Marine Corps Muster Roll Remarks

While researching U.S. Marine Corps records for a client, I located muster rolls noting that this ancestor was put on probation in early 1938 and spent several months “sick” [and hospitalized] before his last found record in January 1939.

 

The following discharge notes were included in that final muster roll.

“1, jd by S/Rs fr Bty C, 1^st Bn, 10^th Mar, 1^st Mar Brig, FMF, Post. 1-17, con Post Prison awtg BCD. 18, jd in person. 18, BCD in pursuant of sent of SCM. Char Bad.”

 1, joined by Service/Records from Battery C, First Battalion, Tenth Marines, First Marine Brigade, Fleet Marine Force, Post 1 - 17, confined Post Prison awaiting Bad Conduct Discharge, 18, judged in person. 18, Bad Conduct Discharge in pursuant of sentence of Summary Court Martial. Character of Service: Bad

There is the possiblity that it is not a Summary Courts-martial, but a Special Courts-Martial. Today, under the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) it would have to be a Special Courts-Martial, but I am not sure what the circumstances were in 1939. Because NPRC states that it has Summary Courts-Martials on file that do not result in a BCD it leads me to believe that Summary Court-Martials could sentence an enlisted man to a BCD at some time in the past. 

HQMC-CMC
MMSR-10
2008 Elliot
Quantico, VA 22134

If that does not work I would So I would start with the Marine Corps Historical Center to see if they know where they are located.

Since the Marine Corps and the Navy are all part of the Navy Department it might be that they are found in Navy JAG records.

They would be in RG 125, Records of the Office of the Judge Advocate General (Navy), but they seem to end in 1930 at NARA. So if the MCHC does not pan out I would then look to the Naval Historical Center.
 

Additionally, a same-name ancestor, and the name is unusual, enlisted and served in the U.S. Army in 1944.  Could this have been possible if the enlistee had served time in a Marine Corps prison?

He probably lied about prior service. In 1944 they were not that picky and probably did not check to see if there was prior service.


Hope this helps.

Craig