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How to research grandfather's WW2 service?
Posted on 4/13/16 at 2:56 pm
Posted on 4/13/16 at 2:56 pm
ive been wanting to put together some type of history for my grandfather's WW2 Army service. Ive got some of his info,some newspaper clippings, pictures, and medals. but when we called to request his service records, they'd been lost in a fire.
Is there anywhere else to look? or is there some type of service i could pay to do the research?
thanks for any help.
Is there anywhere else to look? or is there some type of service i could pay to do the research?
thanks for any help.
9
Posted on 4/13/16 at 2:57 pm to EvrybodysAllAmerican
Is there any info on the WW2 museum website?
Posted on 4/13/16 at 2:58 pm to EvrybodysAllAmerican
Try Fold3.com. Subscription, but I think you can get a free 30 day trial. I was able to download the entire daily log of the ship my SO's father served on.
Posted on 4/13/16 at 2:59 pm to EvrybodysAllAmerican
You can try ancestry.com and there are people who will go to the actual archives and look for stuff. I can give you a contact if you're interested.
Posted on 4/13/16 at 3:00 pm to EvrybodysAllAmerican
There was a fire at a gigantic record storage facility in St Louis in the '70s (I think). If you have a copy of your grandfather's discharge papers, it should provide plenty of info (Form DD-214, I believe)
If you have that, might be able to search specific unit "alumni" associations for guys who knew him.
If you have that, might be able to search specific unit "alumni" associations for guys who knew him.
Posted on 4/13/16 at 3:03 pm to White Roach
quote:
If you have a copy of your grandfather's discharge papers, it should provide plenty of info (Form DD-214, I believe)
Check with the clerk's office wherever he was living when he got out. There is a possibility that he filed it there.
Posted on 4/13/16 at 3:05 pm to EvrybodysAllAmerican
I researched the ship my grandfather was on and found websites, forums and even a facebook page dedicated to it.
Sadly, it is hard to find information on that generation. So much paper sitting somewhere.
Good luck with your search. If you dig hard enough you may find some obscure references to him and his military buddies.
Sadly, it is hard to find information on that generation. So much paper sitting somewhere.
Good luck with your search. If you dig hard enough you may find some obscure references to him and his military buddies.
Posted on 4/13/16 at 3:10 pm to EvrybodysAllAmerican
Posted on 4/13/16 at 3:10 pm to EvrybodysAllAmerican
If you know what unit he was in you can research that particular unit. Most units made yearbook type thing at the ending of the war that chronicled where they trained and what campaigns they served in.
Posted on 4/13/16 at 3:15 pm to EvrybodysAllAmerican
He is cheating on you.
Posted on 4/13/16 at 3:53 pm to Jim Rockford
Thanks everybody, i'll look into some of those ideas.
Posted on 4/13/16 at 4:35 pm to EvrybodysAllAmerican
First, figure out what you know- officer or enlisted? Unit? Rank? Where did he serve?
Then look online- fold3, ancestry, family search.org.
You can look in the national archives for his info, but I have to tell you sadly there was a big fire that destroyed a majority of the army records. Some survive, but badly damaged. County courthouses also sometimes held discharge records of those coming back from WWII, in addition to the state archives where you are.
Lastly, you can hire researchers to do the gophering for you, as a lot of the governmental agencies can have you waiting for months. One I used was Golden Arrow Military Research. For a fee, they sent a researcher to the national archives and scanned everything they found. It worked for me. Good luck!
Then look online- fold3, ancestry, family search.org.
You can look in the national archives for his info, but I have to tell you sadly there was a big fire that destroyed a majority of the army records. Some survive, but badly damaged. County courthouses also sometimes held discharge records of those coming back from WWII, in addition to the state archives where you are.
Lastly, you can hire researchers to do the gophering for you, as a lot of the governmental agencies can have you waiting for months. One I used was Golden Arrow Military Research. For a fee, they sent a researcher to the national archives and scanned everything they found. It worked for me. Good luck!
Posted on 4/13/16 at 5:08 pm to White Roach
quote:
There was a fire at a gigantic record storage facility in St Louis in the '70s (I think). If you have a copy of your grandfather's discharge papers, it should provide plenty of info (Form DD-214, I believe)
My research ended when we received a letter from DoD explaining my grandfather's records were destroyed in that fire
quote:
might be able to search specific unit "alumni" associations for guys who knew him.
I'm gonna check that out one more time
Posted on 4/13/16 at 5:10 pm to Jim Rockford
I don't have a Fold subscription, but did a free search on a Civil War ancestor and it seemed to have good information. Looks like a great place to start.
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