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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: I need some help in requesting my uncle's military records
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=1641

I think I've finally got enough information to request my uncle's military records on behalf of his daughter.
I went to the link & filled out the forms, but before I print, have her sign, & send them, I was wondering if any vets, or people who have gone through the process can help me on a few points.
First off, looking at his dog tags here's what's on them:
Herling,
Howard
E.
877-20-20
USNR O
T/5-44-p

1. The form asks for his SSN. There was no Social Security then, but I have his True American Identification card & it has the same number of digits as a SSN.
Should I include this number on the form & if so, do I need to mention what it is in the comments field?
2. The form asks Service Component: Active or Rerserve
Looking at his dog tags it says USNR does that mean reserve? (He was in the PT service 42-45)
3. The form asks for his Service Number
Is that the 877-20-20 number on his dog tags?
Also can anyone tell me what the T/5-44-P number on his dog tags is?
Thanks for your help with this, I'm looking forward to uncovering what his records might hold as far as information regarding his time with Ron33. I just want to make sure I get everything on the form correct.
You can either respond here, or send me an e-mail.
Thanks again.
Blake-

Posted By: Blake | Posted on: Feb 4, 2010 - 10:41pm
Total Posts: 61 | Joined: Apr 18, 2008 - 2:44pm

Blake,
Can't help much on Social Security Number.
877-20-20 is service Number.
USNR United States Naval Reserve O Blood Type
T/5-44 Tetanus Vaccination date P Religious affilliation protestant.
Gary

Posted By: Gary Paulsen | Posted on: Feb 5, 2010 - 4:59am
Total Posts: 249 | Joined: Feb 14, 2009 - 6:31am

Social Security was started in 1936 or 1937. Your uncle surely had one sometime during his lifetime. At sometime after WWII I believe that the military started using the SS number instead of a separate ID. Review the forms again to determine if the dogtag number it the number you need. The navy has probably never associated a SS No. with your uncle's records.

Posted By: QM | Posted on: Feb 5, 2010 - 5:43am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

The Army started using SSNs in the mid-1960s, the Navy around 1972. So an SSN is probably not needed.

As far as the Active or reserve component, in looking at the form, I would put USNR in the active component line (fill in the rest on that line). I think the difference is if he was in the reserves and never called to active duty, it would go under reserves.

Charlie

Charlie

Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Feb 5, 2010 - 7:11am
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm

Thanks for all the info!

Posted By: Blake | Posted on: Feb 5, 2010 - 10:29am
Total Posts: 61 | Joined: Apr 18, 2008 - 2:44pm

Just in case you have not discovered what ID to use, I made a trip to my safe deposit box, One of the forms that I used had the three boxes for SS No. followed by the instruction "also service number if applicable". I entered my navy service number in the three boxes just as the number is separated into three groupings. This was done on paper forms.

In recent years a Combat Action Ribbon was authorized for us. If your uncle was eligible for this ribbon it can be obtained through the Navy Department. No medal is associated with this ribbon.

When you get your uncle's service records there should be a section that lists the medals earned. Most of us never received the medals. We just wanted to go home and get on with our life. I applied for and received my medals several years ago. You may wish to apply for your uncle's medals if he did not receive them.

I need to leave it for someone else to post where to go online for the ribbon and medals.

Posted By: QM | Posted on: Feb 7, 2010 - 8:00am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Please don't think I'm being too negative but I have had nothing but problems trying to obtain WWII era records. Out of five requests, I've received only one full set of records and one with just a few pages of medical correspondence for 17 years service.

Good luck and be patient!

Posted By: Robert Orrell | Posted on: Feb 9, 2010 - 2:20am
Total Posts: 80 | Joined: Jul 2, 2008 - 6:18am