Oldest EM in combat during WW2

[67Rally]

My uncle's WWII assignments:

Co. E, 2nd M.I. Tng Bn 7-Jun-43 Co. F, 2nd Tng Bn 5-Jul-43 Co. H, 2nd Tng Bn 18-Aug-43 MIS ETOUSA 23-Nov-43 HQ MIS Special Troops, ETOUSA APO 887 18-Apr-44 HQ VII Corps APO 307, 1st US Army 12-Apr-44 XXI Corps 18-May-45 28-May-45 ETOUSA MIS DY P/C 29-May-45 30-Jun-45 417th CIC OFF 2-Jul-45 28-Aug-45 1013th CIC DET 29-Aug-45 21-Sep-45

 

1952 in Japan. Two years later, he would be promoted to major and aged out at 55 years old. He went into the intel business with the fedgov upon his separation and served into the 1970s. He was a veteran of three wars.

 

[Timberwolf]

Here's a uniform to one of my oldest soldiers. Cpl Lyman Croyle served in two wars. With the 1st Div. 1st Ammo Train in WWI and with the USMC stateside in WWII at an airbase as a fireman and sentry dog handler. I have a few other uniforms to some older guys (in their late 30's when they enlisted for WWII), and I think older enlistee's may have been more common than we think, especially in support units where skills from their civilian occupations may have helped.

 

[RustyCanteen]

A friend and I once researched a 56 year old enlistee who was serving in France in WWI; he was wounded too.

 

Not exactly the same time frame, but older enlistees (both voluntary and drafted) happened, as did more portly soldiers. There's a reason they had big sizes back then; soldiers came in a wide range of age and weight.

[El Bibliotecario]

 

Another thing that collectors need to remember about the US Army prior to Vietnam- rank was NOT an automatic thing and was restricted to specific openings in the individual units. A sergeant in one company could get transferred to another company in the same battalion and lose his stripes because there wasn't a sergeant's billet available in the other company. Also in this time, ranks went up and down like a flag on a flagpole with soldiers receiving promotions and demotions at the whim of the company first sergeant or company commander.

 

While promotions and demotions were indeed more localized at unit level, the system of grades belonging to the unit rather than the individual ended quite a few years before the Viet Nam war.

[P-40Warhawk]

Don't overlook Frank Kviatek "Hardtack Murphy".

[P-40Warhawk]

If you ask yourself who? https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76837429

[USMCR79]

If you ask yourself who? https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76837429

 

Tough Old Soldier!!

 

Bill

[Garandomatic]

Google Rupert Trimmingham. Pretty important african american soldier if you follow yank magazine. Almost as old as him, being born in 1899.

[patches]

Wilbert G. Winkle, no WWI service drafted at 44 in 1942.

[themick]

10 hours ago, patches said:

Wilbert G. Winkle, no WWI service drafted at 44 in 1942.

He looks very much like Edward G. Robinson.

Steve

[atb]

Movie "Walter Winkle Goes to War" from 1944 with Edward G. Robinson.

[The Rooster]

Im going to guess there were many older troops during WW2.

Because in my own experience in 1981, my very first guard drill at the somerset Armory in NJ,

the two Sergeants E6 and E7 were grizzled vets of the Korean War.

I'l guess they were in their mid 50's.

And my First Sergeant in my infantry unit, First Sergeant pace was a WW2,

Korea and Vietnam War Veteran. A 3 war man. He retired in 85 and I think he was over 60.

We also had some Vietnam Vets in our company two were cooks and one was a squad leader and one was our Platoon sergent.

In the guard and reserves its common to have older EM's. And I ask you, who better to teach the young troops? Who better to learn from?

Those guys were a great asset to us young inexperienced troops. To have guys like that in your unit is gold!

So I think During WW2 it was common. All those WW1 vets.... in guard units all over the country.

And some that were drafted into the regulars. Like Walter Winkle.

If WW3 breaks out, and I sure hope it does not, Im going to try and enlist.

Im old but I can help.

 

 

[atb]

Draftees were part of the Army of the United States (AUS). Regulars (Regular Army or RA) were still distinct as far as being a source group of personnel for the Army. And, of course,  Walter Winkle was a fictional  character.

[Marshallj]

I was a 52 year old reservist when I was activated and sent to Afghanistan.👨‍🦳

[patches]

11 hours ago, themick said:

He looks very much like Edward G. Robinson.

Steve

Yeah, it dawned on me that he was in this picture as a older draftee, selected as an Engineer and becomes a hero in the Pacific .