Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A United States of America Bronze Star and Purple Heart group of three awarded to Private First Class K. N. McConnell, 258th Infantry Regiment

United States of America, Bronze Star, bronze (Kenneth N. McConnell) engraved; Purple Heart, gilt and enamel (Kenneth N. McConnell) engraved; Army Good Conduct Medal, bronze (Kenneth N. McConnell) engraved, nearly extremely fine (3) £80-£100

Kenneth N. McConnell, Company K, 358th Infantry Regiment, was born in Kalkaska County, Michigan on 28 January 1928 and enlisted in December 1942. He served in the Central Europe and Rhineland campaigns, his Purple Heart being awarded for service on 21 March 1945:
‘On 20 March the entire Battalion crossed the Nahe, moving forward behind the 1st and 2nd Battalions. At 1410, I and K Companies relieved Task Force Speiss about 750m short of Bretzenheim. It was here that an enemy raiding patrol of 50 men destroyed one of our tanks and generally raised all kinds of hell until T/5 Garret of the Battalion AT platoon hopped on a jeep and turned loose with a .50 cal. Machine gun, effectively dispersing the patrol.
The attack against Bretzenheim was launched at 0550 on 21 March with I and K Companies in the assault. Enemy resistance was very determined and included heavy artillery, mortar and 20 mm AA gun fire. The town was finally secured by 1800 but only after the Battalion had suffered 36 casualties (including McConnell) and fought for almost every house. Mines and booby traps were also something to guard against. A total of 165 prisoners were taken on this day.
From here the Battalion attacked Mainz at 0600 the next morning. By noon K and L companies had cleared 60 square blocks, taken 240 prisoners and once again reached the Rhine river. The city of Mainz was mostly rubble due to repeated air attacks and there was hardly a single building left intact. Numerous road blocks, mines and debris created a big problem as almost all the streets were so filled with rubble that vehicles could not pass. Following a final mop-up of the city on the morning of 23 March, the 1st Battalion relieved us and the Companies assembled in Bretzenheim as Regimental reserve.’ (90th Division History refers).

McConnell died at Fife Lake, Michigan, on 21 June 1984.

Sold with the recipient’s identity tags; riband bar; a religious medallion said to have been carried by the recipient during the war; and several wartime army documents.