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Service Number:

 

Identifying number given to each service member to eliminate confusion The first number of the service number designated categories:

 

Those men who entered service as Regular Enlisted Army before the onset of Selective Service bear seven-digit or lower serial numbers, usually beginning with "6" or "7", as 6974426.

 

Those men who enlisted in the Army of the United States have eight-digit numbers beinginning with a "1", the second digit indicating the Service Command of origin. For example the serial number 14001282 would indicate that the man inlisted in the Army of the United States in the Fourth Service Command (Southeastern US).

 

Those men called in to federally recognized National Guard service received eight-digit numbers beginning with a "2", the third digit representing Service Command: 20321823 would indicate a National Guardsman from New England (First Service Command).

 

Those men inducted or enlisted via Selective Service were given eight-digit numbers beginning with a "3" or "4", the second digit representing the Service Command.

 

Other male enlisted personnel were given prefixed serical numbers that carry a designated letter such as "O" (as in O-123456) for male commissioned officers.

 

Grade (Rank):

 

   2 LT - 2nd Lieutenant

   1 LT - 1st Lieutenant

   S SG - Staff Sergeant

   SG - Sergeant

   TECH5 - Technician Fifth Grade

   PFC - Private First Class

   PVT - Private

 

Type of Casualty:

 

KIA - "Killed in Action" - Pertains to those individuals who were killed in action, whether at the front of by enemy action in the rear areas, or if a prisioner of war, whether by air bombardment of his prision camp or being shot while escaping.

 

DOW - "Died of Wounds" - Pertains to those individuals who were wounded and later died

 

DOI - "Died of Injuries" - Pertains to those individuals who suffered fatal battle INJURIES as opposed to WOUNDS in combat or in combat areas and died in a line of duty status.

 

DNB - "Died Non-Battle" - Pertains to those individuals who died in other line-of-duty deaths, such as from sickness, homicide, suicide or accidents outside of combat areas (including training and maneuver ] deaths).

 

FOD - "Finding of Death" - Pertains to those individuals who are determined to be dead under Public Law 490.

 

M - " Missing" - Pertains to those individuals that are missing.