Thank you for your service and this extensive answer! It is a very interesting read indeed. :) Why did you call them "cabbage patch kids"?   Jules

Americal Division ghosting???

Be advised that morning reports at the NARA site, where most of the information below was found, are not available for after Dec 44 at this time. Also, I was unable to find very much about him on ancestry, FOLD3 or Newspapersdotcom; maybe some other folks on here can find more at these sites or others. Right now, unfortunately, it only provides a partial answer to your question   He left the Anti-Tank Co 358th IR in TX on 4 Sep 43 (en route to the Air Corps [AC] via a temp attachment to a field artillery battalion): He may have previously applied to the Air Corps/Army Air Forces/taken a test(s)?   On 7 Sep 43, he arrived at Sheppard Field, TX for basic Army Air Forces (AAF) training after arriving from the AAF Induction Station, Dallas, TX:   He was assigned to a pre-flight class on 29 Sep 43 at Wichita, KS. He was considered an aviation student and not an aviation cadet.     On , he was 28 jan 44, he was sent to Santa Ana Army Air Base, CA for further training:   Mar 44, still at Santa Ana AAB, CA for further training:     Continued training during Apr 44 at SAAAB:   On 17 Jun 44, as a bombardier student, he was transferred from SAAB, CA to the AAF Flexible Gunnery School at Kingman Army Air Field, AZ for additional training:   On 5 Aug 44, having completed the Flexible Gunnery School at Kingman, AZ, he was transferred to Carlsbad Army Air Field, NM for additional training:   During Sep 44, he takes an extended period of leave (returning to CAAF after 25 days) from his training; leading me to wonder if there was an issue at home he had to deal with? No additional documents were found at NARA for him (by me, at least) during my search.    I'm wondering if, in the photos(s) you have of him with his wings, he is wearing officer rank (that may indicate he was commissioned as a bombardier)? I did not find any documents showing him as an officer (with a new service number). To the best of my knowledge, there were no enlisted AAF bombardiers after 1942.   I hope this helps. Dan  

Snagged this screen shot from FB. Candy stripe Green Beret LT.   

I love good WW2 portraits! Antique store find yesterday. Nice Aircrew wings and American Defense ribbon. The way the names are written, I think the AAF member is Elvie Gooch. Anyone know anything about this airman? OR.. if his brother served, Wayne Gooch, and their histories?   

Germantown seen that vicious fight for the Chew House in Germantown October 4, 1777, , the summer residence of prominent Pennsylvanian and Philadelphian Benjamin Chew British troops from the 40th Foot as well as troops from a composite Light Infantry unit barricaded themselves in the Chew House, with the Americans blasting  it first with artillery, then launching frontal assaults one after the other by the 3rd New Jersey, heavy causalities  for the Americans were incurred, but they just couldn't dislodge the British, a handful of Americans got into the house at certain points but were apparently killed off.  The American attacks gave way in the face of this, and they withdrew, suffering 57 killed and dozens of wounded. The British incredibly suffered way less in killed and wounded during all this.   American artist Howard Pyle captures the carnage in this 1898 painting.

I have two types of this wing with such a "smooth" back. Smooth - most wings with a hollow back have sharp edges at the hollow; these have a rounder edge. Both have the same hinge and catch. One has "Sterling" stamped in, and the other has raised letters.

I know I need a rucksack, but what else do I need to improve my impression? I know I need some pocket filler. 

Thank you, that's the one my grandfather gave me