How to find WWI veteran's rank when sources conflict?

Question

Hello! I'm an historian with the Indiana Historical Bureau and I'm writing historical marker text for African American doctor and World War I veteran Joseph H. Ward. I'm hoping someone can direct me to his official rank at the time of his death (1956) because the sources I have conflict:

headstone lists Lt. Col.
newspaper articles later in his life, and the VA's website lists him as Col.
his relative's application lists his grade as Major

What would be the most definitive record with regards to his rank? He was the first African American hospital director in VA history (at Tuskegee), so I figure the answer should be somewhere. Thanks so much!

Rebecca Collier · Answer

Dear Ms. Poletika, &#160; Thank you for posting your request on History Hub! &#160; His rank should be listed in his Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). OMPFs and individual medical reports for officers of the U.S. Army who were separated from the service after June 1917 and prior to 1956 are in the custody of the National Archives at St. Louis (RL-SL). In many cases where personnel records were destroyed in the 1973 fire, proof of service can be provided from other records such as morning reports, payrolls, and military orders, and a certificate of military service will be issued. Please complete a GSA Standard Form 180 and mail to the National Archives at St. Louis (RL-SL), 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO&#160; 63138-1002 or send it via email to stl.archives@nara.gov . &#160; If not, his rank might be listed in his Official Personnel File (OPF). OPFs and medical information for individuals who worked for the U.S. government in a civilian capacity prior to 1952 are in the custody of the National Archives at St. Louis, P.O. Box 38757, St. Louis, MO 63138 . Please include full name used during Federal employment, date of birth, Social Security Number (if applicable), name and location of employing Federal agency, beginning and ending dates of Federal Service. For more information, t he web site is https://www.archives.gov/st-louis/archival-programs/civilian-personnel-archival/index.html . &#160; We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your research!

Michael Culbertson · Answer

Ancestry.com has the application for his headstone, QMC Form 646 (13 Oct 52), which was submitted to the Memorial Division of the Office of the Quartermaster General. On the front of the form, his grade is shown in block 7 as Major.

The form was likely filled out by Dewey Shoemaker of the Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, using information supplied to him by Mrs. Susan Knox Ward.

On the back of the form is the following information about his service. These notes were made in red pencil by someone working in the Memorial Division, presumably the same person who checked the information on the front of the form.

"Accepted Comm 1 Lt Med Sec ORC 10 Aug 1917 A/D same date

Sub Service Lt. Col. Med Sec ORC Apmt terminated under Hon conditions 9-23-1934

No A/D as a Reserve Officer"

While this information is sketchy, it appears that he was honorably discharged from the Organized Reserve Corps in September 1934 as a Lieutenant Colonel.

The Memorial Division's information came from written Army records. Mrs. Ward's information was given more than twenty years after Dr. Ward retired from the VA.

If he was a Lt Col during the time he worked in Tuskegee, he would have been addressed as Colonel.

I hope this helps.

Michael W. Culbertson

Sergeant Major, US Army Retired

Holly Rivet · Answer

Ms. Poletika, &#160; The Officer Pay Card states the rank at the time of final discharge from military service, whether that was during or after the war.&#160; Should a change have been made to his rank post-service, not something typically done, notations would be included in his OMPF. To begin a search for either, please contact the National Archives at St. Louis. National Archives and Records Administration ATTN: RL-SL PO Box 38757 St. Louis, MO 63138 stl.archives@nara.gov &#160; Best Wishes, Holly Rivet &#160;

Jason, National Archives · Answer

According to the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System's biographical article about him, " Dr. Ward became one of only two African American officers in the medical corps to attain the rank of Major during the war. He was honorably discharged from active service on May 29, 1919 and continued in the reserves until September 23, 1934. He left the Army at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and returned to his practice in Indianapolis. " Based on the article, he may have been a major when he left active duty and was then promoted to lieutenant colonel while a reservist, which might be the source of the confusion. Hopefully the records that Ms. Collier and Ms. Rivet referred you to can make things clearer. https://www.pittsburgh.va.gov/about/va-history/first-african-american-hospital-director.asp

Holly Rivet · Answer

Hello Ms. Poletika, &#160; Due to the 1973 Fire , the military branches supplied us with several auxiliary documents to help re-construct a service member's military service sufficient to receive benefits.&#160; This information includes dates of entry/separation, rank, and character of conduct.&#160; &#160; As to your second question, we would need to know the original documents supporting that claim.&#160; It is sometimes the case that an unsupported claim is made in one circulation and others followed suit.&#160; According to the Tuskegee Veterans Administration page on Wikipedia, he served as managing director from 1924-1936.&#160; He may have a civilian personnel record on file here at St. Louis as well.&#160; &#160; We hope this information has been helpful with your research! &#160; Sincerely, Holly Rivet &#160;

Jason, National Archives · Answer

We contacted Darlene Richardson, the Veterans Health Administration historian who wrote the article, and she stated that according to the second page of his Record of Internment, he was a lieutenant colonel when he died.&#160; It was not her intent to imply that he was a full colonel when she wrote the article.&#160;

Cody White · Answer

Nicole,

It's been my experience both in the service and in veteran groups that when you have the officer ranks with the Lieutenant preceding, often when speaking the Lieutenant is dropped. So in the Navy, a Lieutenant Commander is called "Commander" in person even though he's not a full Commander. In the Army, you would call a Lieutenant Colonel "Colonel" even though he's not a full bird. It's not official but I would suspect that is what went on while he was running the hospital.

Holly Rivet · Answer

Dear Ms. Poletika, &#160; Thank you for posting your request on History Hub! &#160; If you are only looking for his final rank, we recommend requesting his WWI Officer Pay Card .&#160; This record will include his name, rank, date of commission, date of discharge, and more.&#160; To access this record, please contact the Reference Team at the National Archives at St. Louis. &#160; National Archives and Records Administration National Archives at St. Louis ATTN: RL-SL PO Box 38757 St. Louis, MO 63138 stl.archives@nara.gov &#160; We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your research! Holly Rivet &#160;

How to find WWI veteran's rank when sources conflict?

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