American world war 2 uniforms?

Question

I am looking for someone who knows alot about army navy marines airforce uniforms from ww2. i have a picture of my great grandfather and i would like to know more about what branch he was in and maybe the colors of the uniform and what rank. here is the link


http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q174/giacomino762/grand-hank.jpg

Answer 1

Actually he would be a Private Second class in the Army. Thats what the one chevron is. The medal on his chest looks like the Army weapons qualification badge. The uniform would've been a dark olive color. If you want to see what one would've looked like, watch any of the modern WW2 movies, (band of brothers, saving private ryan, pearl harbor, etc.)

Desert Viking, Being that you are Navy I can understand why you got confused on the rank. In the Marines, the one stripe is PFC, E-2 and you get the rocker for LCPL. In the Army the one stripe is Private Second Class, E-2. and you get the rocker for PFC E-3. Thats why the army doesn't have the LCPL rank.

Answer 2

That's Army. The Marines had a different emblem on the uniform and the AF didn't come about until a year after WWII. They were known as the Army air Corps then. He has no unit patch so this might be a basic training photo.

Answer 3

The uniform is an Army Uniform, he was an enlisted soldier. His rank in the picture is "Private (PVT/PV2) ". PV2 is the lowest rank: a trainee who’s starting Basic Combat Training (BCT). Primary role is to carry out orders issued to them to the best of his/her ability.

I can't tell what his left shoulder lapel is, I can't see it clearly. I think it is two "Flags", if that is the case, then your grandfather was in the "Signal" corps. Do you know what it might be? This will tell me what he did in the Army.

The ribbon on his left breast, above his pocket is the "Army Good Conduct Medal Ribbon ". This is awarded to any enlisted member of the United States Army who completes three consecutive years of "honorable and faithful service.” Or during times of war, the Army Good Conduct Medal Ribbon may be awarded for one year of faithful service.

So how long was your grandfather in the Army?

The Medal immediatly below the Army Good Conduct Medal Ribbon is actually a "Driver and Mechanic Badge", this is awarded to Army personnel who have received driver or mechanic MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) training, and who have subsequently qualified to operate military motor vehicles. The motor vehicle driver and mechanic award was originally authorized by War Department Circular 248 dated 28 July 1942. The badge is awarded to drivers, mechanics, and special equipment operators to denote the attainment of a high degree of skill in the operation and maintenance of motor vehicles.

Great Picture, it is always nice to see old pictures.

Answer 4

He was a Priavte First Class in the Army. The metallic medal on top of his left coat pocket is a marksmanship award. The ribbon below it is the Army Good Conduct Medal.

Answer 5

I'm not an expert but just off hand I'd say he was a private in the Army...Not sure about the medal on his chest...

Answer 6

Desertviking is right.

That is a U.S. Army Private, good conduct medal, and I think that is a marksmanship award.. though it also looks a lot like a WW2 Era Driver and Mechanic Badge... or possibly even an artillery gunner badge. I'm thinking Mechanic Badge personally, but it is hard to tell.

We can figure out a bit about what he was doing, and not doing, by the ribbons.

The Good Conduct Medal was established by Executive Order 8809, dated 28 June 1941; but the medal was designed by Mr. Joseph Kiselewski and approved by the Secretary of War on 30 October 1942...so you know the photo was taken after October of '42. It also tells you he was good at his job. (I've cut and pasted the criteria in below).

The low rank and the lack of ribbons tells me he was probably either working in a stateside position (staff perhaps... or that would fit with his being a driver or mechanic.... perhaps he was a driver for a high ranking officer or an aircraft mechanic, or an anti-aircraft gunner protecting an important facility in the Continental U.S.???) or had just gotten out of training when the photo was taken.

Good Conduct Ribbons wern't given out like candy in those days, so he was either really really outstanding in training, or more likely had been in a position for a while. (That would fit with the Stateside Mechanic theory... but I'm really just guessing here.)

What he doesn't have is a WW2 Victory Ribbon, so the photo was taken before the end of the war. He doesn't have any campaign ribbons either, so he hasn't been overseas when the photo was taken.

Most interesting is that he doesn't have an American Campaign Ribbon, which you got for a number of circumstances, including being on active service in within the continental limits of the United States for an aggregate period of one year. That ribbon was authorized 6 November 1942 but wouldn't have been issued till later...so we know the photo was taken sometime between October of 42 and early to mid 1943... perhaps it was taken for Christmas of '42?

The shiny buttons on his collar could tell you more about what he was doing. Those are his branch insignia. Crossed cannons would mean he was in the artillery. Crossed rifles would mean he was infantry. Etc. Sadly I can't make them out.

Lastly, he does NOT have paratrooper wings or pilots wings or any one of the other badges. (see here.. http://www.gruntsmilitary.com/ww2badge.shtml ) That will tell you a bit about what he was NOT doing... at least at this time. (He may have gone straight from the photo booth to paratrooper school for all I know!)

You should check out the local VFW for more help.


The Good Conduct Medal is awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal Military service. It is awarded on a selective basis to each soldier who distinguishes himself from among his/her fellow soldiers by their exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity throughout a specified period of continuous enlisted active Federal military service. Qualifying periods of service include each three years completed after 27 August 1940 or, for first award only, upon completion of at least one year upon termination of service if separated prior to three years. The immediate commander must approve the award and the award must be announced in permanent orders.

Answer 7

I know that that was not an air force in WWII, it was the us army air corp. That uniform is an army uniform they called they wool jacket the Ike jacket.
good luck