what does the military rank of Tec5 mean?

Question

I am doing research on my great-uncle who was KIA in WWII in the South Pacific. Does anyone know what Tec5 is? He was in the Army. Any help would be great. Both of my grandparents have passed, and no one else in my family seems to know. Thanks!

Answer 1

A T5 was equal to a corporal not a sergeant. The tech grades went downward unlike the way we did specialists. A T4 was higher than a T5 but when we made specialists, an SP5 was higher than an SP4 and the number was the pay grade.

In modern terms, a Tech5 would be a Specialist 4.

While it was a non-combat rank (more accurately a non-NCO grade), these guys often saw a lot of combat. He'd have been referred to (addressed) as "Corporal"

Answer 2

He was a technical sergent. He got the pay of an E5 (sergent), but was in a noncombat job. Good luck with the rest of your research.

Answer 3

Technician 5th grade

see "1942 changes" at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_enlisted_rank_insignia_of_World_War_II