[cpw]

In 1940, an Army buck private's pay was $21 per month, but was soon increased. Was surprised to find the earlier pay rates shown were as high as they were. The hourly civilian wage during WWI must have been very low, so Army pay, plus room and board, wasn't all that bad for a lot of the ranks.

Not sure how good room and board was in 1940, but in 1949, the housing for a Sargent was not all that good. See the attached pictures of the housing.