My Uncles in World War II

UNCLE EDWARD AND UNCLE SHERRY
AS A WORLD WAR 2 SOLDIER AND SAILOR

During my years of extensive slave research, I learned that some families can lose their family connection by the spelling of the surnames or not having the original name at all. In this short write-up, I'll explain how my cousins, Louis Sherry GAILES and his wife Helen Louise WASHINGTON-GAILES, both deceased, were actually from the same ancestor. Louis was born about 1927 in Opelousas, Louisiana to Odell Edward GAILES and Ethel GUIDRY. Helen was born about 1937 in Washington, Louisiana to Aaron WASHINGTON, Sr. and Letha NESBIT. Louis is the great-grandson of Washington GALES, a former quadroon slave of Joseph GRADENIGO, a free man of color, who purchased himself out of bondage. While Washington was enslaved, he had two known children, one named Emile, Helen's grandpa, who he had with a Negro slave named Arthemise, and another named James William GALES who he had with a slave named Louisa. Emile took on his father's forename as a surname. Also, he used his father's former owner's surname as shown in his second marriage: GRADENI, Emile Washington (Washington & Artemise THOMAS) m. 5 Feb. 1883 Irene THOMAS, wid. of Gustin LEDE (Wash. Ch.: v. 1, p. 83)WASHINGTON, Emile m. 29 Jan. 1883 Irene THOMAS, wid. of Justin LEDE (Opel. Ct. Hse.: Mar. #12683).





My uncle: Edward Odell Gailes Jr.
Technician fifth grade
The T/5 insignia of a letter "T" below two chevrons. Name Edward O Gailes
Gender Male
Birth Date 8 Jan 1922
Death Date 28 Apr 1986
SSN 439164367
Enlistment Branch ARMY
Enlistment Date 21 May 1941
Discharge Date 3 Mar 1947
Page number 1
Country United States


Service branch United States Army
Abbreviation T/5 or Tec 5
Rank group Enlisted
Pay grade 5th Grade
Formation 26 January 1942
Abolished 1 August 1948
Next higher rank Technician fourth grade
Next lower rank Private first class
Equivalent ranks Corporal






My Uncle 'Sherry" Louis Gailes



Service On board vessel during World War 2


Louis Sherry Gailes
in the U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949
Name Louis Sherry Gailes
Record Type Enlistment
Enlistment Date 1 Jun 1946
Description Receiving Station, New Orleans, La. 30 Apr 1931 to 1 Nov 1946 Part14, 2 Apr 1946 /1 Jul 1946
Detail Source
Name Louis Sherry Gailes
Record Type Military

This is not the same Comfort Class Medical Ship Uncle Sherry was on, but it is the same ship number!
Military Date 1 Apr 1946
Ship, Station or Activity Comfort
Ship Number or Designation T-Ah 20
Series MLR Number A1 135 Service Number: 276 03 13
Receiving Station: San Francisco, Ca. 1/1/1939 to 1/1/1949 Part 48, 2 Mar-1 May 1946