Posted on 12/01/2011 2:21:45 PM PST by MistrX
My Grandfather was a Marine in the South Pacific in WWII. My Mom has no details as he never talked about his experiences. I would like to know where was posted, etc. Can anybody help me with this? Thanks.
I’d like to learn more of my grandfather’s time in Europe as well.
From what I understand there was a fire some years ago in one location where military personnel records were stored so some were lost. Hopefully you won’t run into that problem.
If that information is publicly available, you should be able to get that information straight from the DoD.
I, myself, have had great luck on linked website to my Grandfather’s Navy muster rolls. He was on the USS Ramsay in the mid 40’s. Registration was free, but I believe is limited to the info. It was enough for me, so I never bothered with the paid subscription.
Thank you.
You can write to the government for the records.
Unfortunately a huge amount of records from the war in the Pacific were lost in a fire in St. Louis, MO a few decades ago. My father fought on Luzon and other Islands in the Pacific. Then he was part of the army of occupation for Japan. He has a number of Bronze Battle Stars, 4 I think. He died before I ever was smart enough to make him tell me about his war experience. When I was young all he would ever do and say when I asked him about the war is “you can’t begin to imagine how cruel people can be to each other in a war”. My dad was a Democrat. The day I told him I was a Republican (when I was about 25) he looked at me like I wasn’t his.
Just google military records US Government.
PS: google is your friend (for searches anyway).
Good luck. I couldn’t get any info regarding my dad’s time in WWII.
They said something about having a flood and a lot of information got ruined....then sent me the same form to fill out.
I must have sent it 3 times and kept getting a new one back requesting the same info.
If you have any luck, please let me know. Thnx =)
Thank you for this information. I have never looked up my late father’s service information and this is very helpful.
Go on line and look up SF180 and you can request reissue of Metals and some other things but you might need his DD214. If you know his unit you can get a history of his unit. Ancestry.com has a 14 day free trial and you can look lots of stuff.
Oops, not a flood, a fire.
There is a form to fill out and sent to National Personnel Records Center 9700 Page Ave. St. Louis MO 63121-5100
You should know his service number.
Your Congress critter can also be of assistance here.
The fire destroyed records there on 7-12-73 [including mine] but I was able to get copy of discharge and medical records from unit Morning Reports which were maintained elsewhere. If medals are noted on the discharge, they will send them. They also suggested contacting the VA if they have any medical records 1800-827-1000.
Good Luck,
Thanks. My Dad’s records are there. Pretty interesting.
bump...
Bump...
Interested myself. I have hunches my father in law was a Chosin Reservoir Marine. I would love to verify that in his honor.
http://www.archives.gov/research/military/
If you go to that site it will lead you to request the records after you provide certain info (grandfather’s name etc). I got my grandfather’s service record from WWI. Found out his job was “wagoneer” and even found out what awards he received.
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Does anybody know where I can find that video of the giant swastika on a gymnasium getting blown up? One that shows the tank and soldiers that were there, I’m fairly sure the soldier holding the bazooka is a relative of mine.
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