Ranks explained
His rank, explained
Each rank in his records, in plain English, with its pay grade and what it usually meant day to day.
Rate / rank
CPL — Corporal
Pay grade: E-4
What it meant: Junior NCO; often a fire-team leader.
Another Ochiltree County soldier, with even less online. One official record carries this report: the Defense Department casualty file at the National Archives. It gives his rank (corporal), his job (light weapons infantry leader, a small-team leader at the front), his unit (9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division) and his death in action on 17 March 1953. The report puts those codes in plain English and lists where to ask for the rest.
What was typed into the search: Larry Slaughter · Army · Korean War · Ochiltree County, Texas
Summary sources: NARA AAD: his Korean War casualty record (DCAS).
Born 1931 · Died 17 March 1953
Service number 18389904 CONFIRMED
Confirmed match · Written for family readers — military jargon explained as you go.
Confirmed = an exact identifier matches. Likely = several independent details match. Possible = some details match; needs checking.
Each rank in his records, in plain English, with its pay grade and what it usually meant day to day.
Pay grade: E-4
What it meant: Junior NCO; often a fire-team leader.
Scans from the National Archives. Click to enlarge when viewing in a full browser.
General descriptions from service manuals and base histories. They describe the typical specialty at that place, not documented personal events. See Ranks explained for badge, pay grade, and suffix decode.
What it meant: This is the duty written in his casualty file.
A typical day (general, not personal): An infantry non-commissioned officer who led a small team of riflemen and automatic riflemen in the front line.
The 9th Infantry Regiment ("Manchu") is a parent infantry regiment of the United States Army.
History (Wikipedia) ↗ · Insignia image ↗
The 2nd Infantry Division ("Indianhead") is a formation of the United States Army. Since the 1960s, its primary mission has been the defense of South Korea in the event of an invasion from North Korea. Approximately 17,000 soldiers serve in the 2nd Infantry Division, with 10,000 stationed in South Korea, accounting for about 35% of the United States Forces Korea personnel. Known as the 2nd Infantry Division-ROK/U.S.
History (Wikipedia) ↗ · Insignia image ↗Submissions stay family-reported until a record supports them. We re-run search with your hints and show what changed.
To add information, appeal, or question a finding, open the online version of this report and use the family form.
This is a public example. Families can add information or ask for a correction through the corrections page.
Most families' searches turn up only part of the story. These free records usually fill in the rest.
Use form SF-180 or the National Archives' online eVetRecs. Give his full name, service number 18389904, branch and rough dates. Next of kin (spouse, child, parent, sibling) pay nothing. Files of anyone who left service more than 62 years ago are open to everyone.
Start ↗For soldiers who died in World War II or Korea, the Army's burial case file (IDPF) often says where and how he died and where he rests. Ask the U.S. Army Human Resources Command for it under FOIA; it's free.
Start ↗Free remembrance pages by unit, often with photos and notes from men who served with him.
Start ↗Government headstone applications (NARA, 1925–1963, and later VA files) often give serial, unit and dates.
Start ↗The Portal to Texas History has scanned small-town Texas papers. Hometown papers often printed enlistments, letters home and casualty news.
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