Can anyone give me some information about my great-grandfather based on this old photo?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 20:40:20 -0400

So this is my Great Great Grandfather Harvey Niffen... All i know is that he was born Dec 17 1896 DOD August 1967. If any one can clue me in on anything regarding his uniform like Branch Of Service, Rank, Occupation (mos) etc. it would be grateful. Thank you!

Response by LTC John Shaw made Aug 19 at 2015 8:42 PM

LTC John Shaw — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 20:42:49 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member Wow! Looking at that photo, are you sure you don't star in that ABC show, FOREVER!

You can start with history and uniform sites.
Your great, great grandfathers service records should be publicly available as well.
http://www.history.army.mil/html/museums/uniforms/survey_uwa.pdf

http://www.archives.gov/veterans

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Aug 19 at 2015 8:46 PM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 20:46:18 -0400

Uniform looks like it could be Army or Marines in the '20s or even '30s....not able to tell from such a small photo what his MOS or rank would be...

Response by SFC Jon Vandeyacht made Aug 19 at 2015 8:46 PM

SFC Jon Vandeyacht — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 20:46:26 -0400

Looks like world war 1. 1910? Possibly Army mounted cav. Im not an expert but was looking this up for a client and think i saw one very similar to this. Anyway, i would start there.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Aug 19 at 2015 10:35 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 22:35:28 -0400

This is on Ancestry.com - You can ger a free 30 day trial membership and look at his records if this is him.

U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918▼
Draft, Enlistment and Service
Name: Harvey Rite Niffen
Birth: date - Illinois
Residence: Pike, Missouri
Other:
http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?gl=39&gsln=Nafon&gspl=16&gss=angs-c

Nafon - Ancestry.com

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Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2015 12:34 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 00:34:42 -0400

Just found out he in fact served in WW1 as a "Provost Guard" although I have no idea wht that is im going to continue my research.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Aug 20 at 2015 9:59 AM

SSG Carlos Madden — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 09:59:44 -0400

Things I can gather from this:
1) WWI or just prior - Perhaps even the 1916 Punitive Expedition in Mexico. He would have been exactly 20 at that time or 22 in 1918 when WWI ended.
2) Army - This was the uniform in the 1910's/early 20's
3) Enlisted - Officers wore a different type of cap.
4) Provost Guard - explains why an enlisted guy has a pistol.
5) Rank is probably Private - this is totally a guess but he has a crisp clean uniform (see very white spats) and people, to this day, take a photo of them with their new uniforms on for their families. Very common. If this is the case, he'd just entered service so he'd be a private which also explains the lack of rank, awards, or any insignia on the collar. If all of the above are true, this was likely taken in the US and so if he had rank or awards, he'd have them on such a clean uniform.

Good luck!