Treasure Chest Thursday: John Peter Pemberton Separation Qualification Record

ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES

SEPARATION QUALIFICATION RECORD

Name: John P. Pemberton
Army serial no: AF16 194 223
Grade: Sgt
Social security no.: Unknown
Permanent mailing address: 729-12 St., Port Huron, Mich.
Date of entry into active service: 28 Sep 1946
Date of separation: 28 Jun 1949
Date of birth: 18 Nov 1928
Place of separation: Separation Center, Camp Stoneman, Calif.
Military Occupational Assignments:
Months: 2
Grade: Pvt
Military occupational specialty: AF Basic 521
Months: 2
Grade: Pvt
Military occupational specialty: Student 629
Months: 24
Grade: Sgt
Military occupational specialty: Automotive mechanic 2nd echelon 014
Summary of military occupations:
Automotive mechanic second echelon --- Was stationed in Japan with an airforce unit as a[n] automotive mechanic second echelon. Inspected and performed first and second echelon orginization maintenance service and repairs on gasoline powered military motor vehicles.
Military education:
Airforce School 10 weeks automotive mechanic course Lowry Field, Colorado.
Civilian education:
Highest grade completed: 11th grade
Degrees or diplomas: none
Year left school: 1946
Name and address of last school attended: St. Stephen High School, Port Huron, Mich.
Major courses of study: Academic
Other training or schooling: None
Civilian occupations:
Student High School --- Attended St. Stephaen High School at Port Huron, Michigan
Studied history, English, mathematics, Civics, and Biology. 1943 to 1946.
Additional information:
Completed high school levl 25 May 1948

Treasure Chest Thursday: John Peter Pemberton Military Discharge

ENLISTED RECORD AND REPORT OF SEPARATION

HONORABLE DISCHARGE

Name: John P. Pemberton
Serial no: AF16 194 223
Rank: Sgt
Arm or service: AF
Comp & terms of service: AF 3 yrs
Organization: 6141 ST AFBU MAO APO 547
Date of separation: 28 Jun 49
Place of separation: Sep C CP Stoneman Calif
Permanent mailing address: 729 12 St Port Huron Mich
Date of birth: 18 Nov 28
Place of birth: Port Huron Mich.
Address from which employment will be sought: See 9 [permanent mailing address]
Color eyes: Blue
Color hair: brn
Height: 5 7
Weight 148
No. Depend: 0
Race: white
Marital status: single
U.S. Citizen: yes
Civilian occupation and no: Student HS Acad X-02
Date of enlistment: 28 Sep 46
Date of entry into active service: 28 Sep 46
Place of entry into service: Selfridge Fld Mich
Selective service data:
County and state: St. Clair Mich
Home address at time of entry into service: See 9
Military occupational specialty and no: Auto Mech 014
Military qualification and date: Carbine 144
Battles and campaigns: None
Decorations and citations: World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal Japan
Wounds received in action: None
Latest immunization dates: Smallpox May 49
Service outside continental U.S. and return:
Date of departure: 4 Jun 47
Destination: APT
Date of arrival: 16 Jun 47
Date of departure: 6 Jun 49
Destination: USA
Date of arrival: 18 Jun 49
Prior service: None
Continental service: 8m 16d
Foreign service: 2y 15d
Reason and authority for separation: AR 615 365 27 Oct 48 C of G Par 1 Pets & DA Cir 335/48
Service schools attended: AF Sch 10 wks auto mech course Lowry Fld Colo
Education: Grammar 8 yrs, High school 3 yrs, College 0 yrs
Pay Data:
Longevity for pay purposes: 2y 9m 1d
Mustering out pay total: $300
This payment: $100
Soldier deposits: None
Travel pay: $28.85
Total amount, name of disbursing officer: R H Hansen Lt Col FD $528.38
Insurance Notice:
Kind of insurance: Nat. Serv.
How paid: Allotment
Effective date of allotment discontinuance: 30 Jun 49
Date of next premium due: 31 Jul 49
Premium due each month: $6.40
Intention of veteran to continue
Remarks: Blood Group A
Lapel button issued 111 109

This is the military discharge paper for my maternal grandfather, John Peter Pemberton.  I found this document at the home of my maternal grandmother. He enlisted in the Army on 28 Sep 1946 at Selfridge Field in Macomb County, Michigan. He was 17 years old at the time and lived at 729 12th Street in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan. He spent 8 months of his service in the continental U.S. and two years in Japan. He attended a 10-week auto mechanic training course at Lowry Field in Colorado. He was discharged on 28 Jun 1949 at Camp Stoneman in Pittsburg, Contra Costa, California. I am still trying to figure out exactly where he served in Japan. His military organization is given as 6141 ST AFBU MAO APO 547, which may give me a clue with a little more research.

Treasure Chest Thursday: Navy Cruise Books

I haven't done a Treasure Chest Thursday post in awhile, but I'm going to interrupt my normal pattern to bring an awesome find. I have been posting all of my treasure chest items on my maternal grandfather, but tonight I found something really cool on my paternal grandfather.

I saw on Ancestry.com that they had added a new database called "U.S. Navy Cruise Books Index, 1918-2009." I knew my paternal grandfather had served in the Navy in the mid-1950s, so I thought I would check it out. I found him in the 1955 yearbook for the USS Plymouth Rock. Pretty sweet! The yearbook was really neat because it had a description of each division on the ship and what they did. Then it had each of their pictures with names and origins. And then it had a history of where it had sailed from 29 Nov 1954 to 29 Nov 1955. It looks like my grandfather was a quartermaster in the Navigation Division. According to Wikipedia, the quartermaster was responsible for steering the ship and applying the helm orders given by the Captain or watchkeeping officers.

Veteran's Day Salute

I would like to say a big thank you to all the veterans in my family:

My dad: Michael David Trahan, U.S. Coast Guard, 1974-1978
My paternal grandfather: Benford Maurice Trahan, U.S. Navy, 1955-c. 1958
My maternal grandfather: John Peter Pemberton, U.S. Army Air Corps, 1946-1949
My maternal grandfather: Clifford Robert Drouillard, U.S. Marines and Canadian Royal Army, c. 1950-c.1960
My first cousin: Michael Adam Pemberton, U.S. Air Force, 1995-2008
My uncle: George Albert Pemberton, U.S. Army, c. 1971-c. 1973
My uncle: James Frederick Chamberlain, U.S. Marines (served in Vietnam), c. 1966-c. 1970
My great-uncle: William John Mertena, U.S. Army (served in Korea), c. 1953-c. 1957
My great-uncle: William Howard Pemberton, U.S. Army, c. 1950-c. 1954
My great-uncle: Franklin Mearl Pemberton, U.S. Army, c. 1951-c. 1955
My great-great-great-grandfather: John C. Pemberton, Company C, 1st Michigan Cavalry, Civil War
My great-great-great-great-uncle, Stephen Pemberton, Company C, 1st Michigan Cavalry, Civil War (died from illness contracted during Civil War service)

Another special thank you goes out to two friends of mine who both died in Afghanistan:

Jimmy Shawn Lee (1978-2005), U.S. Marines, Mount Vernon, Indiana
John Michael Hennen (1981-2007), U.S. Army National Guard, Vinton (Louisiana) High Class of 1999

Jim is the cousin of my best friend, Rachel, and I went to school with John for several years in Vinton.