OT - Help needed to disseminate and identify a military unit

[Hobie]

or individuals.

I know there are a bunch of interested individuals here, many with military backgrounds. I found some photos which I think were taken in Northern California of a military unit. I posted all that I know in my non-shooting blog and I hope that some of you will pass this around. There are more photos which I will scan and post as time allows.

[Blaine]

or individuals.

I know there are a bunch of interested individuals here, many with military backgrounds. I found some photos which I think were taken in Northern California of a military unit. I posted all that I know in my non-shooting blog and I hope that some of you will pass this around. There are more photos which I will scan and post as time allows.

There was a LTC Bosse (it would be his son maybe) at Ft Lewis, the AG CDR, I think..........he would have moved on to Ft Leavenworh around 1990 and was teaching at the C$GSC....the AG course, if I'm not mistaken.......this is of course, assuming the your Bosse had a son who was my Bosse.....

[Bruce Scott]

Hobie,
I don't know whether you have something similar in the US but here we can obtain a copy of a soldier's service record from the National Archives Office.

Required information is full name, service(s) served in , conflict/period of service, rank if known, service number and/or date of birth. A photocopy of the entire record of service is provided at a search cost of about $35.

Edit: I made a quick search. Did you try here? http://www.archives.gov/veterans/

[kirkwood]

or individuals.

I know there are a bunch of interested individuals here, many with military backgrounds. I found some photos which I think were taken in Northern California of a military unit. I posted all that I know in my non-shooting blog and I hope that some of you will pass this around. There are more photos which I will scan and post as time allows.

WPBC APO 244 for 1945 is for Western Pacific Base Command, Saipan.

[kirkwood]

Maj Bosse was Asst Chief of Staff of G2 for WPBC.

Here is an article he wrote assessing Japanese civilians: http://www.jstor.org/pss/2745220

[kirkwood]

G-2 is the Historical Section of Military Intelligence

[kirkwood]

Hobie,
I went back and looked more carefully at the picture of the 2 officers under magnification. The officer with a mustache has on captain's bars, so if this is Major Bosse, it would have been from earlier than 1945.

The clean-shaven officer looks to be wearing a major's insignia and Army Air Force wings. Since Bosse was an Army intelligence officer, I don't think either of these two is Bosse.

They could have both known Bosse because there would be a lot of AAF officers on Saipan during the time Bosse was collecting intelligence on Japan.

I suspect Bosse might have been given the task of collecting information used to assess the risks of an invasion of the Japanese mainland.

[kirkwood]

Maybe this can be useful in some way.There is a history of US Military Intelligence here:
http://www.history.army.mil/books/Lineage/mi/mi-fm.htm

I ran a search on WWII Pacific Theater and didn't see anything specific on Bosse.

[Hobie]

Thanks!

I hadn't considered that Bosse wouldn't be the officer repeatedly in the photos as that guy is the correct age and the unclassified photos were mailed to family/friends presumably to give them some idea of his activities/health... I hadn't turned up the Saipan connection on my own, though...

And I used to be a S2/G2 kinda guy myself...

Bosse isn't that usual a name but doing a little genealogy on him sure turned up quite a few! Might be his descendent Blaine, I just don't know but will keep it in mind.

[kirkwood]

Glad to help!

With the added info, you might be able to track his history further.

[Hobie]

Hobie,
I don't know whether you have something similar in the US but here we can obtain a copy of a soldier's service record from the National Archives Office.

Required information is full name, service(s) served in , conflict/period of service, rank if known, service number and/or date of birth. A photocopy of the entire record of service is provided at a search cost of about $35.

Edit: I made a quick search. Did you try here? http://www.archives.gov/veterans/

Bruce,

I'm sorry but I must have mucked up my response which wasn't posted...

Here, we have to be either the individual or surviving kin to request the records. I'm neither.

BTW, our system is pretty straight forward and responsive and you can even request a reissue of all medals and ribbons which are isued with appropriate engraving!

[Ysabel Kid]

Hobie -

I wasn't aware of that. I've been thinking about obtaining the military records of my ancestors. Sounds like this is something I can do with the help of that link!