Rank Question

[316family]

I was looking through my father's Army discharge papers and was wondering if anyone could explain what this means. It says he was a "Technician 5th Grade"; underneath that it says "Headquarters Battery, Anti Aircraft Artillery Training Center". In other areas of his paperwork it lists "Private" and "Private 1st Class". Is Technician a ranking or a sub-ranking of Pvc 1st Class? I know he was stationed at Camp Hulen, Texas and Camp Wallace, Texas. Is the "Headquarters" the division he was assigned to at one of those camps?

 

He served during WW2 but did not serve overseas.

 

I am new to this hobby and would like to sort out the items in my "personal" collection so that I will know more when I'm purchasing new items. Thanks for any clarifications anyone can provide

 

Cherie

[Bob Hudson]

Here's a nice summary of that from Wikipedia:

 

Technician Fifth Grade (abbreviated as Tech 5 or T/5) was a technician ranks during World War II under the same pay grade as Corporal. Those who held this rank were addressed as Corporal, but did not have the authority to give commands as a corporal would. The pay grade number corresponded with the technician's grade. T/5 is under the pay grade of E-5 along with Corporal. Technicians were easily distinguished by the "T" imprinted on the standard chevron design for that pay grade.

 

He was a Private and the Private First Class before getting promoted to Tech 5.

[bayonetman]

Wikpedia also states that the Anti Aircraft Artillery Training Center was at Camp Stewart, GA

 

In June of 1940, Congress authorized funding for the purchase of property in coastal Georgia for the purpose of building an anti-aircraft artillery training center. It was to be located just outside of Hinesville, Georgia, some 40 miles (64 km) southwest of Savannah.

 

On 1 July 1940 the first 5,000 acres (20 km²) were bought and subsequent purchases followed. Eventually the reservation would include over 280,000 acres (1100 km²) and stretch over five counties. The large expanse of property was required for the firing ranges and impact areas which an anti-aircraft artillery training center would need for live-fire training.

 

In November of 1940, the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Training Center was officially designated as Camp Stewart, in honor of General Daniel Stewart, a native of Liberty County, who had fought with Francis Marion during the American Revolution, and who became one of the county’s military heroes. An announcement of the new post’s name was made in January 1941.

 

During the early months, training was done on wooden mock-ups, since real anti-aircraft guns were in short supply. Live-firing exercises were conducted on the beaches of St. Augustine and Amelia Island, Florida, since the necessary ranges and impact areas had not been completed at Camp Stewart. This live-fire training over the ocean continued until September 1941, while at Camp Stewart practice firing and searchlight training progressed.

 

In fall of 1941, the Carolina maneuvers were held, and all the anti-aircraft units from Camp Stewart participated. As these maneuvers drew to a close, a feeling of restless anticipation pervaded the ranks of the National Guard soldiers who were looking toward their impending release from active duty, after completion of their year of training. However, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th ended these dreams. Now the U.S. was in the war, and Camp Stewart set about accomplishing the mission it was intended for.

 

Savannah's First Bryan Baptist Church had a special service for soldiers from the Savannah Air Base and Camp Stewart December 21, 1941. Reverend Terrill wrote a letter to Asa H. Gordon, director of the Colored SSSS, extending the invitation to the soldiers. Church members took at least one soldier home from the service for Sunday dinner. Reverend Terrill, at the special service for soldiers, preached on "The Negro's Place in National Defence." Thelma Lee Stevens gave the welcome address. Scout Westley W. Law was master of ceremonies (source: page 71, Dr. Charles J. Elmore, "First Bryan 1788-2001 The Oldest Continuous Black Baptist Church in America.")

 

The National Guard units departed and new units came in for training. Facilities were expanded and improved. Anti-aircraft artillery training was upgraded and soon a detachment of Women’s Air Service Pilots (WASP’s) arrived at the air facility on post, Liberty Field, to fly planes to tow targets for the live-fire exercises. Eventually radio-controlled airplane targets came into use as a more effective and safer means of live-fire practice.

 

As the war progressed, Camp Stewart’s training programs continued expanding to keep pace with the needs placed upon it. Units were shipped out promptly upon completion of their training, and new units received in their place. The camp provided well-trained soldiers for duty in the European, the Mediterranean, the North African, and the Pacific Theaters.

[craig_pickrall]

My father was a medic assigned to an AAA unit. He received his training at FT Bliss / El Paso, TX. He went to the PTO and was at Okinawa with 10th ARMY. He was also a T5.

[Lee Ragan]

Here's a nice summary of that from Wikipedia:

 

Technician Fifth Grade (abbreviated as Tech 5 or T/5) was a technician ranks during World War II under the same pay grade as Corporal. Those who held this rank were addressed as Corporal, but did not have the authority to give commands as a corporal would. The pay grade number corresponded with the technician's grade. T/5 is under the pay grade of E-5 along with Corporal. Technicians were easily distinguished by the "T" imprinted on the standard chevron design for that pay grade.

 

He was a Private and the Private First Class before getting promoted to Tech 5.

To avoid confusion it ought to be mentioned that prior to 1947 the pay grade numbering system was inverted. That is, the 1st pay grade was at the top for Master Sergeants and First Sergeants and the 7th pay grade was the bottom for Privates. In those days, pay grades were not refered to with "E" preceding the grade number. That's a post 1947 thing. A T-5 was in the 5th pay grade (3rd up from the bottom), while the modern E-5 designation is 5th up from the bottom.

Just a bit of trivia, but not understanding how this works can and does lead to some confusion amoung collectors.

[craig_pickrall]

The neat thing about picking the E5 as the example is he is 5th up from the bottom and 5th down from the top.

[Wailuna]

...Here's a nice summary of that from Wikipedia: Technician Fifth Grade (abbreviated as Tech 5 or T/5)...T/5 is under the pay grade of E-5 along with Corporal...

That "E-5" anachronism isn't the only misleading detail in that Wikipedia article. Use of the abbreviations "Tech 5" and "T/5" was commonplace in period and is accepted usage now. But wouldn't you know it? The Army had (and has) its own way for doing things. AR 850-150 Authorized Abbreviations and Symbols (6 Jul 44) gives this entry for "technician, third (fourth, fifth) grade.....Tec 3 (4,5)" and "technician......techn" but "technical....tech" My father too was a Tec 5 (source: item 3, WD AG Form 53-55).

 

As ever with Wikipedia, reader beware.