This is my Grandfather Norman A. Cady. I don't know very much about his experiences in the war. He died on Valentine's day in the year 2000 at the age of 80. We never really talked about the war much. My Grandmother, and most of the family who were alive then are also gone so I'll never know much more than I do now.

What little I've learned came from reading the documents that I've scanned below.

Norman Cady joined the Army on February 8th, 1943 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He attended United States Army Air Forces Technical School at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois, graduating with a diploma in "Special Purpose Motor Vehicle" on April, 25th, 1943.

He left for the Western Pacific island of Saipan on the 4th of July 1944 and arrived there on the 11th of August 1944. He was a part of the 311th Troop Carrier Squadron.

While on the island, he served as an aircraft mechanic. He was a "fabric and dope mechanic". From what I've read, that means he maintained and repaired the skin of the aircraft, and was also a general aircraft mechanic.

During the war, he achieved the rank of Tech 4. Technician Fourth Grade was one of three technician ranks established on January 8, 1942 during World War II. Those who held this rank were often addressed as Sergeant, as they shared the same pay grade. Technicians possessed specialized skills which were rewarded with a higher pay grade. These skills could be directly related to combat, such as a tank driver or combat engineer, or be a support function such as a cook or mechanic. Depending on their function, they might be called upon by an officer to command a group of men in doing a specific task, they were non-commissioned officers as were sergeants. Initially they shared the same insignia but on September 4, 1942, the three technician ranks were distinguished by a block "T" imprinted below the standard chevrons. Unofficial insignia using a technical specialty symbol instead of the T were used in some units.

He also became certified as rifle marksman.

For his service during the war, he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal & The World War Two Victory Medal.

After the war, a points system was devised to determine which soldiers got to go home first. Here is how the points were figured:

1. Service credit: One point for each month of Army Service since 16 Sep 40. More than 15 days will be counted as a full month.

2. Overseas credit: One point for each month served overseas since 16 Sep 40.

3. Parenthood credit: Twelve points for each child under 18 up to a limit of three children.

4. Combat credit: Five points for each award of combat decorations since 16 Sep 40. Combat credits, the War Department said, will be based on awards of the Distinguished Service Cross, the Legion of Merit, the Silver Star, the Soldier's Medal, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, Purple Heart and bronze service stars for participation in battle.

Norman's ASR point score was 50. On Jan. 9th, 1946, he was finally headed home and arrived there on Jan. 15th, 1946. He was honorably discharged on Jan. 23rd, 1946. On the same day he was discharged from the Air Corps, he joined the Air Corps Reserves, where he served until Jan. 22, 1949. During WWII, he served 1 year, 5 months, 11 days of continental service and 1 year, 6 months, 12 days of foreign service.

His best friend (and future brother-in-law) Kenneth Hickey was stationed on Tinian, which is the next island from Siapan and only 5 miles away. Neither one of them knew it at the time, but they were over 7,000 miles from their homes in Kansas City, Missouri, yet stationed so close to each other.

He is my personal connection to the war and I wish we had talked more about it before he died.

After seeing the movie "Saving Private Ryan" in 1998, it was as if a light bulb went off and I became obsessed with World War II.

I remember thanking him for serving in the war shortly after that.

I'm not sure if they have internet access in Heaven, but if they do and you're reading this Grandpa, thanks! Job well done.

Click on the documents to see larger images.

Back to the Wall