a circle of chain link tank track. A red, jagged lightning bolt is embroidered diagonally leftward across the cannon. The patch has a light green border and appears unused.
conditions of access: No restrictions on access
conditions of use: No restrictions on use
date: 1945 September-1945 October
has or had holder: us-005578
has or had identifier: 1
has record set type: Item
identifier: irn84692
is or was included in: us-005578-irn60841
record resource extent: overall: Height: 3.375 inches (8.573 cm) | Width: 4.000 inches (10.16 cm)
results or resulted from: 1
scope and content: Shoulder sleeve insignia, 9th Armored Division, issued to Captain James Edward Kirkebo, who served in the US Army from 1940-1945, and fought in Europe from December 1944-May 1945. The patch colors represent the military branches that form an armored division: yellow for cavalry, blue for infantry, and red for artillery. The symbols represent characteristics: tank track, mobility and armor protection; cannon, fire power; red flash of lightning, shock action. Kirkebo, age 19, enlisted in the US Army on September 14, 1940. In August 1942, 2nd Lieutenant Kirkebo became commanding officer, C Company, 21st Armored Infantry Battalion, 11th Armored Division, Third Army. In December 1944, Kirkebo's unit landed in Normandy, and defended Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. The 11th Armored spearheaded the Allied advance into Germany and pushed through to Austria. 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, they discovered over 19,000 starving inmates. The unit was tasked with caring for the inmates and improving camp conditions. On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered. Kirkebo was on occupational duty until early October when he returned to the US. Kirkebo was awarded a Silver Star and 3 Bronze Stars for his heroism and leadership in action.
title: US Army 9th Armored Division shoulder sleeve insignia patch issued to a soldier