There's no time like right now to write for your Father's records.
Have You Sent For These Basic Records? Here's How:
I. The first record you should write for is a file created by the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA). The documents in this file will have the veteran's
serial number on them and also may have a social security number. During World
War II the serial number was NOT the social security number. The documents
will also show designated next of kin and the file will contain marriage records
and birth certificates.
To get a copy of this file call (800) 827-1000. This will ring at your regional
office. They will be able to tell you where your veteran's file is located and
where to write. You will need to be able to give them identifying information,
a serial number or the VA file number. Be sure to tell them you are requesting a
"retired file." However, if someone is alive (for example the widow) and is still
receiving benefits from the veteran, the file will be "active". You may have to get
permission from that person or ask them to request the file in their name. If the
widow never remarried and always received benefits, the file will be near where she
is living or was living at the time of her death. After they tell you where the file
is located, write to that address requesting a copy of everything in the file. (You
are only eligible to get the information in this file if you are next of kin and the
veteran was killed or missing in action.)
If you do not have a serial number, and you become a member of AWON, you may
request a "look up" of the serial number from our Data Base Manager free of
charge. Remember, during World War II the serial number was NOT the social
security number.
II. If you already have the serial number, you will want to write to the
National Personnel Records Center for the veteran's "jacket," but do this only
after you have the serial number:
National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records, 9700 Page
Avenue, St. Louis, MO
You may write a letter or use Standard Form 180 to request information.
The SF180 tells you what information the NPRC needs before they are able to
answer your request and it is best to use one. To get a SF180 on the Internet,
go to:
www.archives.gov/facilities/mo/st_louis/military_personnel_records/standard_form_180.html#sf
You can also get a form by using Fax-on-Demand Fax number for requesting
military records is 314-801-9195, or by writing to the National Personnel Records
Center. You will also find a form SF180 in Touchstones: A Guide to Records,
Rights and Resources for Families of American World War II Casualties by Ann
Bennett Mix, available through the AWON Book Store. You cannot request records by
phone but you can check or the status of your request (wait at least 3 months)
by calling (314) 538-2050. You cannot request records by email but you can
email questions to mpr.center@nara.gov. More information is available on the
website www.nara.gov/regional/mpr.
Ask for a copy of everything in your veteran's personnel records
("jackets"). Also ask for the "MED" records. (You must have a serial number and ask
for "MED" records specifically, as they are only filed under the serial number and
not by name).
On the SF180 or in your letter, you may write (or attach a note): "I am the
next of kin. I want these records for information for our family. I would like
a copy of all documents in my father's personnel records file. If his records
were burned or are missing, I would like to have his personnel file reconstructed.
If the record is reconstructed, I would like a copy of all documents used to
reconstruct his file and prove his service. The copies of the records I am
requesting should include, but should not be limited to the following:
Official Military Personnel File, Final Pay Voucher, Medical Records and Clinical
Records to include the SGO Tape, Flight Records (for Army Air Corps Personnel
only) and Certificate of Service."
It takes a LONG time to get these records so the sooner you send for them the
better. Many of these files were burned in a fire at the center in 1973. Some
fragments of some records were saved but many files were totally destroyed.
This may have happened in your case. They will send whatever survived the fire
and at least proof of service. (For information on writing for medals, Flight
Reports, Morning Reports, Unit Records, and all benefits, we recommend the
book Touchstones.
III. Next, write for the Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF.) These
records were created by the Mortuary Services, which dealt with a war casualty's
body and sending personal effects to the next of kin. They are especially
useful if the personnel records were burned. If no body was recovered, there will
be a report of the investigation. All mortuary records for World War II, for
ALL branches, are kept at the Total Army Personnel Command (TAPC.) Be sure to
mention your relationship to the person who died and that you are requesting
the records under the Freedom of Information Act. You cannot request records by
phone.
Here's the new address (provided by Jack Forgy in February, 2004). Write to:
Commander, US Army Human Resources Command
ATTN: AHRC-PAO (FOIA)
200 Stoval Street, Room 7S65
Alexandria, VA 22332-0400
Phone: (703)-325-5300 for questions and to check on your request.
For information on requesting a memorial marker and funeral services for a
person whose remains were not recovered, see Touchstones.
IV. The Navy has index cards on deceased sailors. These 5x6 cards normally
include a description of how the seaman was killed, burial place, next of kin,
and birth, enlistment and death dates.
Write to:
Officer In Charge, Naval Medical And Dental Affairs
Mortuary Affairs Branch, PO Box 886999, Great Lakes IL 60088-6999,
Phone: (800)-876-1131 Ex 621, 627 or 628 Fax: (847)-688-3964
V. The Marine Corps has copies of casualty reports on microfilm and will
send you a copy.
Contact:
Marine Corps Historical Center 1254 Charles Morris St. SE,
ATTN: Reference Section, Washington DC 20374-5040
Phone: (202) 433-3483 or Fax: (202) 433-4691
VI. Records for Merchant Marines killed in World War II have been
transferred to the National Archives Records Center (Deceased and War Casualty Records
for Merchant Seaman 1936-1950). There is a charge of $1.00 per page for copies
of records. You can go to the National Archives and make copies yourself for
about 15 cents per page.
Write to:
Old Military Civilian Records, National Archives,
7th and Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20408
Phone 202 501-5385
VII. The American Battle Monuments Commission is in charge of burials in
American Military Cemeteries overseas. 134,548 American servicemen were buried in
these cemeteries. More than 78,000 whose remains were not recovered are listed on
the Tablets of the Missing located at these cemeteries and on East Coast and
West Coast Memorials in the US. The commission will send you a beautiful
brochure and the exact location of your veteran's grave or listing on the Tablet of
the Missing. They will also send a photograph of the cemetery with a photo of
the veteran's marker, or a photo of his name on the Tablet of the Missing
superimposed. This commission only has records of all whose bodies were buried in
American overseas cemeteries and those whose names are engraved on the Tablets
of the Missing.
Contact:
American Battle Monuments Commission Operations
Court House Plaza 2, Suite 500, 2300 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington VA 22201
Phone: (703) 696-6897 Fax: (703) 696-6666
You can access information on the war dead buried overseas and on ABMC
memorials at their website: www.abmc.gov. If your loved one was NOT buried overseas
you can view information on ALL war dead (by state) at the National Archives
website: http://www.nara.gov. Using NAIL: Select Digital Copies Search; Enter
War Casualties in the first Keywords box; Enter Army or Navy; in the second
Keywords box; Select Submit Search; Select Display Results. You will have to
browse by State and by County. No index to names is available at this time.
(Sources for this information: Touchstones: A Guide To Records Rights And
Resources for Families of WWII Casualties by Ann Bennett Mix, AWON
member-researcher Col. Jack Forgy (ret), and Ann Bennett Mix)
Information provided by:
The American WWII Orphans Network (AWON)
5745 Lee Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46216
Website: www.awon.org; Email: awon@aol.com
