United States. An Army Headquarters 106Th Infantry Division A.p.o. 443 Confidential Memo, January 1945

From Brigadier General Herbert T. Perrin, Commanding, United States Army, dated January 21, 1945, entitled "Recognition of Accomplishment, The Officers of the 106th Infantry Division", stating that "the major portion of the elements of this division completed a period of thirty-four days of practically continuous close combat with the enemy" and that the officers and their men's accomplishments had been appreciated by higher headquarters. It includes quotes from those commanders, under three major points, including a message from General Eisenhower: "The magnificent job you are doing is having a great beneficial effect on the whole situation. I am personally grateful to you and wish you would let all of your personnel know that if they continue to carry out their mission with the splendid spirit they have so far shown, they will have deserved well of their country." The memo is typewritten in black ink, on a moisture-resistant off-white paper with red rules, measuring 203 mm (w) x 328 mm (h). Near extremely fine.

Footnote: Brigadier General Herbert Towle Perrin (September 8, 1893 - June 9, 1962) was a United States Army officer, with the rank of brigadier general. He served during the Second World War and received the second highest military award, the Distinguished Service Cross, for his leadership as the acting commander of the 106th Infantry Division. Perrin was born on September 8, 1893, in the city of Platteville, Wisconsin. He graduated from Kenyon College in 1916 and was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon. Subsequently, he graduated from Princeton University in 1917. Perrin joined the Army in 1917 and had risen to the rank of captain by 1920. After service at various infantry posts, he attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1933. Subsequently, Perrin served in the Adjutant General's Office from 1934 to 1938. In this capacity he was promoted to the rank of major on May 1, 1937. In 1942 and 1943, Perrin served as chief of staff in the 76th Infantry Division under command of Major General William R. Schmidt. In 1943, Perrin was promoted to brigadier general and was assigned to the 106th Infantry Division as the assistant division commander. Perrin participated with the division in the Rhineland Campaign, Ardennes-Alsace Campaign and Central Europe Campaign. During the Battle of the Bulge, his division commander, Major General Alan W. Jones suffered a heart attack and Perrin assumed command of the division. Perrin stayed in command until February 1945 and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his leadership of the division. He was succeeded by Major General Donald A. Stroh, and he returned to his position of assistant division commander and served in this command until 1946, when he retired. Perrin died at Mercy Hospital in Mount Vernon, Ohio, at the age of 68, after suffering a stroke at his home in Gambier, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery alongside his wife, Anne Wilby Perrin (1884-1960). In addition to the Distinguished Service Cross, he was also a recipient of the Legion of Merit, the World War I Victory Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Service Stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal, the Officer of the Legion of Honor (France) and the Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 with Palm (France).