First off, without his personel records or any of the unit records we dont know for sure exactly when he joined the 74th AAA Gun Bn. It is very possible he was in another AA unit between the time of his Guard service,`39 -`40, being drafted into the regular army, 1940, till the 74th went overseas in 1943.
One possibility i found is the 67th CA (AA) Regt.
"On 12-12-41 elements of the 67th CA (AA) regiment moved to Mitchel Field, NY, as air defense for the New York area, also deploying to Cp. Upton and Patterson, NJ. Concentrated at Patterson 12-16-41 and 3rd Bn activated 6-15-42. The 1st & 2nd Bns moved to Ft. Hancock 10-31-42 for training until 12-27-42, when 1st & 2nd Bns moved to Ft. Dix, NJ, while 3rd Bn took up position at Teaneck, NJ, until 12-27-42, when it was ordered to A.P. Hill M.R., VA, and then Portsmouth, VA, 1-6-43. The personnel of 3rd Bn were changed from general service to limited service. On 5-24-43, 3rd Bn was inactivated and personnel and equipment reassigned to 371st AAA (SL) Bn."
When the 3rd Bn moved to Camp A.P. Hill M.R. on 27 Dec 1942, the 74th Coast Artillery (AA) Regiment was at Camp A.P Hill M.R. at that time.
Again, this is just a possiblity for his being in New Jersey.