Researching a WW2 verteran
-
- Sergeant Major of the Gee
- Posts: 372
- Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2010 4:06 am
- Location: Lugoff, SC
Researching a WW2 verteran
I hope this a good place to ask this question. I have been doing a little investigation into the process of locating a WW2 veteran's service records. Real quick, the vet in question passed away in 2014. His son is a good family friend of ours and gave me his M1 helmet and a few other items. I want to document his service to keep with his items. I'm not selling anything or trying to attach a story to these items to make then worth more. My intent is to honor his service and document it.
All I know is his full name, his DOD, and that he was in the Navy. According to his son, he was part of an LST crew on D-Day or shortly there after. That's about all I have, no ASN, laundry number, etc. From the bit of googling I have done, everywhere like ancestry.com wants you to pay or create an account to access anything. My question is, isn't the service records of WW2 vets public information? Is there a government website where I can request the info? Has anyone ever done this before and care to share some knowledge? I am no relation to the individual in question, if that makes a difference in the process. Thanks!
All I know is his full name, his DOD, and that he was in the Navy. According to his son, he was part of an LST crew on D-Day or shortly there after. That's about all I have, no ASN, laundry number, etc. From the bit of googling I have done, everywhere like ancestry.com wants you to pay or create an account to access anything. My question is, isn't the service records of WW2 vets public information? Is there a government website where I can request the info? Has anyone ever done this before and care to share some knowledge? I am no relation to the individual in question, if that makes a difference in the process. Thanks!
-Dan
1945 GPW 267188 (numbers matching)
1945 GPW 267188 (numbers matching)
-
- G-Sergeant First Class
- Posts: 77
- Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2015 9:22 am
- Location: Central Ohio
Re: Researching a WW2 verteran
Apparently a lot of navy service records were lost in a fire a while back. The records you seek may not exist.
-
- Sergeant Major of the Gee
- Posts: 372
- Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2010 4:06 am
- Location: Lugoff, SC
Re: Researching a WW2 verteran
Well that would stink... hadn’t heard about that. I hope that’s not the caseStarvingboy wrote: ↑Tue Feb 06, 2018 9:31 amApparently a lot of navy service records were lost in a fire a while back. The records you seek may not exist.
-Dan
1945 GPW 267188 (numbers matching)
1945 GPW 267188 (numbers matching)
-
- G-Colonel
- Posts: 1481
- Joined: Tue Jul 30, 2013 12:14 pm
- Location: Chartres, FR
Re: Researching a WW2 verteran
Type "NARA search" on google; that's where I have found the more information.
GPW #3606 “LIBBY”
"Jeep is America's only real sports car." - Enzo Ferrari
"Jeep is America's only real sports car." - Enzo Ferrari
-
- Sergeant Major of the Gee
- Posts: 361
- Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2010 12:10 am
- Location:
Re: Researching a WW2 verteran
Navy records were not affected by the '73 fire.Army only. Find somebody with a fold 3 account.A lot of navy records there. Last resort,hire a researcher.Send me a PM and I will tell you who I use,
-
- G-Sergeant First Class
- Posts: 77
- Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2015 9:22 am
- Location: Central Ohio
Re: Researching a WW2 verteran
Well, HECK, I'd like to find out what my grandfather had going on then. He doesn't talk about it much, only the occasional snippet here and there
-
- G-First Lieutenant
- Posts: 654
- Joined: Fri Dec 20, 2002 12:42 pm
- Location: NJ
Re: Researching a WW2 verteran
Dan,
You can sign up to try Ancestry for free for a short period. With that you can access Navy sailor assignments - month by month for WW2. What ships or organizations a sailor was assigned to during the period.
I have done it for uncles in both the Navy and Marine Corps and it is very detailed. If you have a name and service number it is pretty straightforward.
If you do not want to sign up for Ancestry, PM me and I can do a quick search through my account.
jd
You can sign up to try Ancestry for free for a short period. With that you can access Navy sailor assignments - month by month for WW2. What ships or organizations a sailor was assigned to during the period.
I have done it for uncles in both the Navy and Marine Corps and it is very detailed. If you have a name and service number it is pretty straightforward.
If you do not want to sign up for Ancestry, PM me and I can do a quick search through my account.
jd
1942 Ford GPW
1944 Willys MB Litter carrier
1944 Willys MB-SOLD
1942 Bantam Trailer
1945 Bantam Trailer-SOLD
1946 CJ-2A-SOLD
1964 M151A1-SOLD
1967 M416 Trailer
1972 M151A2
1986 M1008-SOLD
1952 M43 Ambulance-SOLD
Amateur radio callsign - WW2DOC
COL, USA, RET
1944 Willys MB Litter carrier
1944 Willys MB-SOLD
1942 Bantam Trailer
1945 Bantam Trailer-SOLD
1946 CJ-2A-SOLD
1964 M151A1-SOLD
1967 M416 Trailer
1972 M151A2
1986 M1008-SOLD
1952 M43 Ambulance-SOLD
Amateur radio callsign - WW2DOC
COL, USA, RET
-
- Sergeant Major of the Gee
- Posts: 372
- Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2010 4:06 am
- Location: Lugoff, SC
Re: Researching a WW2 verteran
The wife has an ancestry account, but we don’t pay for the subscription any longer. I’ll have to look into that. Hopefully I’ll have time to play around with it this weekend and I will report back. Thanks everyone
-Dan
1945 GPW 267188 (numbers matching)
1945 GPW 267188 (numbers matching)
-
- G-Colonel
- Posts: 1481
- Joined: Tue Jul 30, 2013 12:14 pm
- Location: Chartres, FR
Re: Researching a WW2 verteran
Here is the direct link for the NARA search:
https://aad.archives.gov/aad/fielded-se ... 4=V,8,1900
You'll probably end up with several identical names, but from the birth date and city you'll probably be able to find the good person's record, and most importantly his ASN.
Then simply google name + ASN; I have found unit records that way for a 7th armored engineer; and for an Iwo Jima fighter pilot, both from just name, ASN and google magic!
https://aad.archives.gov/aad/fielded-se ... 4=V,8,1900
You'll probably end up with several identical names, but from the birth date and city you'll probably be able to find the good person's record, and most importantly his ASN.
Then simply google name + ASN; I have found unit records that way for a 7th armored engineer; and for an Iwo Jima fighter pilot, both from just name, ASN and google magic!
GPW #3606 “LIBBY”
"Jeep is America's only real sports car." - Enzo Ferrari
"Jeep is America's only real sports car." - Enzo Ferrari
-
- G-Sergeant First Class
- Posts: 83
- Joined: Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:23 pm
- Location: NC
Re: Researching a WW2 verteran
That link is for Army records. Where do you find Navy records? Thanks in advance for your help.
Stupid is free so it's everywhere !!
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 49 guests