Do you ever feel like some of the genealogy records are deceptive? That’s how I’m beginning to feel about the database, World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946. According to that database, a person named Ctor Otto R enlisted 28 Dec 1945 in California.
Even though the name that was indexed does not match, the details regarding birth and residence fit a Christy cousin, Otto Muratt Rector. If this record is for Otto M. Rector, then one might assume that Otto enlisted in the military in December 1945 when in reality it was likely a re-enlistment. The first clue that this might be for a re-enlistment instead of an enlistment is the Source information.
National Guard in Federal Service, within 3 months of Discharge
A careful analysis of the census records for Otto Rector also supports his being in the military prior to 1945. The 1920 census for Bexar county Texas shows an Otto M Rector in the list of those residing at Kelly Field.
In 1930, an Otto M Rector and wife Mary are shown on the census in Pearl City village in Hawaii. This census lists Otto’s occupation as ‘Soldier U.S. Army.’
In 1940, there is an Otto M Rector listed on the census in Santa Clara county, California. The occupation shown for this Otto M. Rector was Master Sergeant U.S. Army.
Various news articles from Indiana where his extended family lived help to fill in the blanks about where he was stationed during his military career. A check of newspapers near the bases where he was stationed turned up some interesting details. One of those articles places him at Hickman Field in Hawaii in 1940.
Fourth Reconnaissance squadron, Hickam Field
The Fourth Reconnaissance squadron of the Fifth Bombardment Group Hickam Field, formerly stationed at Luke Field, was organized at Kelly Field, Texas, in 1917. It came to Hawaii in 1919, and was known as the Fourth Observation Squadron until March, 1938, when its name was changed to the Fourth Reconnaisance Squadron. As a part of the Eighteenth Wing, it has a dual purpose: to act as a long range reconnaissane when necessary, and as a bombardment squadron at other times, performing either duty equally well.picture includes: Master Sgt. Otto M. Rector (first row, second from right)
“Fourth Reconnaissance Squadron, Hickam Field,” The Honolulu Advertiser (Honolulu, Hawaii), 18 February 1940, page 44; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 January 2022).
Since the census records place Otto Rector in California in 1940, he was likely transferred to California shortly after the photo was taken. Thus, he wasn’t in Hawaii when Pearl Harbor was attacked.
Then, a 1942 article provides a few details about his service during World War I.
World War I Comrades Reunited in World War II
Fresno, Cal. — The doorbell rang at the home of Master Sergeant Otto M. Rector at Hammer field and outside stood Maj. D. G. Herring, who was making his first inspection tour of the range. They stared, shook hands, and went into a long confab. Both had served under Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker in France, had not seen each other since the armistice.
“World War I Comrades Reunited in world War II,” The Edinburg Daily Courier (Edinburg, IN), 17 August 1942, page 2; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 January 2022).
Based on the census records and newspaper articles, I believe that Otto M Rector enlisted during World War I and was career military.
Otto Muratt Rector was born on 15 Apr 1884 in Holton, Jackson, Kansas, United States.1–5 He was the child of Wyatt Harding Rector and Esther Christy.2 He lived in Grant Township, Jackson, Kansas, United States in 1885.6 Otto lived in Grant Township, Jackson, Kansas, United States in 1895.7 He lived in Grant Township, Jackson, Kansas, United States in 1900.8 He served in the military under Captain Eddie Rickenbacker in 1917 in France.9 Otto was a member of the 90th Aero Squadron who returned home aboard the Orduna landing in New York, New York, United States on 27 Oct 1917.10 He lived in San Francisco, California, United States in 1919.11 He lived at Kelly Field in Bexar, Texas, United States in 1920.12 On 14 Jan 1921, Otto served in the military in San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, United States in the aviation corps.13–14 He married Mary Campbell on 3 Jun 1922 in Jefferson, Kentucky, United States.15–16 He attended electrical school and inspected air planes in May 1923 at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Champaign, Illinois, United States.17–18 He lived in Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio, United States in 1926.19 Otto lived in Ewa, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States in 1930.20 In 1930 he was an a soldier in the U.S. Army in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii.20 He lived in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1932.21 Otto served in the military on 13 May 1937 in Honolulu, Hawaii.22 He was a member of the 4th Reconnaissance Squadron posted on 18 Feb 1940 at Hickam Field in Hawaii.23 In 1940 he was a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Army in Santa Clara, California, United States.24 Otto lived in Mountain View, Santa Clara, California, United States in 1940.24 He served in the military in 1942 at Hammer field.9 He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on 28 Dec 1945 at Hamilton Field in Hamilton, California.4,25 Otto was discharged from the military on 31 Jan 1947.4 He died on 20 Feb 1959 at the age of 74 in Denver, Denver, Colorado, United States.1,4–5,26 He was buried on 24 Feb 1959 at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado, United States.26–27
ENDNOTES
1. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online December 2018), memorial for Esther Christy Rector (1860-1924), Find a Grave Memorial no. #142414753, citing Kempton Cemetery, Kempton, Tipton County, Indiana;, Esther Christy Rector.
2. Social Security Administration, “Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007,” database on-line, Ancestry, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60901/ : viewed online 15 December 2021), Otto Muratl Rector.
3. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online 4 January 2022), memorial for Otto Muratt rector (1884-1959), Find a Grave Memorial no. 33367496, created by 2Honour&Remember and Originally created by US Veterans Affairs Office, citing Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Denver County, Colorado; accompanying photograph by 2Honour&remember, Otto Muratt Rector.
4. National Cemetery Administration, “U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca. 1775-2006,”Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed oline (4 January 2022), Otto Muratt Rector; National Cemetery Administration.
5. “U.S. Obituary Collection, 1930-Current,” database online, http://www.oregonlive.com/obituaries, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 4 January 2022), Otto Muratt.
6. 1885 Kansas Census, Jackson County, Kansas, Kansas state census, Grant Township, Jackson County, Kansas, page 97 Image 49 of 98, family 191, W H Rector; digital imags, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 15 December 2021); Kansas State Historical Society
7. 1895 Kansas Census, Jackson County, Kansas, Kansas state census, Grant Township, Jackson County, Kansas, page 25 Image 37 of 113, family 2, W H Rector; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 15 December 2021); Kansas State Historical Society
8. 1900 U.S. Census, Jackson County, Kansas, population schedule, Grant Township, Jackson County, Kansas, ED 56, Sheet 13 B Image 27 of 29, family 258, Wyatt Rector; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 20 November 2020); NARA microfilm publication T623
9. “World War I Comrades Reunited in world War II,” The Edinburg Daily Courier (Edinburg, IN), 17 August 1942, page 2; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 January 2022).
10. U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939, Otto M Rector, 27 October 1917; database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 4 January 2022).
11. “Kempton,” The Tipton Daily Tribune (Tipton, IN), 12 September 1919, page 6; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 January 2022).
12. 1920 U.S. census, Bexar County, Texas, population schedule, Bexar County, Texas, ED 109, Sheet 4B Image 7 of 77, line 80, Otto M Rector; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 4 January 2022); NARA microfilm publication T625
13. “Jefferson Township,” The Tipton Daily Tribune (Tipton, IN), 8 January 1921, page 6; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 January 2022).
14. “Kempton – Two,” The Tipton Daily Tribune (Tipton, IN), 1 January 1921, page 6; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 January 2022).
15. Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954, Otto M Rector, 3 June 1922; database with images, Family Search (www.familysearch.org : viewed online 4 January 2022).
16. “Marriage LIcenses,” The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky), 6 June 1922, page 11; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 January 2022).
17. “Kempton,” The Tipton Daily Tribune (Tipton, IN), 14 May 1923, page 6; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 January 2022).
18. “Kempton News,” The Tipton Daily Tribune (Tipton, IN), 9 July 1923, page 6; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 January 2022).
19. “Pickard,” The Tipton Daily Tribune (Tipton, IN), 13 April 1926, page 2; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 January 2022).
20. 1930 U.S. Census, Honolulu Hawaii, population schedule, Ewa. Oahu Island, Honolulu County,Hawaii, ED 2-107, Sheet 3A Image 5 of 10, family 45; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 4 January 2022); NARA microfilm pubblication T626
21. “Auto LIcenses,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin (Honolulu, Hawaii), 30 December 1932, page 6; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 January 2022).
22. “52 Commended at Luke Field,” Honolulu Star-Bulletin (Honolulu, Hawaii), 13 May 1937, page 10; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 January 2022).
23. “Fourth Reconnaissance Squadron, Hickam Field,” The Honolulu Advertiser (Honolulu, Hawaii), 18 February 1940, page 44; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 January 2022).
24. 1940 U.S. Census, Santa Clara County, California, population schedule, Fremont Township, Santa Clara County, California, ED 43-10, Sheet 61B Image 24 of 32, line 59, Otto Rector; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 4 January 2022); NARA microfilm publication T627
25. Natioanl Archives, “World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946,” database on-line, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 4 January 2022), Rector Otto R.
26. Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011, Guy Harding Rector, 7 May 1961; database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 4 January 2022).
27. U.S. National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962, Otto Muratt Rector, 3 March 1959; database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 4 January 2022). Original Source: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General.