Can you help me, Please?

[SweetSue]

I am looking for someone I wrote to back in 1969. I was 14:
Cpl Fred Grande
US56843600
71st 7th Stu BN TCB
Ft. Benning Georgia
2nd
31905 USA
Fred may have been a shortened version of Alfred or something else.
I know he was married.. wife's name is Virginia Sue. At that time anyways. Unless of course he is longer with her. They were expecting a baby sometime in Sept/0ct 1969.
I have no idea what the numbers and letters stand for. Nor what type of service he was in. I am sure if I knew that, my search would be a smidge easier! I can find nothing on 71st 7th Stu BN TCB 2nd. Maybe it has been deactivated and is now something else?????
I DO know that the US # is his service number at that time. I have checked the Virtual Wall and also cannot find him on any KIA/MIA lists at all.
Why do I want to find this fellow? I am not sure. Nostalgia maybe. He was a very nice young man who listened to the childish rambling of a 14 year old girl I would like to make sure he is ok and tell him welcome home.
I have a nephew serving in the Canadian Navy in Bosnia at the moment and also, 2 of my sons are in the Air Cadet program here. They love it! So do I !!!!!
If anyone has any ideas, hints or can decifer what that address mean, please email me.
Hoping you can help
Susan

[PHO127]

This is a U.S. Army post so he would have been in basic training. The address is for the 71st infantry, 7th Student Battalion. I do not know what the TCB stands for. And you are right, the unit has been deactivated. Will run a check with the service number and see what comes up.

[Drywall]

Hello Sue and welcome.
The US designation on his service number means he was drafted vs enlisted. The first two no's ,56, might designate an area of the country were he was living when drafted. All the draftees from here no's started with 55. Are you sure the address might not have been TCB but BCT. That would be for Basic Combat Training.

[SweetSue]

PHO127: Thanks... I cannot run a check as I have no access to American files. Especially these days.
I don't know where he was sent after that.. or if I did.... I cannot remember after 33 years! I no longer have the letters I recieved either... although I am still going through my Mom's stuff.

Drywall: Yes I know he was drafted. . The 1st 2 numbers DO designate where his entry point was. It could be one of 8, I think, places...

I found a good site about those numbers(and other things):
http://www.militaryusa.com/
but it only takes me so far..:(

I reckon the TCB could maybe be for BCT.. I found the address in an old letter I had written my parents from Camp in 1969. I could have transposed the numbers.
So after BCT... where did one go? How can I figure out which unit etc? Or can I?And he would have been in the Army for sure, right?
Questions, questions, questions!
Thanks for your help!
Sus

[Drywall]

Sue, Yes thats an Army service number.
After basic training he would have gone on to AIT. Advanced Individual Training. For myself it artillery at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Do you have any idea what job he had while in the army? Different branches trained at different posts. Ft. Sill was Artillery, Ft. Knox was Armor, Ft. polk (and a few others) were Infantry. There are many more army jobs he could have been in, medic, engineer, etc. Sorry, but I don't know which post specializes in what job beyond what I've already said. And I don't know what else to tell you or what direction to aim you in. I'm sure the other guys here know more about that stuff than I do. Good luck.

[Keith_Hixson]

My Draft Number began with 569-----

So he might have been from the west coast?

Keith

[SweetSue]

Keith.. it is possible.... but....
"Air Force and Army Service Numbers

The first two numbers listed below represent the first two digits of an Air Force or Army service number issued between the years 1940-1969 These service numbers were assigned to Air Force and Army enlisted male personnel by state entrance stations

(1) Regular and Reserve Air Force and Army
(2) Draftees between 1940-1946 (30-39 million)
(3) Draftees between 1948-1969 (50-57 million)
identify a region or area that a person enlisted or was drafted into the service


California 19 39 56
Georgia 14 34 56
Idaho 19 39 56
Montana 19 39 56
Nevada 19 39 56
Oregon 19 39 56
Utah 19 39 56
Washington 19 39 56 "

Those are the places of entry for the #56. It doesn't mean he actually lived there from my understanding anyways.

Sus

[Drywall]

It would be what the military calls "home of record" That means he was living there when drafted. It doesn't necessarily mean that he was native to the area or that his family lived there. My brother-in-law grew up in South Dakota but moved to Minnesota for a job and was drafted while he was here.

[SweetSue]

okey dey Drywall.... LOl
the plot thickens!
sigh

[Keith_Hixson]

I really don't think the serial number is going to be much help in solving the mystery.

We are such a mobile society he could be anywhere.

It will take some luck and a little research to come up with it.

Several years ago I had some CD disks given to me with all the phone numbers in the United States on them. I found a couple of Army buddies by just putting in their names and the state from which they were drafted. That might work.
Grande isn't a common name, it should work.

Keith

[SweetSue]

time for an update !

Well I finally got up the courage and sent a registered letter to someone who seemed to fit the profile: name, military etc.
I rec'd an email today!

Not the correct person..... :(
But !!!!!
this person was in the military and retired from active duty in 1978. He was a Lt.COl .

He said he will try to help. BIG GRIN :D :D

He also said

"His address: 7th Stu BN TCB, I think stands for 7th Student Battalion, Training Center Brigade at Ft Benning, which is primarily an Infantry training center. "

So my next question is this:

Infantry :
What exactly it is? Where do I look next? any ideas???????????

I have found oodles and oodles of websites that are listed by
unit numbers or whatever only. I have no idea what they mean! :r:

Thanks again for your guidance!
I will find Fred !

Susan :b:

[Keith_Hixson]

I got a phone number for a Fred Grande in Mississippi.

(586) 727-3415

Give it a try!

Keith

[SweetSue]

Keith.... I checked that number with a reverse telephone search. It took me to Richmond, Michigan.....
is that what you meant?
OMG and:
I WAS THERE THIS PAST SUMMER.... :O
That phone number is actually for
'Fred Grande Ford Sales'
The home # is different.
I will get back to you!
:D
Susan

[Keith_Hixson]

WELL at least its a Fred Grande. I would think Grande would be an uncommon name. Should be able to trace it down someway.

Maybe he owns a car dealership.

Keith

[SweetSue]

well I emailed to the dealership asking a couple of tactful questions... Not sure just who opens up the mail there... we'll see what happens next!

[catman]

If his rank was Cpl, he was more than likely permanent party and not a trainee. Could also mean he had almost two years in by than. Has anyone searched Georgia for this guy? Is it possible to do a Vital Records search for the US? Possible this guy died from natural causes by now. Just a thought.

Trav

[SweetSue]

Trav...
I have searched everywhere I can think of. As I am up here in the Great White North, it is hard for me to search down there. I have searched so many places back in the fall, I forgot where I went and how I got there.
My understanding is he is still alive somewhere. Too bad I can't access the info that his service number would or could give me. I just keep plugging along. I sorta let things slide with Christmas and all. Now it is time to look some more.
The biggest trouble I seem to have is to figure out where he would have ended up in. There are tons of Vet clubs on the net but I have no idea where to start anymore.
After I stumbled into the patriot Files and the Saloon, I have never managed to find my way out again. hahaha! I'm having tooooooo much fun here! lolol
Thanks Trav!
Susan

[catman]

Let me think on it for awhile, I know if I can find the right place and get his records, they will say where he entered service, where he left service and his final destination. These things are all matters of public record here. Maybe ken or hardcore would be good sources, PM them with this, it might help.

Trav

[SweetSue]

awww Trav! you is a gem!

:q:



if you need any info that I have, let me know. I think all I have is one this thread though...

Thanks!

Susan

[Nam_Angel]

Sue,

About how old would Fred be now??

He could be here:

# Name City State Age

VIRGINIA S GRANDE SANTA CLARITA CA 71
VIRGINIA SUE GRANDE VALENCIA CA 71
VIRGINIA S GRANDE MAGNOLIA NJ 56

Appears they may not be together anymore...

FRED GRANDE CHERRY HILL NJ 52

Try this number:

Fred Grande
104 Jackson St
Passaic, NJ 07055-6012
(973)471-2262

Good Luck in your search!

Let me know if I can be of further assistance to you.

Lisa Stein
Houston, Texas