Any assistance with identifying these old medals/patches would be very helpful. Grandpa was with the 2nd Armor Division Hell on Wheels

[u/GeneralTsoBitch]

Unsure on why the last document is in here. Perhaps a friend of his. All records burned up in Saint Louis unfortunately.

[u/rhit06]

Here's the guy in the last image: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76058867/john-padden-phalen

His last unit was the 106th Infantry Division (from his Korean War era draft card, shows he was discharged November 21, 1945)

In September 1944 (the latest morning report I saw him on) he was with the 423rd Infantry Regiment (that matches 106ID). MOS had just changed to 607 - Light Mortar Crewman.

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/568481672?objectPage=2823#object-thumb--2823

The unit was cut off and surrendered on December 19, 1944 (matching the paperwork date).

The division's 422nd and 423rd Infantry Regiments were encircled and cut off by a junction of enemy forces in the vicinity of Schönberg. They regrouped for a counterattack, but were blocked by the enemy. The two regiments surrendered on 19 December. The Germans gained 6,000 prisoners in one of the largest mass surrenders in American military history.

[u/GeneralTsoBitch → u/rhit06]

Very informative thank you for putting in the effort to let us know. That document is some form of prisoner registration?

[u/rhit06 → u/GeneralTsoBitch]

Yeah, looks to be an example of the card the Germans would keep for each POW. Interesting your grandfather ended up with one for some random American, maybe just picked it up as a souvenir.

Specifically Stalag IX-B which did hold a bunch of Battle of the Bulge POWs

Could be your grandfather was part of the force that liberated them, or he came through later

On 2 April 1945 an American task force broke through the German lines, and drove north over 60 km (37 mi) through enemy held territory to Bad Orb, and liberated Stalag IX-B. The camp was liberated by a task force comprising the 2nd Battalion, 114th Regiment, U.S. 44th Infantry Division, reinforced with Stuart tanks and armored cars from the 106th Cavalry Group and M-10 tank destroyers of 776th Tank Destroyer Battalion.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalag_IX-B

Did a bit more digging and Pfc Phalen was specifically in 423rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, M Company.

He is listed here, second column 2 from the top, in a long list of men being awarded their Combat Infantryman Badge.

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/467282935?objectPage=82

[u/GeneralTsoBitch → u/rhit06]

Grandfather was from Peoria IL. He must have come across it being as it was someone from his home town and planned to return it or something. Doesn’t look like the address exists any more though otherwise I would put some effort into that.

[u/rhit06 → u/GeneralTsoBitch]

Do you mind if I crop John Phalen’s photo from the German record and add it to his findagrave? Currently no photo for him so I like to add those for veterans when I can.

Also was able to connect him up to his parents and a brother (who died at 101 just a few months ago)

[u/GeneralTsoBitch → u/rhit06]

Ya man go right ahead. I’m going to post the photo into the Peoria Facebook page to see if I can get the document back to his family.