Featured World War II Portrait Oil Painting 1946

I picked up this portrait today from a local antique store that was going out of business. I thought it was particularly well done and suspect it is by a professional portrait artist. There were not any labels or pencil notations on the back. Some very obscured markings on the back on the canvas. The frame is very sturdy and made from pine, I think the stretcher bars are oak. I can make out some of the letters in the name but did not have any particular name come to mind. I was hoping someone could work some photo magic on the signature to make it clearer. I was also wondering if the service bars are an accurate representation or an artist creation. It was purchased in Portage, Michigan.

 

Here's one in white:

 

The first two (it looks like the artist flipped the middle three colors around on the second):

 

AH well, late to the party.....others have done just great!!!!!

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I think the last name might be something like Lichtblau. Couldn’t find any artists with that name that worked for this painting.

 

I can't see that first letter in the surname as an L. G or C seems more likely.

 

I see W. Gichlblau (but I don't think that's a surname.)

Debora

 

... or the soldier had it on the bar upside down.

The third bar is for the European/African/Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

 

Yep, could have very well been the case