"Do they convert US ranks?" Topic

My uncle Cecil served in the US Army, 4th Division, from 1919 to 1920 (despite being 16 years old!).

Many years later when he was buried, at Fort Logan National Cemetery, his rank was recorded as TEC 5.

However, the TEC ranks didn't exist until the 1940s. Would they have "converted" his WWI rank into a later equivalent? Or is this just an error?

(Or maybe he also served in WWII, and I can't find the records…?)

The Wikipedia page on WW1 ranks states there were 128 different enlisted ranks by the end of the war. So there is a really good possibility that it was simplified. It would make life a lot easier on the paper pushers.

Without knowing what his exact job was, he was probably
an E-3 or corporal in WWI rank structure.

See the charts in the link, the 'September 1920' column
and the 'September 1942' column:

link

My grandfather's rank (WWI) was Staff Sergeant (e-5) and his
son, my Uncle Elmer, was mustered out as a Sergeant (e-5) each
has 'Sergeant' (post-WWII) on his tombstone in the National
Cemetery where they are interred, hence it appears that ranks
are converted, otherwise Granddad's would have been 'Staff
Sergeant'.

Under VA regulations the family choses what goes on the grave marker in accordance with what is listed on his DD214. There can however be problems. My father wanted only his full rank, Colonel, his birth and death dates and WW2 listed. The VA delivered a headstone listing him as a Lt. Col. And crediting service in Korea and Vietnam but not WW2. This lead to a year long nasty fight with the VA that was finally only solved when I got a U.S. Senator involved. BTW, under the regs my Dad evidently qualified for Korea and Vietnam but he had told me that since he wasn't shot at in those wars he didn't want them listed.

However ranks are not converted, they are supposed to be taken off the DD214. Now if the DD214 were to only list it as say E5 the gravestone might then indicate Sgt, or if it only listed E4, Corporal. In those cases you would have to produce documents to the effect that the rank had been called something else and still you would probably be in for a fight, I wound up producing 39 pages to get my Dad's cleared up and they still wouldn't listen. But if you want and you can find the documents you could still press for a corrected stone.

The DD214 was instituted in 1950. My Grandfather was
separated in 1919, and my uncle in 1945. Granddad's
separation document is very similar to that of
his grandfather, who served in the ACW.

The earlier record of service documents (War Department
Adjutant General's Office and Naval Personnel Office)
were incepted in 1941, and I do have a copy of my uncle's
which was used for his headstone.

My father's USNAVPERS discharge papers (I have copies)
are a handwritten sheet of 81/2 x 11 typewriter paper
upon which were written his dates of service (enlistment
through discharge), assignments (only 3 – basic training,
school and the only ship to which he was ever assigned),
his service number, DOR's (e-1 through e-4) and
entitlements (decorations and awards). It was signed by
a CWO.

There were millions out-processed in 1945/46 and no
computers, so…

My uncles (all US Army em's except one) are similar.

My one commissioned uncle had a DD14 when he received
his separation from the USN, but he was separated
in 1954.

Another possibility… his wife was a TEC 5, I wonder if they confused the two?

Her service was in the WACs in WWII.

If he doesn't have a dd215 there is the Military Record and Report of Separation which was the form prior to the DD214, the form for officers was WD AGO 53. Sorry, but I don't have the listing for Enlisted/Non-Commissioned however trust me, there is paperwork on when/where/how people separated from the military. Have you tried sending off for his records? As long as they didn't burn in the fire back in the 70s (and even if they did they can recreate some of the records) that should give you what you need to know. however, expect a big fight with the VA. Many times you also face the problem that if the funeral home put in for the stone the mistake may lay there. The VA is still supposed to correct it but…

jowady,we were similarly surprised when our father's stone at Arlington listed Korea and Vietnam,in addition to WWII,even though he was nowhere near those two places. It was explained that,if he was in,it's on there--even in the Reserves,apparently,as he was discharged from active in '58.

Bill: Huh--we both had uncles named Cecil--and both in the Armed Forces.

Hafen von Schlokenberg

My Brother's best friend from High school joined the US Army in 1980, he died in a car accident a few years later but his Gravestone lists Vietnam. They tried to talk me into putting Vietnam and Korea on my Dad's stone which technically he qualified for but he didn't want.

Good for you for sticking up for your father's wishes. They obviously goofed on WWII. Mine expressed no preference,so we left it at that.

I don't really understand about your brother's friend though.

It appears possible that my uncle's remains may finally be identified. It wood be get if he could buried near my father.

link

"Would be good"--sorry. Auto-Dolt screwed up again,and it took me too long to get back to it.