Technician fifth grade (abbreviated T/5 or Tec 5) was a rank of the United States Army from 1942 to 1948.
[1] The rank was created to recognize enlisted soldiers with special technical skills, but who were not trained as combat leaders.
[2] The rank insignia was finalized on 4 September 1942, adding a block "T" below the existing two chevrons.
[1][5] Those who held the rank of T/5 were addressed as "corporal," the same as the corresponding non-commissioned officer at the same pay grade.
[6] Technicians represented a wide variety of soldiers with specialized technical skills, including medics, radio operators and repairmen, mail clerks, mechanics, cooks, musicians, and tank drivers.