Multiple branch OMPFs and service in places you never expected
I wrote about the Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) and its contents. This week I would like to take you deeper into these incredible files to show you what else you might discover. Their contents might make you pause, question your family’s narrative, heal, and maybe tell the story of someone who has been forgotten.
Tip! It’s a good idea to read OMPFs from other branches to get an idea of the story the contents tell. It might even spark some questions about your own veteran through your exploration of other people’s files.
Did you know that there are cases in which a veteran has more than one military branch OMPF? Did you know that Marine Corps aviators were usually first in the Navy and trained there? Once they completed training and received their wings, they were discharged from the Navy and enlisted in the Marine Corps? Therefore, two separate files.
Were you aware that sometimes men joined the Army or Navy to train as an aviator only to wash out and then choose to enlist in a different branch? Marion L. Cooper, of Lisle, Illinois did just that at the start of his service. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve. Upon washing out, he chose to enlist in the civilian Merchant Marine and become a merchant mariner for the duration of the war. I’d love to know the story about why he chose the Merchant Marines over remaining in the Navy but that is lost to time.
The OMPF can also help us understand service where it doesn’t make sense based on things we know about World War II. For example, Seaman 2nd class Harvey Oberst from Lisle, Illinois, was in the Navy. Yes, the Navy. Now before you laugh at my seemingly silly statement, in a veterans questionnaire he completed, he said he participated in the Germany campaign with the Ninth Army and crossed the Rhine River on 24 March 1945.
What? *scratches head* The Navy was on the Rhine River?
Have you ever heard this piece of information?
When I first read this on the questionnaire, I thought wait, the Rhine River is definitely where many Army actions took place. I know the 99th Infantry Division participated in the crossing action at Remagen, Germany in March 1945. But the Navy? Who ever heard of the Navy helping with a German river crossing.
But they did!
How do we know if our veteran served in multiple branches? Today, discovering that information is easier than it used to be. Let’s explore Marion and Harvey’s records to see what else they tell us. You can also download them to review in your PJs over coffee in the middle of the night if you choose.
Was my Veteran in Multiple Branches and Why?
While many veterans served in only one military branch during World War II or any war, there are veterans who served in multiple branches both during war time and after. Last year I had a client project in which the veteran served in the U.S. Army from 1942 – 1945 during World War II. Upon discharge he immediately re-enlisted in the Regular Army for three years. When that enlistment was nearing the end, he made a case to join the Air Force in the 1950s and use his skills in special secret projects. It took a little negotiating but he did end his military service in the Air Force.
As I noted above, Marine Corps aviators were trained in the Navy. Watch my Substack for an article on Robert Bishop who first trained in the Navy. Wait until you see his files and the contents!
I’ve had several clients and veterans tell me they attempted Army pilot training only to wash out and be given the option to serve in the Army or choose another branch. One 9th Infantry Division veteran named Jack, about 10 years ago at a reunion, told me he served in the Army Air Force but caused a lot of trouble so they wanted him out. He chose to transfer to the Army and served out the rest of his World War II service in the infantry. Jack was quite a character.
Sometimes the stories we hear of men moving through multiple branches is actually true and for official reasons we may not yet know about. Let’s talk about two veterans and their movements through branches so you can see what records are available.
Marion L. Cooper, Naval Reserve to Merchant Marine
On September 16, 1942, Marion L. Cooper enlisted for four years in the U.S. Naval Reserve and submitted an application to be an Aviation Cadet. He was put on inactive duty status until January 1943 when he was transferred to Monmouth College for Naval Flight Preparatory School.1
Upon completion of his initial training, Marion was transferred to New Mexico Normal University in Las Vegas, Nevada for CAA WTS training.2 CAA WTS – Civil Aeronautics Authority War Training Service. This served as a screening program for potential pilots. However, Marion’s flight training ended there as he failed to successfully complete the program. He was transferred to San Diego, California for an interview and determination of where he would best serve his country.3
Marion chose to be discharged from the U.S. Naval Reserve by written request. This was approved by the Navy on June 14, 1943. He received a Good Discharge which enabled him to continue serving in the Armed Forces.4 When you review his Navy OMPF note the Birth Certificate, Letters of Recommendation, and School Records that are included. Vital records for the veteran and sometimes family members can be found in OMPFs.
Marion then joined the Merchant Marine in June 1943 and began boot camp at Shephard and Radio School at Gallups Island, Massachusetts. He served as a 2nd Assistant Radio Operator on the SS Richard Yates from April 1944 to April 1945. From there he served on the SS Granville Hall from May 1945 to November 1945 as chief operator. From January 1946 to March 1946 he was aboard the SS George Bellows.5
The remainder of Marion’s Merchant Marine file provides some of his Naval training details, information about Merchant Marine training and examinations, life on the vessels and discharge. His file allows you to piece together an extensive Timeline of Military Service and provides the information required to obtain Naval Armed Guard reports for the vessels on which he served, to better understand what took place. You can also request Movement Cards from NARA College Park, to learn all the ports these vessels stopped in.
At some point I will write Marion’s full story for a local museum once I gather more records so I can provide context to his service. His file are very interesting to read and I’d love to know what you learn as you review them.
Harvey Oberst, Navy Sailor in Germany
Harvey is another local to me, veteran. His story, as I mentioned above, contains service in Germany on a Naval vessel. When I first read this, my initial shocking thought was – there is no way. How do I not know the Navy served in Germany during the war? Is this really true?
I did some research and yes, it is absolutely true.
Every record I touch, every veteran I research, even if I only read an OMPF or IDPF or other record, I learn something new. It’s incredible. I could study World War II records my entire life and still not know everything. That makes the journey so much more interesting though right? We are always learning.
Harvey enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve on June 6, 1944 for a period of two years. It’s interesting his service was only for two years when usually it was a minimum of four. Perhaps the powers that be knew the war would be over soon? He was assigned to the USNTC at Great Lakes near Chicago.6 From there he was transferred to ATS at Camp Bradford in Virginia in August 1944. ATS is Army Transport Service.7
The Army Transport Service commandeered vessels during the war to help transport troops. From a client project I worked on last year, a veteran who served out of Alaska as a civilian mariner aboard vessels taken over by ATS, who then joined the Merchant Marine a year later, I learned a lot about ATS.
Tip! For those who served in the ATS prior to a military branch, the NPRC in St. Louis has ATS Federal Employee files which are like the OMPF.
Over the next couple of months Harvey moved around the East Coast and ended up in a Naval replacement system for fleet replacements by October 1944.8 He sailed overseas to England and was stationed in Southampton, England by November 8, 1944, aboard U.S. LST 381.9 Then he was transferred to LCV(P) Unit #4 (Reserve) to serve in France at the end of 1944. he remained there through early March 1945. His OMPF has a Deck Court log that explains his offense. On March 3, 1945, while serving at Le Havre, France, he left his station before being properly relieved. Deck Court found him guilty and confined him for 20 days and reduced pay for two months.10 Harvey was released from confinement just in time to participate in the Rhine River Crossing on March 24, 1945 as part of Naval Task Unit 122.5.3.11
By the end of his service, Harvey was awarded three Bronze Stars and the European-African-Middle Eastern Area Campaign Ribbon for participating in the following. It should be noted that the Navy usually do not receive credit for these land-based campaigns.12
- Rhineland Campaign 15 September 1944 to 21 March 1945
- Ardennes Campaign 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945
- Central Europe Campaign 22 March 1945 to date to be announced
Harvey departed Europe some time in June 1945 it appears based on his records and returned to New York then Chicago. His service continued at several stations through mid-1946 when he was discharged.
While I have not yet had time to dive deep into the ships and stations or the campaigns in which Harvey served, his project is on my list. I am interested to learn more about the Navy’s participation with ATS and the Army on the ground and in the rivers of Europe.
Do you know anything about this?
Tips for Researching Naval Service on Fold3
Fold3 has an extensive collection of Naval records and U.S. World War II War Diaries, 1941-1945. I invite you to explore this amazing resource. I do have a few suggestions to help you search.
- Start by a Name search of your veteran in Fold3 to see what shows up.
- Search then by Serial Number (SN)
- Search by Task Groups, ships, stations, campaigns, islands, battles
- If you know the names of your veteran’s superior officers, search for those names
Be creative in your searches and for every Task Group or Acronym you find in a Navy OMPF, search that as well. You will gain access to different levels of information to give you different perspectives of the actions that took place. You might even stumble on photos to enhance the stories you write.
Explore the OMPFs for Marion and Harvey
Are you intrigued by Marion and Harvey’s brief stories here? If you’d like to learn more about their service and records, download the OMPFs for both Marion and Harvey and review them. I’d love to know what things you discover in the files that you didn’t already know.
For help deciphering Navy abbreviations and acronyms, see Naval History and Heritage Command.
Would you like help researching or writing?
Are you in need of assistance with your WWI, WWII, Korea or Vietnam research or writing project? I can help! Please email me at jennifer@ancestralsouls.com to discuss your project. I offer free consults to potential research and writing clients. You can also visit the WWII Research and Writing Center to learn more about my work and explore 10 years worth of articles, documents, videos, and tips.
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1 Transfer Slip for Harvey Oberst, SN 702-44-40 dated 6 January 1943. Official Military Personnel File (Navy). National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri.
2 Transfer Slip for Harvey Oberst, SN 702-44-40 dated 13 April 1943. Official Military Personnel File (Navy). National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri.
3 Transfer Slip for Harvey Oberst, SN 702-44-40 dated 26 May 1943. Official Military Personnel File (Navy). National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri.
4 Transfer Slip for Harvey Oberst, SN 702-44-40 dated 14 June 1943. Written Statement dated 4 June 1943 requesting a Good Discharge. Official Military Personnel File (Navy). National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri.
5 Letter from Marion Cooper to Maritime Service, undated but likely April 1946 as response received in May 1946. Official Military Personnel File (Merchant Marine). National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri.
6 Service Booklet for Harvey Oberst, SN 945-57-33. Official Military Personnel File. National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri.
7 Transfer Slip dated 7 August 1944 for Harvey Oberst, SN 945-57-33. Official Military Personnel File. National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri.
8 Transfer Slip dated 3 October 1944 for Harvey Oberst, SN 945-57-33. Official Military Personnel File. National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri.
9 Transfer Slip dated 8 November 1944 for Harvey Oberst, SN 945-57-33. Official Military Personnel File. National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri.
10 Deck Court dated 5 March 1945 for Harvey Oberst, SN 945-57-33. Official Military Personnel File. National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri.
11 NAVPERS 401 Slip dated 24 March 1945 for Harvey Oberst, SN 945-57-33. Official Military Personnel File. National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri.
12 NAVPERS 601 Slip dated 12 July 1945 for Harvey Oberst, SN 945-57-33. Official Military Personnel File. National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri.
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