On-The-Roof Gang
Class #5
L-to-R: William Wilder, Charles Smith, Dorman Chauncey (instructor), Hubert Thomas, Jr., Phillip Miller and Maurice Overstreet. Walter Robertson missing from photo.
Class #5 convened in December 1930 and finished in April 1931. Chief Radioman Dorman Chauncey was the instructor, only the second man to hold this position. Class #5 was the first class to be comprised of only USMC operators. As was the Marine Corps practice at the time, each of these operators as assigned to radio intelligence duties for only a single tour at the American Legation in Peiping, before being sent back to general service communications assignments. Class#5 was also the first class for which there is a class photo, taken on the roof of the Main Navy Building next to the steel-reinforced concrete blockhouse classroom.
Private Phillip M. Miller
Phillip Miller graduated from OTRG Class #5 and was assigned to Peiping in 1931. He performed RI duties there through Jan 1933 before he returned to general service communications duties in the USMC and was later commissioned. He retired as a Captain.
Miller was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
26 Apr 1932: Peiping, China
03 Jan 1933: Quantico, Virginia (not performing radio intelligence duties)
06 Jan 1934: Discharged
Private Maurice M. Overstreet
Maurice Overstreet graduated from Class #5 and was stationed at Station ABLE in Peiping for one assignment before being removed from RI duties in 1933.
Overstreet was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
26 Apr 1932: Peiping, China
03 Jan 1933: Peiping, China
06 Jan 1934: Quantico, Virginia (not performing radio intelligence duties)
Private First Class Walter B. Robertson
Walter Robertson attended OTRG Class #5 Dec 1930 – Apr 1931 and then transferred to the American Legation in Peiping, China. He performed RI duties there through Jun 1935 before he returned to general service communications duties in the USMC.
Robertson was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
26 Apr 1932: Peiping, China
03 Jan 1933: Peiping, China
06 Jan 1934: Washington, DC (under instruction)
Private Charles J. Smith
Charles Smith attended OTRG Class #5 Dec 1930 – Apr 1931 and then transferred to the American Legation in Peiping, China. He performed RI duties there through Jan 1935 before he returned to general service communications duties in the USMC.
Charles Smith, 1934
Smith was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
26 Apr 1932: Peiping, China
03 Jan 1933: Peiping, China
06 Jan 1934: Peiping, China
17 Jan 1935: San Diego (not performing radio intelligence duties)
13 Jan 1936: San Diego (not performing radio intelligence duties)
Sergeant Hubert N. Thomas, Jr.
Hubert Thomas attended OTRG Class #5 Dec 1930 – Apr 1931 and then transferred to the American Legation in Peiping, China. He performed RI duties there through Jan 1933 before he returned to general service communications duties in the USMC. He retired as a Warrant Officer.
Thomas was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
26 Apr 1932: Peiping, China
03 Jan 1933: Quantico, Virginia (not performing radio intelligence duties)
06 Jan 1934: Quantico, Virginia (not performing radio intelligence duties)
17 Jan 1935: Quantico, Virginia (not performing radio intelligence duties)
13 Jan 1936: Quantico, Virginia (not performing radio intelligence duties)
06 Jan 1937: Quantico, Virginia (not performing radio intelligence duties)
Corporal William A. Wilder
William Wilder attended OTRG Class #5 Dec 1930 – Apr 1931 and then transferred to the American Legation in Peiping, China. He performed RI duties there through April 1932 before he returned to general service communications duties in the USMC. He retired as a Warrant Officer.
Wilder was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
26 Apr 1932: USS Chaumont En route Peiping, China
03 Jan 1933: Quantico, Virginia (not performing radio intelligence duties)
06 Jan 1934: Quantico, Virginia (not performing radio intelligence duties)