10 Replies Latest reply on Jul 1, 2020 8:14 AM by Carl Urich

Seeking Military information about Floyd Rivers Gray

Kimberly Payne Jun 29, 2020 7:05 PM

Any information about my father's service would be appreciated. I think he served between 1948-1950.

I have his dogs tags. Would the 8-digit numbers help in the search?

Message was edited by: Kimberly Payne

Re: Seeking Military information about Floyd Rivers Gray

Alice Lane Jun 30, 2020 9:13 AM (in response to Kimberly Payne)

Hi Kimberly,

Thanks for posting on History Hub.
Need more information...birth date, residence and etc.
There are several people with the name Floyd R Gray on familysearch.org with military information. It is a free site but you will need to create a user name & password to search.
Best Wishes and Good Luck in your search.

Alice Lane
Volunteer Researcher
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- Re: Seeking Military information about Floyd Rivers Gray
  
  Kimberly Payne Jun 30, 2020 10:06 AM (in response to Alice Lane)
  
  Hi Alice, here is what I know and what I was told.
  He was born on April 9, but I am not sure of the year. He grew up in Elkton Maryland and graduated from Elkton High School in 1945. He then spent 2 years in the Merchant Marines. He entered the Army after that and the number on his dog tag reads: "RA 13277467" and below that is : "T48"
  
  I was told he served on The Honor Guard, however, I can not find any record that he was there.
  
  Any leads you can provide would be very appreciated.
  
  Stay Safe,
  Kimberly
  
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  - Re: Seeking Military information about Floyd Rivers Gray
    
    joan stachnik Jun 30, 2020 2:59 PM (in response to Kimberly Payne)
    
    Hi Kimberly, I don't have much to add from previous replies, but RA in your father's service number should indicate regular army (volunteer enlisted) and T48 the date for tetanus immunization. Hope this is of some help. joan
    
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    - Re: Seeking Military information about Floyd Rivers Gray
      
      Kimberly Payne Jun 30, 2020 3:43 PM (in response to joan stachnik)
      
      Thanks. That makes total sense. Can you help with the other two letters on the tag?
      
      P - Protestant
      
      A - Blood Type
      
      Is that right?
      
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      - Re: Seeking Military information about Floyd Rivers Gray
        
        joan stachnik Jun 30, 2020 5:51 PM (in response to Kimberly Payne)
        
        Yes to the best of my knowledge. Tetanus date and blood type were listed on the same line; religion was on the line below. I found the information below for Korea War era tags. joan
        
        During the Korean War, there are several variations for tags. The Army began using the Service Number Prefixes: RA (Regular Army, volunteer enlisted), US (an enlisted draftee), NG (National Guard), ER (Enlisted Reserve), O (Officer) followed by an eight digit service number. Also of importance is the fact that there is no Rhesus factor on the blood type ( + or - ) as this technology did not exist at the time. For religious preference, the tags were marked C (Catholic), P (Protestant), H (Hebrew) or left blank for no preference as was common in WWII. However you can see some variation to this with new Army regulations (606-5). This included X and Y in addition to P, C, and H: the X indicating any religion not included in the first three, and the Y indicating either no religion or a choice not to list religion.
        
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Re: Seeking Military information about Floyd Rivers Gray

Carl Urich Jun 30, 2020 9:45 AM (in response to Kimberly Payne)

Good morning.

You can complete a Standard Form 180 (https://www.archives.gov/files/sf180-request-pertaining-to-military-records-exp-april2018-1.pdf ) and mail it to the National Personnel Records Center.

The numbers on his dog tags are the veteran's Service Number and would definitely help in locating the veteran's records.

Hope that helps.
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- Re: Seeking Military information about Floyd Rivers Gray
  
  Kimberly Payne Jun 30, 2020 10:27 AM (in response to Carl Urich)
  
  Hi Carl,
  
  here is what I know and what I was told.
  He was born on April 9, but I am not sure of the year. He grew up in Elkton Maryland and graduated from Elkton High School in 1945. He then spent 2 years in the Merchant Marines. He entered the Army after that and the number on his dog tag reads: "RA 13277467" and below that is : "T48"
  
  I was told he served on The Honor Guard, however, I can not find any record that he was there.
  
  Any leads you can provide would be very appreciated.
  
  Stay Safe,
  Kimberly
  
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  - Re: Seeking Military information about Floyd Rivers Gray
    
    Carl Urich Jul 1, 2020 8:14 AM (in response to Kimberly Payne)
    
    Please submit a Standard Form 180 and send it to NPRC. I believe you have enough information to locate the veteran's records.
    
    Have a great day
    
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Re: Seeking Military information about Floyd Rivers Gray

Alice Lane Jun 30, 2020 10:58 AM (in response to Kimberly Payne)

Hi again Kimberly,
Thanks for your quick response. I found your father on findagrave.com just in case you do not have it
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/80579190

Alice Lane
Volunteer Researcher
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- Re: Seeking Military information about Floyd Rivers Gray
  
  Kimberly Payne Jun 30, 2020 2:45 PM (in response to Alice Lane)
  
  Thank you for your continuing effort.
  
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