BS = "Bronze Star. Awarded for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone." Bronze Star Details↗.
DFC = "Distinguished Flying Cross. Awarded to any persons who, after April 6, 1917, distinguish themselves by single acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight." Distinguished Flying Cross Details↗.
DSC = "Distinguished Service Cross. The United States Army's second highest military decoration for soldiers who display extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force." Distinguished Service Cross Details↗.
MOH = "Medal of Honor. The United States Armed Forces highest and most prestigious military decoration that may be awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians, and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor." Medal of Honor Details↗.
NC = "Navy Cross. The United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force." Navy Cross Details↗.
OLC = "Oak Leaf Cluster. The bronze oak leaf cluster represents one additional award, while the silver oak leaf cluster is worn in lieu of five bronze oak leaf clusters." Oak Leaf Cluster Details↗.
PH = "Purple Heart. Awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military." Purple Heart Details↗.
POW = "Prisoner Of War Medal. Awarded to any person who was taken prisoner or held captive while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States." Prisoner Of War Medal Details↗.
SS = "The Silver Star Medal is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. Awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States." Silver Star Details↗.

Look at the First Number or Letter
Some prefixes were used before 1941 (6 xxx xxx). However, the following system began shortly before World War II. The first character gives us a lot of information. (in the examples s=service command area given below)

1 = Enlisted in the Army (in other words, volunteered rather than drafted) 1s xxx xxx
2 = Federally recognized National Guard 20 sxx xxx
3 = Drafted 3s xxx xxx
4 = Drafted 4s xxx xxx
O (that’s the letter O, not a zero) = Male commissioned officers
W = Male Warrant officers
T = Flight officers (Army Air Force)
L = Commissioned officers of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC)
V = WAC Warrant officers
A = WAC enlisted women A-sxx xxx
R = Hospital dietitians
M = Physical therapy aides

Look at the Second Number - Service Command
When you have an 8-digit serial number, the second number shows the Service Command. (in the above examples s=service command area) This narrows down where the person enlisted or was drafted. If you have a serial number for a member of the WAC, look at the number after the letter prefix. There’s an exception. Remember those serial numbers that begin with “2” showing National Guard service? You need to look at the 3rd digit. (The second digit for those will always be a zero. You knew there’d be some exception, didn’t you.)

1 = Connecticut Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
2 = Delaware, New Jersey, New York
3 = Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia
4 = Alabama, Florida, Georgia Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
5 = Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia
6 = Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin
7 = Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
8 = Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
9 = Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington
0 = When the first number is 3, the zero means he was drafted outside the U.S. (301 indicates Panama; 302 indicates Puerto Rico)

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_number_(United_States_Army)

AAD, Access to Archival Databases
CDD, Certificate of Disability for Discharge
E, Enlisted
NARA, National Archives and Records Administration
NCO, Non-Commissioned Officer
n.e.c., "not elsewhere classified"
O, Commissioned Officer
USAT, U.S. Army Transport (ship)
W, Warrant Officer

GRADE: This is synonymous with the misnomer "rank", and the abbreviations which may be found in these tables are as follows:
GEN, General (four star);
LT G, Lieutenant General, (three star);
M G, Major General, (two star);
B G, Brigadier General (one star);
COL, Colonel;
LTC, LCol, Lieutenant Colonel;
MAJ, Major;
CAPT, Captain;
1LT, First Lieutenant;
2LT, Second Lieutenant;
CWO, Chief Warrant Officer;
WOJG, Warrant Officer, Junior Grade;
FLO, Flight Officer;
AvC, Aviation Cadet;
AvI, Aviation Instructor;
MSGT, Master Sergeant;
1SGT, First Sergeant;
TSGT, Technical Sergeant;
SSGT, Staff Sergeant;
TEC3, Technician Third Grade;
SGT, Sergeant;
TEC4, Technician Fourth Grade;
CPL, Corporal;
TEC5, Technician Fifth Grade;
PFC, Private First Class, and
PVT, Private.
(MediC), Medical Corps.

Military Ranks Complete Abbreviation List↗.

RATING: This is synonymous with the misnomer "rank", and the abbreviations which may be found in these tables are as follows:
Capt, Captain;
Lt Comdr, Lieutenant Commander;
Lt, Lieutenant;
Lt (jg), Lieutenant Junior Grade;
Ens, Ensign;
Chf Bosn, Chief Boatswain;
Mach, Machinist;
ACad, Aviation Cadet;
AMM, Aviation Machinist's Mate;
AMsmth, Aviation Metalsmith;
AOM, Aviation Ordnanceman;
ART, Aviation Radio Technician;
AS, Apprentice Seaman; Able Seaman;
BM, Boatswain's Mate;
CCM, Chief Carpenter's Mate;
COX, Coxswain;
EM, Electrician's Mate;
F, Fireman;
GM, Gunner's Mate;
HA, Hospital Apprentice;
MM, Machinist's Mate;
PhM, Pharmacist's Mate;
RM, Radioman;
S, Sea, Seaman;
SC, Ship's Cook;
SF, Shipfitter;
SK, Storekeeper;
SM, Signalman;
SSM, Ship's Serviceman;
StdM, Steward's Mate;
WT, Watertender, and
Y, Yeoman. And
1c, 2c, 3c, 1st Class Petty Officer, 2nd Class Petty Officer, 3rd Class Petty Officer, resp.

Military Ranks Complete Abbreviation List↗.

The Purple Heart medal ribbon can legally be authorized to only three groups of personnel: (details↗)
    First, those wounded or injured as a direct result of hostile enemy action.

    Second, those wounded or injured as a direct result of friendly fire (FF). (Broadly speaking, FF occurs only during a hostile encounter or initiative with, or in response to, an enemy when someone on your side mistakes you for the enemy.) Or when injured by your own non-projectile weapon (bayonet, sword, blunt instrument, etc.) or projectile weapons fire (bullet, explosive device, etc) while engaging, responding to or attacking an enemy.

    Third, POWs injured or wounded as a result of individually directed conflict or punishment with their captor in violation of any article of the Geneva Convention Rules of Warfare Concerning the Treatment of Prisoners of War whether or not the captor's government is a signatory to the Convention.


The World War Two Victory medal can legally be authorized to personnel serving in any military branch in dates 7 Dec 1941 to 31 Dec 1946, even one day.

Note: The US Army's Complete List of Abbreviations Used in World War 2 here↗.