Garand Field Manual - Serial Numbered?

[fjruple]

I know of someone that enlisted in the U.S. Army at Ft. Snelling, Mn. in April of 1944. His serial number was 37593965. It would appear that the number on the Field Manual you mentioned, if a serial number, would be some time prior to Apr. 1944.

Joe-- You really can not go by that as the source of entry into the US Army was different for each individual. Those folks who were in the National Guard and called to active duty had a "2" as the first number followed by a "0" zero. The third number would id the region the individual came from than their serial number.

--fjruple

[rcathey]

So based on known numbering conventions and assuming this is indeed a serial number, is there anything you could tell me about this individual? Maybe we could figure this out yet.

[browningautorifle]

We've spent time looking and the consensus is that we can't find anything...are you following what the guys are saying?

[rcathey]

We've spent time looking and the consensus is that we can't find anything...are you following what the guys are saying?

Yeah, but for example fjruple mentions a “U” but that first digit looks more like a 4 to me. Then another poster mentions a couple serial numbers with the same amount of digits just starting with a 3.
I guess that’s my confusion.

[browningautorifle]

I think the consensus is it won't be found.

[rcathey]

I think the consensus is it won't be found.

Alrighty. A mystery it shall remain. Thanks for playing along everyone!

[reach147]

If you add a zero in front of the number it is the correct length and format for a Social Security number. I can't speak for WW2 era, but in the 1970's, no one worried about social security numbers being stolen and we used to write them down a lot. In 1970 the US Coast Guard issued service number was six digits in length. Social security numbers were adopted later on for use :-)

[browningautorifle]

but in the 1970's, no one worried about social security numbers being stolen and we used to write them down a lot.

The same here with S.I.N. numbers...