WWII soldiers showing off their mustaches

Inquiry A Veteran

How to Locate Someone Who Fought in World War Two

Inquiry a Veteran Guide


Delight annotation that the National Archives are currently closed to external researchers due to the pandemic, and they are currently only accepting emergency requests for records to aid veterans.

More than xvi million American men and women served in the US Armed Forces during Globe State of war Ii, and another 3.v 1000000 worked as federal civilian employees during the state of war. These men and women are our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or siblings. Many have shared their stories, but many others accept not, and few details from their time in service are known.

The purpose of this guide is to aid veterans and their families in obtaining copies of their military personnel files from the National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri.

Details include the types of records available, where they are located, and how to obtain copies. The latter part of the guide details the data available on WWII units and ships. By researching the unit or ship to which a veteran was assigned, you can begin to slice together his or her unique wartime story, and better sympathise what the war ways to your family.

This free resource supports research initiatives of the Museum's Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of State of war and Democracy.

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WWII Research Services

Every bit each moment passes, more memories of World War II leave us. Connecting with a loved one's WWII experience becomes tougher with each passing twenty-four hour period—conversations, old documents, and photos fade.

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Individuals Who Never Made It Home

Request the Private Deceased Personnel File (IDPF). The IDPF will nearly always constitute his unit of measurement and give data on his burial. In many cases, information technology will as well give valuable data about where and when he died, possibly including reports of the action in which he died. For men whose remains were never recovered or identified, extremely valuable records of the testimonies of his buddies are usually included, giving extraordinary information almost the action, what happened to him, and when they last saw him. Note: Youmust send a letter before any data tin be sent out to yous. The letter should include your signed argument of willingness to pay the Freedom of Information Deed fees for the work involved. If you are requesting your relative's IDPF, they may non charge you.

Department of the Army
U.S. Ground forces Human Resources Control
ATTN: AHRC-FOIA
1600 Spearhead Sectionalisation Avenue, Dept. 107
Fort Knox, Kentucky 40122-5504
502-613-4400
usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.foia@mail service.mil

If the deceased was buried overseas and yous want information on a gravesite or possible memorial site, contact the American Battle Monuments Commission.

American Battle Monuments Commission
Courthouse Plaza II
2300 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 500
Arlington, VA 22201
703-696-6897

Missing in Action

You tin can find a listing of expressionless and missing Army and Air Force personnel by canton at The National Archives and Records Administration website.

Individuals Who Made It Home Later on the State of war

If the individual came home then his discharge papers volition provide a lot of valuable information. If yous practice non take these papers y'all will want to contact theNational Personnel Records Eye To get this information yous must fill out a Standard Form 180. To get a form, phone call the following numbers and leave your name and accost. The Standard Form 180 volition be mailed to y'all.

National Personnel Records Centre
(Military Personnel Records)
i Archives Bulldoze
St. Louis, MO 63138
314-801-0800
On the Spider web

The National Personnel Records Center might non accept any data about the private due to a fire in 1973 that destroyed many records. If this is the case, y'all may try contacting the Section of Veteran Affairs. They have addresses and information on veterans who applied for benefits. To find out if they take whatever information on your veteran, phone call them at 800-827-1000.

If the Department of Veteran Affairs does not take whatever information yous can try contacting the Veteran Affairs Insurance Eye at 800-669-8477.

If you do not know the private'due south Social Security number and they applied for veterans benefits afterwards April of 1973 you can send a $2 check fabricated payable to the Department of Veteran Affairs. In a letter to them, ask for the private's VA claim number, not his Social Security number. If the claim number is nine digits, then it is also the individual'south SS number. Post this letter to:

Section of Veteran Affairs
Records Management Processing Center
P.O. Box 5020
St. Louis, MO 63115

Finding A War machine Unit

Once y'all find the individual'southward information, or if you already knew it, you tin can contact members of their military unit. Many tin can be hands found with Internet research. From there you can contact the person in accuse of the group to get farther detailed data. This is the all-time way to get in contact with the soldiers who served with this person.