Underage enlistment or ?

[Brian Keith]

While doing some other research, I came across this interesting grave stone on Find-A Grave. What do you think, underage enlistment or ? When did WW II end as far as the military is concerned?

Corp James Albert Pogue

Birth 20 Apr 1931

Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA

Death 10 Sep 1950 (aged 19)

Burial Valhalla Memory Gardens

Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana, USA

Memorial ID 22289744 · View Source

 

 

BKW

[gwb123]

Germany and Japan surrendered in 1945... he would have been barely 14 years old.

 

Even if you extended it through the occupation to say 1948, he still would only be 17.

 

I think there is an error somewhere.

[patches]

Possible but more probably a VA error, cause he would of been found out don't you think if he had say enlisted in 1944 at 13, like Calvin S. Graham

[AustinO]

There was a James A from northern Indiana born in 1923 in the 1930 census, possibly him...

[patches]

There was a James A from northern Indiana born in 1923 in the 1930 census, possibly him...

This one on the tombstone is a verifiable Korean War KIA. No other Pogue's from Indiana listed.

 

Name Service Rank / Rate Birth date Home of Record City Country Incident or Death Date Remains Recovered POGUE JAMES ALBERT ARMY CPL 19310000 UNKNOWN MONROE 19500910 Y

He was in HQ Company, in the Regimental HQ Co I presume, and was from Spencer.

https://www.koreanwar.org/html/korean_war_project_remembrance_search_6_2013.html?key=23718

 

[Linedoggie]

Didnt Col David Hackworth serve at the very end of WW2 in the 88th Division in Trieste while underage?

[patches]

Didnt Col David Hackworth serve at the very end of WW2 in the 88th Division in Trieste while underage?

The cut of date for the WWII era, as in the WWII Victory medal in 31 December 1946. Hackworth might get credit for WWII cause he joined the Merchant Marines and for his entry into the Army like in June 1946 sure, I believe he entered the MM after the actual war had ended, like in the early fall of 1945, and did a cruise in the Pacific, says in his book that he returned in early 1946. With his Army service, in the book says decided to join on May 26 1946 when he was still 15, s he probably officially takes the oath in June and leaves for training shortly thereafter, doesn't say where he got basic, probably Camp Roberts Infantry Replacement Center California as Hackworth was from Los Angeles.

 

On his WIKI it does list the WWII Victory Medal, But Can't find a good photo of Hackworth in his Class A's to see if he might have worn the WWII Victory medal, cause he was in the habit, like many officers and NCOs in those days, of wearing only valor decorations rather than all his other medals, not to say he did that every time he wore his Claas A's and or Khakis.

 

The key here with Pogue of course is to know exactly when he entered the Army, there is the remote possibility he joined underage in say 1946 I will admit, but in these cases, I first always look at the obvious rather than the obscure, in that so far the WWII on the tombstone was a VA mistake.

[Jumpin Jack]

When I enlisted at age 17 (1953) into the Military Police, there was another fellow in the unit that was 14, but looked much older.

[patches]

When I enlisted at age 17 (1953) into the Military Police, there was another fellow in the unit that was 14, but looked much older.

Did he get found out Jack?

 

On Hackworth, I would love to see his Basic Service portrait to see just how old he looked at 15. Hackworth in his book says he was never suspected of being 14 in the MM or when in the Army, even as the years went by, him turning 15 1/2, 16 etc, must of been one of those who really looked older then he was, but it never seemed he aged as he got older right, as it would turn out, as he got older, he looked younger then he was

 

Would have to glean through the book (I have it) but there was a point that he came clean on his illegal enlistment, and had to submit some kind of paper work in order to set the record straight or something, think this was after his first assignment in Korea where he received a battlefield commission, and was now at the Ft Benning Infantry School.

[Jumpin Jack]

Was he found out? No.

 

Regarding Hackworth, our paths crossed. An amazing individual, and a true leader of men.

[lettow]

Here is the back of the application for Pogue's headstone.

[mhalstead1950]

Well, I found this on newspapers the other day. Doubt it's true but it's interesting. It was published Friday, September 12, 1919.

[patches]

Was he found out? No.

 

Regarding Hackworth, our paths crossed. An amazing individual, and a true leader of men.

Thank You sir.

[patches]

Another great job lettow.

 

That clears that up I would say. Note the birth date of 20 April 1928, it says given birth date, this could mean that this is his correct birth date, or one he might of used to enlist illegally, that he was really born 20 April 1931, which by the "Reporting for Duty" date of 15 or is it 25, October 1946 would make him 15. He's apparently found out and Honorable discharged (Minority), 20 September 1947, minority has another definition, that being "the state or period of being under the age of full legal responsibility". And reenlists this time when he hits 17. 21 April 1948, kid loved the Army as we can see, Damn shame he was killed later in Korea, but then that's what soldiering is about.

[patches]

You know I was always curious about why in the hell the Navy threw the book at that kid Calvin Graham when they found out he was underage, like come on man they treated him as if he was almost some enemy saboteur or something right, some kind of enemy of the state, yeah I know he went on an unauthorized leave to Texas when his ship was in NYC being overhauled to go to his Gradma's funeral, and sure that will get you disciplined, but the other stuff they did!, this kid, despite his enlisting illegally, was a hero, One, he willy joins the fight, Two, he distinguishes himself in that fight. I think the officers involved in all that were all wrong, they should not have done what they did, sorry.

[brad k]

I had a first sgt. in the 1980's that was 16 when he enlisted and went to korea, after he had done his tour to include being awarded 3 purple hearts and a combat infantry badge they found out about his age and discharged him and revoked all of his awards, he enlisted again when he got old enough and did several tours in viet nam and got some more purple hearts but he couldn't wear any ribbons or insignia from his korean war time. he didn't seem to mind though he told me " I know what I did ".