Gary,
I'm so impressed with the matching you're doing. Who would have thought you'd get this far?
I said earlier that it was a shame that we couldn't see insignia on more of the guys, but now that I'm looking at the photo more closely on my computer, I obviously there's plenty of insignia. Are you narrowing it down any using rank? I can see you found the captain. Does the lieutenant insignia narrow down the other three guys against anyone on your lists?
As for arm patches, I only see five unidentified corporals and six sergeants (luckily, the only one with an arm patch that I can't see clearly is Sterling, so we already have him identified -- I'm pretty sure he was a corporal at the time they shipped out).
Concerning the uniforms, I'd have to agree that those white coats look like the KP uniforms, although I can't make up my mind about their head gear. How odd they didn't change for the photo. As for the khaki semi-formals, Sterling got married in his. I don't have any photos of him in Class As -- but I don't have many photos of him at all. Did the NCOs and enlisted men have Class As when they shipped out? Just curious, it doesn't make any difference for our photos.
Lisa
Lisa,
Thanks so much for caring what we are trying to do here. How am I doing the matching? Well, I am basically using unit documents that I have to get the names of A Company soldiers and with the names I look up each using Ancestry searching for as much information as possible which sometimes leads to photos that can be used for comparisons. Eventually I will run out of potentials this way and will look to connect with folks that may provide photos for comparisons and may also lead to more folks joining the conversation here. Obviously, any photos that folks have who are currently participating here can provide with information on them can be helpful for identification purposes.
I don't think we'll ever know why these guys couldn't have changed into their Summer Service Uniforms for the photo. As for whether they shipped out with their Class A uniform... don't know this. Maybe Marion has an idea?
Back to the identification process.
Gary
Proud Grandson of Randall Gates
Mechanic, A and H&S Companies, 292nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 1149th Engineer Combat Group