Arthur L. Duell
7th US Army
6703rd Blood Transfusion Unit
Arthur Duell, served with the 6703rd BTU during WWII, had a written notation in his service record indicating he was authorized to wear the Meritorious Service Wreath, but never knew what it was. It is now called the Meritorious Unit Commendation. The award was issued and his other awards were replaced.
The Meritorious Unit Commendation emblem was worn to represent award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation. The authorized emblem 
was a Gold color embroidered laurel wreath, 1 5/8 inches in diameter on a 2 inches square of Olive Drab cloth. War Department Circular No. 345, dated 23 August 1944 provided that military personnel assigned or attached to an organization were entitled to wear the Meritorious Service Unit Insignia on the outside half of the right sleeve of the service coat and shirt, four inches above the end of the sleeve.
The 6703d Blood Transfusion Unit (Provisional) was set up at Bagnoli, Italy, on 22 June 1944. On 31 October 1944, the unit was relieved of its attachment to the Peninsular Base Section and assigned to Continental Advance Section at Dijon. On the same date, all officers and enlisted men were relieved of their assignment to the unit and assigned to the Office of the Surgeon, Headquarters, NATOUSA, where they were transferred to the European theater.
The forward distribution section of the 6703d Blood Transfusion Unit was assigned to the 1st Medical Laboratory for the invasion of southern France on 15 August 1944. The personnel who landed with the assault troops on D-day were attached to platoons of field hospitals.
Arthur Duell’s awards include:
Army Good Conduct Medal
European-African- Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/3 campaign stars
WWII Victory Medal
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Fayetteville, Arkansas (2012)
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