US Military Records

[Pompey]

Best of luck on your search brother. As stated above I think you’re on the right track with the va and the archives. My grandfather requested his service records, and both of my great uncles. I don’t want to disappoint you but years ago there was a fire in that part of the archives and tons of records were destroyed, most of my grandfather’s and both of his brothers included. So my grandpa was only able to get one page of one of his brothers service records since the rest was destroyed, and only one page of his as well. It’s a shame both his brothers were in ww2 one in Europe and the other in burma the one from burma was the record he got and it was a log from when he signed into his unit in burma during the war. Just want to help with your expectations and I hope you’re not disappointed.

I appreciate that.

Its a more drawn out exercise getting US military records. Australian records are all on line and you just type in the period of service and name and it’s all there.

What a tragedy the records were lost. Priceless details we will never see. I hope for the best

 

[Hopsferdays]

I appreciate that.

Its a more drawn out exercise getting US military records. Australian records are all on line and you just type in the period of service and name and it’s all there.

What a tragedy the records were lost. Priceless details we will never see. I hope for the best

I remember when my grandpa told me about that. I’d been on active duty about 2 years and my response was “yep that sounds like something the army would screw up”

 

[Father of One]

I mentioned to my cousin what I am trying to do and it’s now a bit more intriguing. Apparently he was knocked back from the Australian navy because of problems with his eyes, so he apparently joined the US navy instead. At least that’s what we suspect he did after being knocked back. We think at some stage, maybe after the war he joined the US Army and rose to the rank of major. Apparently he had something to do with small ships, but did the army have anything to do with small ships? Sounds navy. He was also based in the Philippines in fighting communist insurgents. But the whole army/navy aspect of which branch he was in and when is all a bit of a mystery.

When he died in 1950 it caused extreme grief in the family and he was never mentioned except for his name. So I’d like to know more, and appreciate the help given

The US Army certainly does have small ships. I am not in the service but I have worked a few different landing craft projects for them. I would assume his skills were in high demand and the Army would have been glad to have him.

 

[Pompey]

The US Army certainly does have small ships. I am not in the service but I have worked a few different landing craft projects for them. I would assume his skills were in high demand and the Army would have been glad to have him.

Good to know. Thanks. its an emotional and intriguing time learning about a relative who certainly seems to have led a fascinating life.

 

[Himni]

This kind of hits close to home for my family. We have multiple ancestors that served in WW2.

While I’d like to have a detailed history of all of them the one I would like to know the most is my grandfather on my dad’s side.

The saddest part is that he lived until 2000 so we could’ve gotten a detailed journal of his service but he never talked about it and it was obvious he didn’t want to or like too.

While we have a few details here and there (like that he was in Hawaii on 12/7/1941 waiting for a ship ride back home and after the attack he decided to reup) it is mostly unknown to our family. The records we could request assuming they weren’t lost still wouldn’t answer many questions since the archives are abbreviated.

It’s sad the details that are lost to time and why they should be protected and treasured. If you don’t know the past you’re doomed to repeat it.

I wish you luck on your quest to find out more about your uncle.

 

[Pompey]

Prior Navy E-7 and current Navy Officer, 20 years in and a naval history buff, pretty sure on all this but could be missing a detail or two. Here’s a decent site for info on the rank/insignia:

theNavyCWO.com - The Insignia of the Chief Warrant Officer - Part 2 - 1917 thru 1946

authored by and used with the permission of Justin T. Broderick from uniform-reference.net 1917 A revised edition of the 1913 uniform regulations was...

www.thenavycwo.com

This is based on WW II dating of picture. He is wearing the Warrant Officer insignia of a Machinist on both collars (gold for Warrant Officer, silver for Chief Warrant Officers),

The crest on his combination cover at first glance looks like a Commissioned Officer crest meaning he’s a Chief Warrant Officer, but if you compare it to the example I provided there are some obvious differences. The crest is too high up, covers the eagle’s body instead of the eagle perching on it, and the anchors seem a little off as well. Definitely not a Warrant Officer crest, which only consisted of crossed anchors (no eagle or shield). I’m still researching the differences, at first thought it may be merchant marine or Coast Guard but those don’t match. Don’t know if it was a one off crest, not made to regulation for some reason, interested in whatever anyone else can come up with.

Warrant Officers during this time were positioned between enlisted (E-1 thru E-7), and Chief Warrant Officers. They were not considered Commissioned Officers but were still saluted by all enlisted personnel. Their pay grades were W-1 and W-2, they could be promoted to Chief Warrant Officer (CWO-3).

I missed this post so only just reading it now. Fascinating. Everything I am finding out just seems to deepen the mystery, and the emblem on his hat just adds to it.

When I asked for his records I put down (because they asked) that he was an officer. I hope that doesn’t make things difficult. I don’t even know if he had join citizenship or had taken up US citizenship. How else would a foreigner be able to join the US navy?

 

[TJ Carr]

I missed this post so only just reading it now. Fascinating. Everything I am finding out just seems to deepen the mystery, and the emblem on his hat just adds to it.

When I asked for his records I put down (because they asked) that he was an officer. I hope that doesn’t make things difficult. I don’t even know if he had join citizenship or had taken up US citizenship. How else would a foreigner be able to join the US navy?

No, you did not need to be an American citizen to enlist or be a officer in WWII

However, it could be a fast track to becoming a naturalized citizen & I don’t know if they had a specific time they could serve or if it was a open ended kind of thing. They had lots of people from quite a few different countries in WWII serving in the different US military branches

I know historically the US Navy has been a path to citizenship for Philippinenos and when I was at Clark AB in the Philippines in the early 90’s we had Negrito survival instructors who had served in WWII and had mind boggling stories about fighting the japs

 

[donmatteo]

I know that there are many serving or former US military people on this forum, and would like your help in finding about a relative of mine who served during WW2. I believe he held the rank of major, but I also believe he was in the navy so that confused me. I am hoping this photo of him will help clarify. I would also like to access his military records. I know so little about him, he died a few years after the war before I was born. View attachment 40271

There is no rank of Major in the Navy in WW2, or even now. Major would have been Army or Marines. He is not an officer, at least in this photo. He is a Chief / Petty Officer 1st Class, which is an enlisted rank, not an Officer rank. Petty Officers were PO1 and would be technical and wear those lapel pins.

 

[TomcatF14]

Prior Navy E-7 and current Navy Officer, 20 years in and a naval history buff, pretty sure on all this but could be missing a detail or two. Here’s a decent site for info on the rank/insignia:

theNavyCWO.com - The Insignia of the Chief Warrant Officer - Part 2 - 1917 thru 1946

authored by and used with the permission of Justin T. Broderick from uniform-reference.net 1917 A revised edition of the 1913 uniform regulations was...

www.thenavycwo.com

This is based on WW II dating of picture. He is wearing the Warrant Officer insignia of a Machinist on both collars (gold for Warrant Officer, silver for Chief Warrant Officers),

The crest on his combination cover at first glance looks like a Commissioned Officer crest meaning he’s a Chief Warrant Officer, but if you compare it to the example I provided there are some obvious differences. The crest is too high up, covers the eagle’s body instead of the eagle perching on it, and the anchors seem a little off as well. Definitely not a Warrant Officer crest, which only consisted of crossed anchors (no eagle or shield). I’m still researching the differences, at first thought it may be merchant marine or Coast Guard but those don’t match. Don’t know if it was a one off crest, not made to regulation for some reason, interested in whatever anyone else can come up with.

Warrant Officers during this time were positioned between enlisted (E-1 thru E-7), and Chief Warrant Officers. They were not considered Commissioned Officers but were still saluted by all enlisted personnel. Their pay grades were W-1 and W-2, they could be promoted to Chief Warrant Officer (CWO-3).

Interesting you mentioned the insignia on the cover. I pulled mine out of the closet and noticed the eagle wings are straighter (level) on his vice canted down on mine. Shield is also higher on his as well. I chalked it up to changes over the years. Mystery.

 

[TomcatF14]

The US Army certainly does have small ships. I am not in the service but I have worked a few different landing craft projects for them. I would assume his skills were in high demand and the Army would have been glad to have him.

Yes it does. There was a time when the Army had more “boats” than the Navy. Army guys used to bust our nuts in my Joint job. As an aviator we didn’t care much. As long as we had the big one with the flat top.

 

[donmatteo]

This gives a better shot of View attachment 40275the hat. Do you know if that is an officers hat, and if it is, why he would be wearing that insignia on his collar?

Can you get a shot without that other frame blocking his shoulder?

 

[donmatteo]

Howdy! Former military recruiter here, so I am familiar with requesting military documents. Plus, i'm a mad history buff.

1. As stated above from two other people, the National Archives and VA is your best bet. Do know that both of these avenues are extremely backed up, so be patient.

2. Insignia on cap is for the US Navy.

3. Lapel on collar is for US Navy Warrant Officer Engineer/Nuclear Power Technicians in the Surface and Submarine field ( US Navy wiki link ; scroll down and you will see a chart showing different Officer/WO branch insignias.

4. I can't see anything in regards to rank, but guessing Warrant Officer.

Hope this helps. If you have any other questions, let me know.


View attachment 40276

Petty, not warrant officer. Nuke subs were not around in WW2, assuming that photo was taken in WW2. If it was in the 60's and served more than 14 years, he could have been a Warrant Officer.

 

[donmatteo]

US Navy. Commissioned Warrant Officer. Commissioned Warrants and Officers had the same officer crest on their cover. Collar insignia is Chief Machinist. Uniform looks like the old dress khakis.

I would agree but need to know....

1. When was the photo taken
2. How long was he in when the photo was taken.
3. When did he join, and when did he leave.

That would determine if he was a Petty or Warrant. If he was a machinist or a nuke tech.

Need lots more info.

It does look like a ww2 era photo though.

 

[Pompey]

I would agree but need to know....

1. When was the photo taken
2. How long was he in when the photo was taken.
3. When did he join, and when did he leave.

That would determine if he was a Petty or Warrant. If he was a machinist or a nuke tech.

Need lots more info.

It does look like a ww2 era photo though.

There is my problem. So much we don’t know. I don’t have the answers to your questions. Pretty sure it was WW2 though.

 

[Molinote]

I'm not an expert, and much less knowledgeable than most who have already posted here, but it seems like the insignia most resembles USCG to my untrained eyes.

Source: https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/fo...-from-usn-regs/&do=findComment&comment=224991

 

[donmatteo]

I'm not an expert, and much less knowledgeable than most who have already posted here, but it seems like the insignia most resembles USCG to my untrained eyes.

Source: https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/fo...-from-usn-regs/&do=findComment&comment=224991

US Navy. 100%

 

[donmatteo]

There is my problem. So much we don’t know. I don’t have the answers to your questions. Pretty sure it was WW2 though.

Warrant officer would require 14 years of service IIRC at that time. Lot's of assumptions but if he insisted at the start of the war in 1942, and the picture was taken in 1956, that would jive. If he insisted in 1928, that would give as well. But that type of photo was taken upon commission, entry, or promotion or other notable change in service.

 

[thstevo]

There is no rank of Major in the Navy in WW2, or even now. Major would have been Army or Marines. He is not an officer, at least in this photo. He is a Chief / Petty Officer 1st Class, which is an enlisted rank, not an Officer rank. Petty Officers were PO1 and would be technical and wear those lapel pins.

This is 100% incorrect. Chiefs wear anchors, a 1st class PO did not wear dating collar devices.

 

[thstevo]

Warrant officer would require 14 years of service IIRC at that time. Lot's of assumptions but if he insisted at the start of the war in 1942, and the picture was taken in 1956, that would jive. If he insisted in 1928, that would give as well. But that type of photo was taken upon commission, entry, or promotion or other notable change in service.

The 14 year requirement to be a CWO didn’t exist in WW II. A lot of promotion requirements that exist today were either waived during the war because of the massive increase is Navy for cr size or didn’t exist at the time.

 

[Pompey]

I'm not an expert, and much less knowledgeable than most who have already posted here, but it seems like the insignia most resembles USCG to my untrained eyes.

Source: https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/fo...-from-usn-regs/&do=findComment&comment=224991

i guess it’s possible but I can’t see why he’d join the coast guard, although I must admit I’m not entirely sure what they do. I imagine he really wanted to fight the Japanese. In the end it’s just speculation on my part.