Question on the use of USN and USNR after sailor's rate

[usmedalman]

I have two WW2 USN Purple Hearts both to enlisted sailors, one lists the sailor as USN after his rate, and the other as USNR. What would cause one to be enlisted in the Navy Reserve and one to be enlisted in the regular Navy? Could this have to do with enlisted before the war or after war was declared?

 

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[sigsaye]

After October 1942, voluntary enlistments were suspended, and everyone was inducted through their local draft board. This allowed the military to control the number of people that they had resources to handle, such housing, feeding, clothing and equipment. Everyone inducted was inducted into the Rederves with an open ended "Enlistment ", so that their enlistment did not expire while the war was still going on, and they could also desperate the individual when convienent after the war.

 

That's why when you look at records, everyone is mostly reservists and everyonevwas mostly draftees

[usmedalman]

After October 1942, voluntary enlistments were suspended, and everyone was inducted through their local draft board. This allowed the military to control the number of people that they had resources to handle, such housing, feeding, clothing and equipment. Everyone inducted was inducted into the Rederves with an open ended "Enlistment ", so that their enlistment did not expire while the war was still going on, and they could also desperate the individual when convienent after the war.

 

That's why when you look at records, everyone is mostly reservists and everyonevwas mostly draftees

 

Thanks very much for the detailed reply. I thought that maybe sometime after Pearl Harbor things changed like that, but I wasn't sure.