Can Anyone Help Me Identify Grandpa's Service Branch?

[NoirDame]

Hi everyone.

I got some pictures of Grandpa Sam during World War II. I know he is Army and his military grave marker says TEC 5 US Army. I am honestly not too familiar with military designations, so if the answer to my own question is TEC 5, sorry! I just wish I knew more about his service. I do know he was in the Philaphines and stationed in New Jersey. Any general advice on how/where to begin researching his military history would be wonderful.

Also if it helps, pictures:

 

[Diamondback]

Tec-5 appears to have been an Army rank during the WWII era: Technician, 5th Class, equivalent to a Corporal.

Take a look at this:
http://wailuna.photos.military.com/gallery/2211583/1/116677055#116677055

Hope it helps.

 

[Brinybay]

Start here: Access to Military Service and Pension Records

 

[scotrace]

That's a dead end. All records for WWII vets burned up in the infamous early 1970's fire.

My dad was a Tech 4 - Technical Sarg.

See if your library has this book. It is EXCELLENT, in layman's terms, and is FULL of useful information on what all those ranks and etc. mean.

 

[David Conwill]

Noir Dame, let me apologize in advance for my lack of assistance and this partial thread hijack. I wish you luck with this project.

That's a dead end. All records for WWII vets burned up in the infamous early 1970's fire.

I've got a related question for you, or anyone who might know: My grandfather was in the Army Air Forces from 1940 to 1945 and then went back in, but to the Air Force, in 1950 where he served for the next 18 years. Is there any chance his wartime records were transferred to the Air Force and survived the fire?

-Dave

 

[NoirDame]

Thanks everyone! Aside from my desire to want to know, I'm trying to find out also so I can join the American Legion (group for women relations of veterans that supports and does volunteerwork for veteran groups for those of of you outside the states).

 

[David Conwill]

Noir Dame, I just had a thought. On the middle picture of your grandfather, can you make out what design is in the center of the discs on his uniform collar? They will tell you what branch of service he was in. For instance, crossed muskets/rifles was infantry, crossed sabres was cavalry, a tank was armor, a flaming bomb was ordnance, crossed pistols was Military Police, etc.

-Dave

 

[Cobden]

A bit more information on the rank of technician fifth class; the rank was the equivalent pay grade to a corporal, but did not have the executive authority of a corporal - i.e. they couldn't give commands that a corporal could, although they would be addressed as the executive rank of the same pay grade (e.g. a T/5 would be addressed as corporal, not technician) . The T ranks were introduced in 1942 (IIRC), replacing the specialist ranks (which similar to modern specialist ranks, but not identical). Specialist ranks were re-introduced in 1954 (IIRC), in a slightly different form to the pre-42 ranks of the title.

 

[NoirDame]

Noir Dame, I just had a thought. On the middle picture of your grandfather, can you make out what design is in the center of the discs on his uniform collar? They will tell you what branch of service he was in. For instance, crossed muskets/rifles was infantry, crossed sabres was cavalry, a tank was armor, a flaming bomb was ordnance, crossed pistols was Military Police, etc.

-Dave

I tried to look at the original unresized image and I can't quite make it out. Bummer, that was a great idea!

 

[NoirDame]

A bit more information on the rank of technician fifth class; the rank was the equivalent pay grade to a corporal, but did not have the executive authority of a corporal - i.e. they couldn't give commands that a corporal could, although they would be addressed as the executive rank of the same pay grade (e.g. a T/5 would be addressed as corporal, not technician) . The T ranks were introduced in 1942 (IIRC), replacing the specialist ranks (which similar to modern specialist ranks, but not identical). Specialist ranks were re-introduced in 1954 (IIRC), in a slightly different form to the pre-42 ranks of the title.

Thank you, Cobden!

 

[NoirDame]

Tec-5 appears to have been an Army rank during the WWII era: Technician, 5th Class, equivalent to a Corporal.

Take a look at this:
http://wailuna.photos.military.com/gallery/2211583/1/116677055#116677055

Hope it helps.

That did help. The photo of him on the wall has the Tec 5 chevrons on it and the website clued me into that. Thanks!

 

[Twitch]

David- I don't believe they were segregated by years rather than simply by names though it could be by a small chance. My father's records of his service in WW II were lost as well. BTW the fire in the Records Center St. Louis, MO was purposly set by a disgruntled worker.

 

[FourKingTwenty]

BTW the fire in the Records Center St. Louis, MO was purposly set by a disgruntled worker.

Who told you that? I've never heard that story before.