Obtaining Grandfather's WWII military records. Do I contact National Archives or whom?

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 22:43:35 -0500

I apologize if this seems like a dumb question... I watched Fury over the weekend and now I'm
obsessed with finding out my Granddaddy's military history. All I know he was in WWII and I have his medals. One of them is an Army of Occupation Medal for Germany. He trained at Ft Sill.

Do I contact National Archives or whom?

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Feb 13 at 2015 12:14 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 00:14:33 -0500

Not to give free plugs for businesses, but ancestry.com or simiiar sites have extensive records as well. I found stuff regarding my grandpa's service.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2015 12:28 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 00:28:04 -0500

Some points to start from:

http://www.archives.gov/research/military/ww2/
http://www.militaryindexes.com/worldwartwo/
http://www.wikitree.com/articles/World-War-2.html
http://wwii-enlistment.com/

World War II Records

Information about holdings of and use of the Research Rooms of the United States National Archives and Records Administration

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2015 12:32 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 00:32:49 -0500

Yes, the National Archives is where you need to go. Since you are a grand child and therefore not a direct next of kin you will have to jump through a few extra hoops, but it's doable. Get a death certificate and submit it alongside a SF-180. The link I've attached below will provide you what you need and give you directions. Good luck!

Start Your Military Service Record (DD Form 214) Request

How to Request Military Service Records, Military Personnel Files, Veterans Records, Discharge Papers, Separation Documents, DD214, or Prove Military Service

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2015 6:16 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 06:16:26 -0500

I requested my grandfathers records quite a few years ago before the internet (I know I am old). I did it all through the mail, although I can't remember everything I needed to send. I am sure the links from the other posts will help you. I did get his DD 214 and cherish it.

One thing I will tell you is that there was a fire in 1973 that destroyed 16-18 million records.

http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/fire-1973.html

I wish you the best and hope you find what you're looking for!

1973 Fire

Information about military personnel records burned in the fire of 1973 at the National Archives, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2015 7:16 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 07:16:00 -0500

I am inthe same boat as you lisa. I have been trying to track down records for my wife's grandpa for a year but everything was in that damn fire. Good luck on your search and most importantly have fun with it.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Feb 13 at 2015 8:41 AM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 08:41:26 -0500

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member this is not a dumb question! It's an important one. Your grandfather's legacy of service should be treasured and honored. Keep us posted on any progress you made, since I know a bunch of other RP folks may have a similar question as time goes by. Thanks!

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2015 2:24 PM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 14:24:29 -0500

I updated this post and added the picture of my granddaddy's medals.
I appreciate everyone's input on this thread.
I will keep you posted and let you know what I discovered.

Response by Sgt Adam Jennings made Feb 13 at 2015 3:16 PM

Sgt Adam Jennings — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 15:16:43 -0500

I feel that I must prepare you for the likelihood that his records were burned in the fire that happened in the 70s. That's what happened to my grandfather's records. I can't remember the exact amount but I remember it was almost all of the WWII records. I would send in the SF-180 anyway and see what they say. They will also issue any medals he rated that he may not have received like they did for my grandfather. I had his discharge record with his awards listed. Good luck to you and it becomes an obsessive road, I've been going down it for about 18 years now. I've always been interested in WWII, but vibe become obsessive about my grandfather's part. It's a lot of fun researching it all.

Response by CPO Ed Ball made Feb 13 at 2015 3:54 PM

CPO Ed Ball — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 15:54:15 -0500

If you know the state he enlisted in and then returned to after discharge, perhaps the state capital Veterans Affairs/Services may have his AGO-53 (discharge type prior to Korean War when they started issuing DD-214's) on file when he applied for the war bonus.

I've used the Social Security Death Index to look for a social security number if you lack the Death Certificate - The county he died in, their Vital Statistics would have his Death Certificate, sometimes the old death certificates had the service dates when he went in and when he got out on the back.

The website findagrave dot com may have additional information relating to his military service if friends visited and left a memorial behind.

Ancestry dot com may have some limited military information on their site, i.e., grave marker applications which will give you service dates, BIRLS page (veteran personal identification info), etc.. They may have an obituary that relates to him as well that would be filled with lots of useful info. Use their trial period, but cancel before the end of the trial period or they'll bill your credit card direct without your knowledge.

Once you determine the unit he was serving in in Germany, then you can expand your research using advanced searches on .mil or .edu websites a lot of times. You may even find a reunion site for the unit he was in, they have lots of historical documents available.

Using a SF-180 or Vetrecs online application ask for the undeleted AGO-53 discharge and his military personnel files.

Hope this helps.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2015 4:22 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 16:22:50 -0500

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member - Not a dumb question. You can contact NARA for the biggest part of it. Additionally, looking at some of the unit histories can help. Ancestry has a couple hints and some documents that could maybe give you access as well.

I can tell you that he was in the war earlier (maybe 1942-1943), as the European-Mediterranean-African Theater medal has 3 battle stars. (4 awards). I can't tell if there is an arrowhead, but if so, that would mean that he participated in the initial assaults.

He qualified with the Carbine, so he was some sort of specialty Soldier, not straight up infantryman. Still an enlisted. Do you have anything that has his ASN on it? I could tell you whether he was drafted or volunteered and the approximate area that he was selected from based on that information.
v/r,
CPT Butler

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 13 at 2015 5:17 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 17:17:15 -0500

Lisa, I am doing the same thing. My grandfather fought in the Pacific in the Americal Division. Try this:

http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/archival-programs/military-personnel-archival/index.html

The big obstacle will be the 1972 fire that wiped out records. There was a 1947 policy that retroactively awarded BSMs to those awarded a CIB or CMB on orders.

Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF), Archival Holdings

Information about Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF)archival holdings at the National Archives, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri

Response by Sgt Kate Ross made Feb 13 at 2015 6:52 PM

Sgt Kate Ross — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 18:52:02 -0500

I found my grandmother's WAC DD-214 at the county VA office where she lived. I didn't even know she'd served until AFTER I'd enlisted in the Air Force. My grandfather's and my father's DD-214's were stored in the same office. Now my DD-214 is also on file at that same office.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Feb 14 at 2015 9:16 AM

LTC Stephen C. — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 09:16:20 -0500

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member, looks like you've got the info you need to find out more about your grandfather. I was lucky, as my father gave me his entire service record and we talked of his time in the service during WWII many times. Here's a photo of the shadowbox that I made for him.
By the way, the gold item in the upper left of your grandfather's shadowbox is the Honorable Service lapel button, also known as the Ruptured Duck. The other medals from left to right are: the Good Conduct Medal, the Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign medal, the WWII Victory medal and, of course, the Army of Occupation medal. The Army Meritorious Unit award is below the Ruptured Duck.

Response by SPC Jeff Myers made Mar 7 at 2015 6:24 AM

SPC Jeff Myers — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 06:24:13 -0500

You may have luck on Ancestry.com I had initially tried finding my father's military history through the National Archives. The search turned up negative twice. I even had his SSN. I was later browsing through Ancestry's search engine and came up with at least his service dates.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jun 23 at 2015 11:37 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 11:37:03 -0400

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member, do you know any of the units your grandfather served with in WWII. If you are interested in the military history your grandfather participated it, units records would provide from scant to a wealth of information. Many of the major formations such as Divisions and Regiments have museums and historical societies.
One starting point is where he was when he signed up. You mentioned that he trained at Fort Sill [was it Camp Sill].
Many of the units that fought are now National Guard divisions or retired colors. Since as LTC Stephen C. mentioned your grandfather has the Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign medal. Since he does not have either jump wings or a Combat Infantryman Badge he most likely did not serve in an Infantry Battalion or Regiment or Airborne Division.
When he joined would also shed some light, if he came in during 1942 he could have served in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and participated in either the Salerno or Anzio beach assaults.
Since he has an Army of occupation medal he probably served in occupied Germany after the war.
I suspect he participated in the French campaign - either Operation Overload at Normandy or Operation Dragoon in southern France. Since he served in Germany he probably saw one or more of the Nazi extermination or forces labor camps like Buchenwald, Dachau, Flossenburg, Ravensbruck, Sachsenhausen in Germany or possibly Mauthausen in Austria.
Did he leave any letters or notes sent home [through the censors] while he as in the Army? Envelopes and letters could shed a a lot of information.

Response by SFC John La Voie made Jun 24 at 2015 1:35 PM

SFC John La Voie — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 13:35:00 -0400

If you go to this site: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/
Then select "Request DD214", if you meet the requirements you can get a copy of his DD 214.
Directly below that, you can request a complete set of his medals, again if you meet the requirements to get them, and they will mail them directly to you.
Alternatively, you can complete the paper work for a family member that is qualified to receive them, let that individual sign it and then send it in - same result, just takes a little longer. It does work as I requested my own medals and my father's.

Response by SFC John La Voie made Jun 24 at 2015 1:55 PM

SFC John La Voie — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 13:55:19 -0400

Seems I reposted a lot of the same kind of information you already have, that's what I get for doing it on the fly. One other thing that I have not seen and may have missed in the other responses - check at your grandfather's county records office for where he lived when he got out of service. Many veterans registered their DD-214 at the County Clerk's office for future reference when/if needed.

Response by SPC Ben Cedeno made Jun 24 at 2015 2:21 PM

SPC Ben Cedeno — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 14:21:25 -0400

Hi Lisa, start of here
https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/identitymanagement/authenticate.do?execution=e1s1
it'll be easier for you to get access since you enlisted, if you goto the OPM website they give you the run-around just to find the link to get your records but this is the best site to goto https://vetrecs.archives.gov/VeteranRequest/home.html
to request grampa's paperwork.

Always remember, the only dumb question is the one not asked.

Response by SPC Adam Kuykendall made Jun 24 at 2015 9:40 PM

SPC Adam Kuykendall — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 21:40:27 -0400

Private Wilson, you have posted a long nagging question that I have concerning my Grandfather. I know he was a naval tail gunner in WWI; and a naval recruiter in WWII.

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2015 12:27 AM

LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 00:27:09 -0400

National Archives should have it. I know in doing some research for a project, they had stuff back to the Civil War.

Response by Cpl Mischa Brady made Jun 25 at 2015 12:31 AM

Cpl Mischa Brady — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 00:31:53 -0400

Normally you would fill out an sf-180 but check if it got damaged from the fire in 1973 because I have had issues with that for my grandfather who was army air corp. army air corp was the majority that got destroyed.

Response by MSG John Wirts made Jun 25 at 2015 1:45 AM

MSG John Wirts — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 01:45:50 -0400

There is only one dumb question,the one you don't ask! There are two possibilities, If your fathers records are not in his home, or bank, then first check the county recorder's office, if his WD separation form and any other documents concerning his active duty were registered with the recorder's office, they can issue a certified copy of all records registered with them! If he did not register his documenta, then the National Archives is the place to submit an SF-180. Some records were destroyed by a fire in 1973. Good luck,if any other family members served, encourage them to register their documents at their county recorders office.

Response by SFC Terry Clay made Jun 25 at 2015 9:34 AM

SFC Terry Clay — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 09:34:55 -0400

Check with the local VFW and American Legions, if he was a member they would have to have a copy of his discharge and possibly some records for membership purposes. Also I have veterans try their state's ARNG Judge Advocate Generals Offices. The fire in 1973 didn't destroy all records we have sucessfully recovered partially burned pages from those records.

Response by SPC Ray Starling made Jun 25 at 2015 11:44 AM

SPC Ray Starling — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 11:44:15 -0400

I have my grandfathers DD-214 and records from his service with 102nd Ozark Division thru Germany and have been able to model him and his unit in my "Flames of War" miniature army. When you receive his records, you can then locate his units' website for further history and reunion groups that you as a direct descendant would be eligible to join and attend. They will be glad to here from you. Good luck in your search.

Response by CAPT Hiram Patterson made Jun 25 at 2015 10:06 PM

CAPT Hiram Patterson — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 22:06:56 -0400

One thing about the archives (St. Louis Center) you need to know was that there was a fire I believe in the late 70's that unfortunately destroyed most of the Army and Air Force records from WW2. Only a small number were saved. Ancestry.com does have military records available but they may not be necessarily complete. But good luck in your search. Navy records fared much better by my father's record did not contain as much as I thought they would.

Response by SPC Edward Tapper made Jun 26 at 2015 6:57 AM

SPC Edward Tapper — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 06:57:10 -0400

@PV2 Lisa Wilcox, not a dumb question at all. Might I offer to you, my best experience? I would start with your (not your granddaddy's) local County Veterans Service Office (usually located within your county goverment building). This will allow you professional assistance as well as a local contact for any questions that may arise. Good luck on tracing your military herritage..

Response by PV2 Nathaniel Hurn made Jun 26 at 2015 10:40 AM

PV2 Nathaniel Hurn — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 10:40:58 -0400

I used to work as the Military / Veterans Policy advisor for 2 Members of Congress....call your Member and ask that their military/VA caseworker send you a Privacy Release Statement to get the ball rolling. If you have additional questions, please let me know and I can walk you through the process.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Jun 26 at 2015 1:37 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 13:37:06 -0400

Lisa, send an SF 180 (you can download it, and it's fillable...) to the address on the back for your Grandpa's dates of service. Please keep in mind though, that with the Archives fire, it's likely his records were lost.

My dad served during the Korean era, and all they could come up with was his 214, which was grossly incomplete...

Good luck, but don't get your hopes up too high. Oh, and it will take ~3 months for a response from them...

Response by CSM Harold Burleson made Jul 1 at 2015 2:07 PM

CSM Harold Burleson — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 14:07:22 -0400

Lisa - I think that you are well on the way to a treasure trove of useful information sufficient enough to initiate a journal enroute to writing an outstanding booklet from your findings. Start small, continue to research and edit, then grow the development into a big book. It certainly seems that many on RallyPoint have found it a job to assist you and will be there in the future if needed. I look forward to requesting an autographed copy of your first book! Keep Growing Strong; "Never Quit!"

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Oct 2 at 2015 3:25 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 15:25:47 -0400

I would ask your local county Veteran's Service Office for assistance. There is a two fold reason for this:
1. they can help you file the correct paperwork.
2. By going to them, you help other Veterans by keeping that office functioning.