It's difficult to see in the picture what is on those, however in modern U.S. Army, the shoulder straps like that is used only for officers. It is a traditional insignia recently brought back with the introduction of the Army Service Uniforms. From what I know of that, it is based off the traditional shoulder straps, which replaced the epaulette's, which were only for officers. So I would assume either that isn't who you think it is, OR he did actually get beyond that rank.