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10 hours ago, Rmb2 said:

This is the other document I found. 

Thanks for sharing this with us, these separation papers can of course provide important clues to answering questions. It appears to me that your grandfather started his military service with the 125th AEB and finished it with the 45th ID. The 125th AEB was deactivated at Camp Myles Standish on 19 Sept 1945, but according to your grandfather's separation paper he continued to serve stateside until 14 Nov 1945. The 45th ID might have been where he completed his service, hence the Thunderbird patch he is wearing in your photo. I also think that maybe he was transferred into the 45th ID before returning stateside because his return date to the US of 10 Sept 1945 is the same as the 45th ID's return to the Port of Boston. The 125th AEB did not return until a week later on 17 Sept 1945 and was deactivated two days later. The 45th ID was moved to Texas after reentering the US and later deactivated on 7 Dec 1945. This fits with your grandfather's separation at Camp Fannin Texas on 14 Nov 1945. This is just my theory, but I'm sticking to it!  ;)

All units a soldier served with would not be reflected in the separation paper, that info would be contained in his personnel file which unfortunately may have been destroyed in the NPRC fire. Perhaps other clues will be found to support this theory. Has your family saved letters from your grandfather during this time period that may have address or unit information on the them? Just a thought.

Have a good one!

Randy

Sorry for delay, I have been getting back into routine after a 2 week roadtrip with my 2 year old., I appreciate all your responses Randy!

We stopped by the 45th division museum in Oklahoma City. It was an amazing museum!

They said the thing over his right pocket was his Ruptured Duck pin. One of his collars, I believe his left, was his engineers castle.

They said he would have been in the 45th (perhaps 120th engineers), then "transfered" to 125th just to be shipped home.

They gave me a copy of the paper to request his records. They said it normally is a long game of waiting & resending. Said it was typically to get the "Destroyed in the fire letter" the first time you request. And suggested making copies & to continue to resend.