Military History/WWII pin

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Expert: John Vargas - 9/22/2009


Question

F.W.S.S. Pin
Dear Mr Vargas
My brother and I hope you can identify a pin that was among our father's WWII items. The front has a red griffin holding a dagger on a blue background above the initials: F.W.S.S. The back is engraved with Dad's first initial and last name; the maker's stamp I think is "BIRKS" or "SIRKS" above the word "Sterling."

His name was Richard S. Livermore, in the US Army from approx. 1942-1946. European theater, landed on Omaha Beach (D+8?), with a pool of unassigned 2nd Lts.

We believe he was assigned as a 2nd Lt with the 473rd AAA AW, "attached to combat commands generated by the 3rd Army." His outift was assigned to different branches of the army at different times to provide armored support.

Fought near the Battle of the Bulge, crossed the Rhine. Unlocked some of the concentration camps, to let in the Red Cross. Those camps included Bergen-Belsen and Dachau, but there were others. He went over the Brenner Pass into Italy, and also into Czechoslovakia.

We hope you can identify the pin, and perhaps you can recommend any sources we can search for further information about his service. We are waiting for his records from the VA, but fear they may have been lost in the fire.

At the end of the war his rank was Capt. He accepted an offer from the military to attend a semester of college in Europe and did so at University of Aberdeen in Scotland. We wonder if the pin might be from Scotland.

With sincere thanks in advance,
Joanie Livermore

Answer
Hello Joanie,

The pin that you have is the Coat of Arms, or Badge for the Livermore Family (from the United Kingdom).  You are correct that it is a Griffin.  The F.W.S.S. stands for Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer.  I would like to give credit to Rosalia Caruso, and Andre Richard of Birks and Mayors, both located in Canada for identifying the Coat of Arms for you.

Here is the history of the 473d AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion.

http://www.antiaircraft.org/473.htm

Here is the 473rd Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion attached to the 84th Infantry Division.  

http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache:mTcFnhNgA5wJ:www.history.army.mil/documents...

Here is the 473rd Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion attached to the 102nd Infantry Division.  

http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache:ByjOSlUK4nsJ:www.history.army.mil/documents...

Here is the 473rd Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion attached to the 8th Armored Division.  

http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache:wuRJT56_h_gJ:www.8th-armored.org/aar/8th_ma...

Here is the 473rd Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion attached to the 94th Infantry Division

http://www.94thinfdiv.com/94thStructure.html\

Here is the 473rd Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion attached to the VII (7th) US Corps.  

http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache:QGSwwawzFkIJ:www.unithistories.com/units/7t...

Here is the Unit History called "On Target" of the 473rd AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion, in a book format that you can purchase.

http://www.lulu.com/content/multimedia/473rd-aaa-on-target/7342863

Here is the history of the 3rd Army.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_United_States_Army

The Vehicle that your Father rode in and used in WWII was called an M-16 Gun Motor Carriage, Halftrack.  

Here is the information on the M-16 Gun Motor Carriage.

http://www.olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_m16_halftrack.php

http://www.wwiivehicles.com/usa/half-tracks/m16.asp

Since your Father took Basic Training in the Canal Zone in WWII, he probably took his Basic Training at Fort Clayton.

Here is the history of Ft. Clayton Panama.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/fort-clayton.htm

http://www.czimages.com/CZMemories/Fort_Clayton/FC_index.htm

The "care and feeding" of Barrage Balloons, means to keep the Balloons patched and full of gas.

Here is information about those who attended Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Camp Davis, North Carolina; all were Commissioned as Officers (2LT’s) in the Antiaircraft Artillery Corps.

“2. The Antiaircraft Artillery Officer Candidate School, Camp Davis, North Carolina.  The individual must have attended between 1 April 1941 and 31 October 1944, and be commissioned Coastal Artillery Corps upon graduation.”

http://www.faocsalumni.org/induction.html

Here is the history of the RMS Aquitania, the ship that your Father sailed on to Scotland.

http://www.ocean-liners.com/ships/Aquitania.asp

Here is the history of the Normandy Campaign.

http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/normandy/nor-pam.htm

Here is the history of Omaha Beachhead; the second link will have information on D-Day +8.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omaha_Beach

http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/100-11/100-11.HTM

Here is the history of the “Battle of the Bulge” officially called the Ardennes Campaign.

http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/7-8/7-8_cont.htm

Here is the history of the Rhineland Campaign.

http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/rhineland/rhineland.htm

Here is the history of the Central Europe Campaign.

http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/centeur/centeur.htm

Here is information on the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10005224

Here is information on the Dachau concentration camp.

http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10005214

Here is the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

http://www.abdn.ac.uk/

Here is information about the Brenner Pass.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brenner_Pass

I would contact the Fort Sill, Field Artillery Museum, as they are the ones who should have the records for 473rd AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion.  Again, I would ask them for all the information about the unit, and I would also ask them for information about your Father as well, they should have a record since he was an Officer.

Here is the link to the Fort Sill, Field Artillery Museum.  

http://sill-www.army.mil/museum/home%20page.htm

Here is the contact information for the Research and Inquiries Section of the Fort Sill, Field Artillery Museum.  I also included the e-mail address and direct telephone number to the Museum Curator, and the Administrative Assistant.  

Fort Sill National Historic Landmark
437 Quanah Road
Fort Sill, OK 73503-5100

Towana Spivey, Director/Curator
Phone: 580-442-5123
Fax: 580-442-8120
Email: towana.spivey@conus.army.mil

Michele Burnett, Administrative Assistant

Email: michele.burnett@conus.armymil

In addition to the FT. Sill Museum, I would contact the Air Defense Artillery Museum at Fort Bliss, Texas to see if they have any information about your fathers WWII Service.  I would ask them for any and all information about the 473rd AAA Automatic Weapons Battalion.

Here is their contact information.

http://www.museumsusa.org/museums/info/1167586

Air Defense Artillery Museum
Bldg. 5000, Pleasanton Rd
Fort Bliss, TX 79916
Phone: 915-568-7345

Adalberto Saldaña, Chief, Exhibits
Phone: 915-568-8893

Dick Fritz, Curator
Phone: 915-568-1922

Web: www.firsttofire.com/default.htm

www.bliss.army.mil/Museum/fort_bliss_museum.htm

I would also contact the Air Defense Artillery Association, and ask them if they can assist you in finding more information about your Father (more specifically if they have anything in their archives about your Father).

Here is the ADA Associations information.

http://www.firsttofire.com/contactus.htm

ADA Association
P. O. Box 6101
Fort Bliss, TX 79906
Phone: (915) 568-2711

If the links do not allow you to click on them directly, cut and paste them into a new browser.

I hope this answers some of your questions and puts you in the right direction to understanding and learning your Dads WWII History.

If you have any more questions, please feel free to contact me and I would me more than happy to answer them.

Regards,

John

    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentThank you John, for this great collection of sources to research, in hopes of learning more about Dad's service. And the pin! How you traced such a FINE THREAD to Canada & Europe and found the answer just blows me away! We are very, very grateful for your efforts & EXPERTISE. Joanie & Richard Livermore


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John Vargas

Expertise

I can answer both specific and general questions about U.S. Army, and Naval Aviation from 1913 to 1946, and WWII U.S. Airborne, to include key personalities, units, commands, and doctrines. My specialty is U.S. Aviation Badges (all Branches of the Service, from WWI to the Present), U.S. Airborne Badges (from WWII to the Present) as well as Aviation, Airborne, and Infantry Insignia (from WWI to the Present), both authorized and unauthorized, of the period. I have access to a vast personal library (as well as text from others...such as museums) of text, as well as actual badges and insignia that is specific to this period of history.

Experience

I have over 20 years experience in collecting and cataloging WWI, and WWI U.S. Army Aviation, WWI, and WWII U.S. Naval Aviation, and U.S. Airborne Badges and Insignia. I was the former assistant curator at the Gen. Wm. C. Lee Airborne Museum, when I lived in NC. I have written histories of Wing Badges and Aviation Insignia for several manufacturing companies to include The Robbins Company, Bailey Banks and Biddle, and I am working on the histories for several other companies at the moment. I am a consultant on regular basis to many museums (including the U.S.A.F., U.S. Army, Private and Public Museums, as well as the Institute of Heraldry), and I am regularly called upon to authenticate U.S. Aviation Badges and Insignia (all Branches of the Service) for Fine Auctions Houses such as Bonham’s and Butterfields, and many others.

Organizations
Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association (VHPA-FL) Historian - I am not a Vietnam Veteran, or a Vietnam Era Helicopter Pilot, I was not old enough to serve in Vietnam, unless the U.S. needed a one-year-old, then I would have Proudly Served.

Education/Credentials
I am perusing an advanced degree in history (Ph.D.), with a concentration in WWI, and WWII U.S. Aviation. I spent several years on Active Duty in the U.S. Army as a Paratrooper. I am a Qualified and Rated Aviator.

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