It has been the study of the “great men” which most historians have focused on.  The generals (such as George Patton) who guided armies (such as Third Army) through pivotal moments in great wars have been the focus of most historians’ studies.  But among those armies are the microhistories which have shown relatively “minor” men can leave their fingerprints on the course of humanity.  The artifacts left behind are evidence of these microhistories.  Personally, I feel a calling to tell these stories of my brothers in arms.  One such calling hit me on our family vacation last week.  The Purple Heart that belonged to Private Royal Gaunt spoke to me from the moment I first saw it.  This is the story that emerged from that near seventy year old medal.

Private Royal “Roy” Gaunt had finally been discharged from the hospital at Camp Butner, North Carolina and was enjoying the June, 1945 weather in Lansing, Michigan on a 30 day furlough. [1] The 5 foot, 9 inch tall young man with black hair and blue eyes would turn 20 years old next month.  Less than two years earlier, before his enlistment in the U.S. Army, he had been a high school student. [2]  But, the sterling silver Combat Infantryman’s Badge over the row of three “everclean” ribbons* on his chest spoke of the transformation of the boyish graduate into a combat veteran.

Private Gaunt had been enlisted in the Army for a year when he departed New York for the European Theater on October 17, 1944 aboard the Queen Elizabeth. [3]  He was a trained Rifleman headed as part of the 87^th “Golden Acorn” Division to continue the Western assault against German forces started four months earlier with the D-Day invasion.  The first overseas stop for the young Michigander was England, but by the end of November, the Golden Acorns had assembled in Havre, France. [4]

Private Gaunt saw his first combat in the Saar Basin, when he went “over the top” at 0930 on December 11, 1944.  “The Second Battalion was on the right, the Third Battalion on the left and the First in Reserve as the attack plowed through the mud and heavy fire from tanks and pill-boxes.  The Second Battalion was hardest hit as the initial assault fell slightly short of its target.”  By December 15, 19 year old Private Gaunt entered his third foreign country as the 346^th Infantry Regiment crossed into Germany. [5]

On December 23, the 346^th Infantry Regiment received orders for movement, which was executed the following day.  Private Gaunt celebrated Christmas with a Turkey dinner in Munster, before resuming the march under bitter weather conditions arriving at the assembly area north of Riems on December 26.  The Ardennes Campaign – The Battle of the Bulge – was the next challenge for the junior infantryman.  On December 29, the Regiment moved to the vicinity of Glaumont, Belgium to stem the breakthrough. [6]

On the morning of December 30, at 0730, Second Battalion attacked on a mission to capture and hold objectives, blow bridges, and establish roadblocks in the vicinity of St. Hubert and Vesqueville, Belgium.  Snow was again falling on Private Gaunt as he took part in the assault.  On New Year’s Day, snow and continued freezing temperatures plagued Private Gaunt.  It is possible he took part in the patrols sent into St. Hubert and Vesqueville. [7] Regardless of where he was on the battlefield, he was wounded in action earning the Purple Heart.** [8]

It is unclear at what point Private Gaunt was hospitalized, but he did not rejoin the 87^th Infantry Division for their participation in the Central European Campaign – the invasion of Germany from the West.  He departed the European Theater on April 19 arriving in the U.S. on May 6.

After returning from his furlough to Camp Butner, Private Gaunt passed through the office of Captain Frank, of the Finance Corps for his final pay.  Lieutenant Frank J. Donaty signed his Discharge on July 23, 1945.  The young man was discharged to start his civilian life. [9]

Royal Gaunt married Loma Dawn Totten on March 28, 1948.  In 1947, he applied for a Honorable Discharge certificate, and on the back was written, “Certified for Michigan Veteran’s Disability Pay June 16, 1947.  Alma Semens, Notary Public.”  It is likely he suffered from his wounds for the remainder of his life. [10] He passed away on October 30, 2005. [11]

Shortly before Royal Gaunt passed though, someone decided to remember the 20 year old youth from 60 years prior.  New medals were ordered for him, and there were added surprises in the package that arrived.  In addition an engraved modern Purple Heart, was a second decoration: The Bronze Star medal.  Attached was a certificate which reads:

* “Everclean” ribbons were covered with a hard, clear plastic coating to prevent the ribbons from getting dirty.

** Based on the serial number, “321154,” the Purple Heart awarded to Private Gaunt was made by the Rex Products Company. [12]

Sources:

1. Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan.  17 Jun 1945.  Pg. 27
2. Gaunt, Royal W. DD-214. Dated 23 Jul 1945.
3. Historical and Pictorial Record of the 87^th Infantry Division in World War II. 1946.  Pg. 60.
4. Route of the Golden Acorn Division: France – Luxembourg – Belgium – Germany and Czechoslovakia. Map, printed June 1945.
5. Historical and Pictorial Record of the 87^th Infantry Division in World War II. 1946.  Pg. 61.
6. Ibid. Pp. 62 – 63.
7. Ibid. Pg. 63.
8. Gaunt, Royal W. DD-214. Dated 23 Jul 1945.
9. Gaunt, Royal W. DD-214. Dated 23 Jul 1945.
10. Ancestry.com. Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Accessed 24 Mar 2018.

Original data: Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867–1952. Michigan Department of Community Health, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics.

11. Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007.  Accessed 24 Mar 2018.

12. Purple Heart History. http://www.purplehearts.net/id6.html  Accessed 24 Mar 2018.