my uncle was a non battle casualty during WWII. He died in a vehicle and coal train crash. The little information I have found, indicate he was traveling under an assumed name. He was a Mexican-American from Brownsville, Texas. Any idea as to why he would have an assumed name? He was a private first class in the U S Army. Thank you
G'day, and welcome to the forum. Was your uncle serving under the false name? Do you have his service records? They may be obtainable from the National Archives: Access to Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF)for the General Public, bearing in mind there was a fire during the 70s which destroyed a number of records, your Uncle's may be one of these. Mark
Complete speculation, but I've heard cases of men deserting from one service or unit and joining another under a false identity - sometimes after having been refused permission for a transfer. Similarly, and it doesn't seem to apply here, some men assumed identities with different nationalities to circumvent legal problems about their home nation's status during the war.
I've edited in ''PFC US Army'' to thread title to attract members who may not otherwise look at the thread.
Thank you. My uncle served under his name. Here's a pic of info found when I googled his name. My grandmother was told he died in a vehicle/train accident. She was told that he was the driver for an officer. His tombstone paid by the us govt has his name. I've seen it myself many times. Grew up very proud of him
Have you thought of trying to get in touch with Ben Beigiel? As he seems to know about this crash. How many other soldiers were killed in the same accident? Was it just an error in identifying the bodies? While going on leave to Beligum, Staff... - WW2 Researcher Bill Beigel | Facebook
If he enlisted in Houston, TX on 16 September, 1942, he did so under his own name. NARA - AAD - Display Full Records - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records)
Thank you. Sounds like it might be him, although, this record does not have his middle initial. He was a farmer and he was single. His mother, my grandmother, was a widow by then so that would have been his dependent. He did not have any children. Again, thank you.
