Question about Dates: US, Missouri, St. Louis—Military Records

MelissaHW

Hi. I have a question about enlistment dates.

Here's the batch code: M9N2-H7N

On the right column, there are a few phrases like "Enl. asgd to & Jd. Co. 8th" which I think means "Enlisted assigned to and joined company 8th"

Should I assume that the enlisted date for that one is May 8, 1935? ... or should I not assume that and just use the date at the top of the image?

erutherford

If May 8, 1935 is the only Enlistment Date, then that would be the Enlistment Date.

However, if there are multiple dates, follow the Field Help.

If multiple enlistment dates were given, type only the earliest one.

Many types of events may have been recorded. In the enlistment fields, type information only about the following events, according to this priority list. (If multiple events were mentioned, use the one highest in the priority list.)

1. Date of enlistment.
2. Date of events indicated by words such as "appointed," "mustered," or "inducted."
3. Date of discharge or retirement.
4. Date when a roll was taken or roster was created.
5. Date when the soldier or sailor was wounded.

If multiple dates were recorded and you cannot determine if a date refers to one of the events in the above priority list, type the earliest date. The earliest date is typically closest to the date of first enlistment.

If the month was not recorded or was written as a variation of the word "unknown," press Ctrl+B to mark this field blank.

I'm @John Empoliti and @Melissa S Himes for further help.

MelissaHW

https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/comment/445434#Comment_445434

Thanks. I have read those instructions. I'm just wondering if I should assume the date from "8th" ... that is the only part of the date under the name. Should I assume the month and year?? @John Empoliti @Melissa S Himes

John Empoliti

Hi @MelissaHW and @erutherford

1. Below is a pertinent part of the image. Many of the soldiers listed in this Roster do not have their enlistment dates (e.g., Privates Ashby, Batchelder, and Bentley). Per item number 4 in @erutherford 's citation above ( Date when a roll was taken or roster was created.), we may use/index that Roster date instead of the unknown actual enlistment date in the Enlistment Date fields for these and all those soldiers without enlistment dates showing.
2. See Private Bowes below - #4. Statements like "Enl. asgd to & Jd. Co. 8th" mean "Enlisted, assigned to, and joined the Company on 8th (of May 1935)." So for those soldiers with annotations like that, you would use that enlistment date instead of the roster date. Again, this is per the citation given by @erutherford . Enlistment date is the gold standard for those "Enlistment Date" fields (Month, Day, Year), but when it isn't available, you use the priority list to choose the next best date. Joined is not the same as Enlisted - for future reference.
3. Also, D.S. usually means Duty Station. Even though the October 31, 1934 date for Private Brown (#6) is earlier than the Roster date, it is not an enlistment date and not higher than the Roster date in the priority list. From "What to Remember About This Project:" If multiple events were mentioned, use the one highest in the priority list. So I would use the Roster date for Private Brown too.

MelissaHW

https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/comment/445446#Comment_445446

Thank you.

New theory .... does "8th" mean the 8th company?? Perhaps those aren't dates at all.

Thoughts? @erutherford @John Empoliti and @Melissa S Himes

John Empoliti

No, it's a date. Here is the top of the Roster. The Company in question is Company "1" not Company "8." Interpreting it as a date makes the most sense.

MelissaHW

https://community.familysearch.org/en/discussion/comment/445547#Comment_445547

Thanks. Yes, The roster is for Company "1" but the phrase "Enlisted assigned to and joined company 8th" sounds like that person joined a different company before or after Company "1" ..... also, further down there's a phrase "Enlisted assigned to 11th, joined company 17th" ... the 11th, 17th, and 8th do not seem like dates to me. hmmm .....

John Empoliti

Hi @MelissaHW . I'm afraid I have to disagree with your interpretation of those notations but use your best judgment - it's your batch.

John Empoliti

Hi @MelissaHW

Here is another screen image that I think supports my interpretation of that sort of notation (e.g., 8th above) as a day/date and not another Company.

Notice the comments about the two "Losses During the Month." The Month is April 1937. I think the interpretations are pretty clear. Comments about Private Bernier: "Hon Disch, Exp of Serv. 1st." for me, this means "Honorable Discharge, Expiration of Service 1st (April 1937)." Regarding Private Parlin: "Dishon Disch 12th," which means Dishonorable Discharge 12th (April 1937).

Thanks.