Military "Dog Tag" Research.

[Ground Squirrel]

"I found something" - Stargate's Daniel Jackson.

How does one go about researching this? I have found much about the Company and what-not, but can't find out who "Otis Ranger" is/was.
Any ideas?

Phil "Ground Squirrel" Drummond

[Siegfried Schlagrule]

try the social security death index which can also be accessed through the mormon database at www.familysearch.org
exanimo, ss

[Ground Squirrel]

Thank you!
That link produced a usable result. Here is what it had to report;
--- begin copy ---
Otis RANGER
Birth Date: 2 Dec 1899
Death Date: Oct 1987
Social Security Number: 323-20-2952
State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: Illinois

Death Residence Localities
ZIP Code: 61832
Localities:
Central Park, Vermilion, Illinois
Danville, Vermilion, Illinois
Hegeler, Vermilion, Illinois
Tilton, Vermilion, Illinois
--- end copy ---

This could very well be to person the tag was issued to. The 122nd was an Illinois National Guard unit.

Thank you again for the link and should I find anything else I will post a follow-up.

GS

[Ground Squirrel]

A follow-up to my tag find... a member of our metal detector club has found another National Guard dog tag in the same park, about 50 feet from the location where I found mine. His is an officer's tag, a Corporal. The name on the tag is badly eroded but we are still researching it as well. Dog tags are really interesting finds!

GS

[Minelab Ron]

This may be your Otis Ranger as well....

1930 US Federal Census
District 34, Tilton Village, Vermilion Co, Illinois (township of Danville)
Enumeration Date: 16 April 1930 by Mrs. Alice I. Henner
Enumeration District No: 92-34
Supervisor's District No: 16
Sheet No: 14B
East 2nd Street
House No: 105
Number of dwelling house in order of visitation: 310
Number of family in order of visitation: 381

Line 57, Ranger, Otis H., Head, Own House, M, W, age 29, Married at 19, Born in Indiana (written over Illinois, his parents born in Indiana), Boiler Washer for Steam Railroad, wage earner.
Line 58, Ranger, Hazel, Wife, F, W, age 28, Married at 18, Born in Illinois (her parents born in Illinois)
Line 59, Ranger, Jaunita S. (or P.), Daughter, F, W, age 7, S, Born in Illinois
Line 60, Ranger, Dorothy B., Daughter, F, W, age 5, S, Born in Illinois

Social Security Death Index Record
Name: Hazel Ranger
SSN: 336-22-8437
Last Residence: 61832 Danville, Vermilion, Illinois, United States of America
Born: 8 Sep 1901
Last Benefit: 61832 Danville, Vermilion, Illinois, United States of America
Died: Jul 1983
State (Year) SSN issued: Illinois (Before 1951 )

Now the following could also be Otis H. Ranger. Census records are only references, not the gospel and this does make a match (i.e., birth year, birth place of parents and the 1930 census of his birthplace.)

If this is the right person to your military dog tag...then here is the following:

1900 United States Federal Census Record
Name: Harr Otis Ranger
Home in 1900: Driftwood, Jackson, Indiana
Age: 5.12
Estimated birth year: abt 1900
Birthplace: Indiana
Race: White
Relationship to head-of-house: Son

1900 US Federal Census
District 68, Driftwood, Jackson Co, Indiana
Enumeration Date: 16 June 1900 by James Copeland
Enumeration District No: 4
Supervisor's District No: 68
Sheet No: 8B
Number of dwelling house in order of visitation: 167
Number of family in order of visitation: 169

Line 75, Ranger, Simon, Head, W, M, B: April 1873, age 27, Married 3 years, Born in Indiana, Farm Laborer
Line 76, Ranger, Kate, Wife, W, F, B: Jan 1874, age 26, Married 3 years, Had 2 children, 2 children living, Born in Indiana
Line 77, Ranger, Howard E., Son, W, M, B: August 1897, Age 2, S, Born in Indiana
Line 78, Ranger, Harr Otis, Son, B: Dec 1899, age 5 mths, S, Born in Indiana

It appears that Harr could be Harris. Sometimes it's hard to read the enumerators handwriting or the images are not very clear.

Here is what I found on Howard E. Ranger (brother to Harr(is) Otis Ranger):

World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Record
Name: Howard Edward Ranger
City: Not Stated
County: Livingston
State: Illinois
Birthplace: , Salem, Indiana;United States of America
Birth Date: 2 Aug 1894
Race: Caucasian
Roll: 1614208

His Draft Reg card states he already had military service. Was a Private, in the Infrantry, I.N.Y.(?). He was 23 when this was filled out and was working for the Illinois State Reformatory in Pontiac, Illinois. Dated: 5 June 1917

Also showing Howard Ranger living in District 160, Danville Ward 3, Vermilion Co, Illinois on the 1920 US Federal Census. His age was 21 and his wife, Susie, was 19 and they had a son, Forrest H., who is listed as age 2 mths. Can't quite make out where he works...but he is a laborer at an Islan(?) Factory. Don't know what kind of factory this is...first time I ran across it.

Hope this info helps you in locating family, prob just grandbabies now, but hopefully maybe one of his dau's may still be living.

Good Luck!!!!