If I was a Sergeant in WWII and received a battlefield promotion, after the battle how would I go about proving this and getting the actual rank?

Actual promotions in rank, versus "acting" promotions in duty during actual combat (i.e., when the squad leader becomes a casualty and the assistant squad leader temporarily takes over) were based upon complying with the distribution of ranks and roles in the unit's authorized table of organization and equipment and often came during a rest and reorganization period after casualties were suffered and replacements were received; men with potential leadership qualities were identified by their superiors and promoted to the requisite positions, although during extremely heavy combat this was often overlooked and whoever was left was by default promoted en masse and became the next crop of leaders when replacements were received. Overseas commanders preferred to receive enlisted replacements in the rank of private or private first class and officer replacements in the rank of second lieutenant, and promote from within their organizations. The practice of receiving noncommissioned officer replacements to replace noncommissioned officer casualties was generally looked down upon, as due to the reasons why many were received, these men often had the stripes, but no practical experience.

Battlefield commissions were similar, and were based upon the demonstration of exceptional leadership or other conduct becoming of an officer, and men were nominated by their superiors. These types of promotions were usually limited to the ranks of senior noncommissioned officers at the platoon and company level, but exceptions did occur; Audie Murphy was promoted directly from staff sergeant to second lieutenant, skipping the usual rank (although not the role) of platoon sergeant (technical sergeant). Men would be discharged as enlisted men from the Army of the United States (or whichever component they were serving in) under Section X, AR 615-360 (convenience of the government) in order to accept a commission in the Army of the United States. This did not guarantee men remaining in their own units if there was no vacancies, however, although many battlefield commissions of senior noncommissioned officers were made in the face of a vacancy in the position of platoon leader, rather than receiving a stateside or theater-retrained officer replacement with no combat experience. This policy was changed in December 1944, with units being allowed to retain all of their battlefield-commissioned officers.

37034746 Mack Joseph A 651 T SG

Fr dy to Honorable Discharge to accept commission as 2 LT.

O-1999957 Mack Joseph A 1542 2 LT

Asgd and Jd. Date of Rank 1 Dec 44. Race W. Component AUS. Arm or Service Inf. Prin Dy Plat Ldr 1542; MCO 03.161.

Because of the high pace of operations in late 1944, especially during and after the Battle of the Bulge, and severe winter weather, casualties among Infantry junior officers and the rate of in-theater commissions (averaging around 400 per month) were soon expected to outstrip promised Infantry School output arriving from the United States. A theater officer candidate school of twelve weeks' duration was established at the 9th Reinforcement Depot at Fontainebleau, France, in January 1945 using a cadre of thirty officers and nine enlisted from the Infantry School at Fort Benning. Three classes of 240 officer candidates were started each week, and one class of 200 officer candidates from other branches to be converted into Infantry officers every two weeks, and it was expected that the school could produce 1,900 officers per month. Since many battlefield-commissioned noncommissioned officers proved unfamiliar with the administrative duties of a junior Infantry officer, the Fontainebleau school also ran a three-week indoctrination course.