Updated 5 November 2026
I speak to many people on a daily basis about Army and Air Force research in the U.S. and Europe. Everyone is asking the same question. How can I find out where my soldier or Airman was every day? His OMPF (service file) burned in 1973.
The answer is simple. You start with Company Morning Reports. Here are 5 reasons you need these records.
- Company Morning Reports will help you reconstruct a soldier’s service, allowing you to document where he was every day he was in a company in a particular unit. You will also know when he changed units so you can continue tracing his service.
- Morning Reports document illness and wounds and if the clerk documented things, what field hospital or other hospital he was sent to.
- You’ll see changes in rank, MOS (job), transfers to temporary duty assignments so you know where he was at all times. Often, men were sent to DS (detached service) to help another unit. In those moments you also want to consult the other unit’s records to learn what was happening. This changes the soldier’s war experience.
- Changes in status to MIA, POW, KIA are also listed.
- Awards may be listed in Morning Reports if the clerk added that information. Many people want to know when or why a soldier received a specific award or decoration. This is one resource to help you discover that information and the often elusive General Order (GO) number.
Want to learn more about Morning Reports, how they can help your research, and how to obtain them? Read my articles:
Stories in WWII Army Morning Reports
Company Morning Reports Tell a Story
More on Company Morning Reports
5 Reasons Why You Must Have Army and Air Force Company Morning Reports
Help! VT, WX, VN as Locations on Company Morning Reports
What clues and information have you discovered in Morning Reports? Please share with us in the comments.
Can I help you with your research?
Learn the Research Strategy & How to Find Morning Reports
You can also learn my 2-part military research strategy and how to research Morning Reports in my live or virtual classes. Explore the upcoming programs at the Ancestral Souls Wisdom School store. All information is current as of November 2026.
Are you ready to learn the bigger picture of your family member’s military service? Email us at info@wwiirwc.com to set up your free phone consultation today to discuss project options, fees, and time.
© 2016 World War II Research and Writing Center
I was told my Grandfather’s records burned also and no other information was available. He was injured in a Stateside Paratrooper accident and I would love to learn more about this accident and what really happened. He never served overseas because of this. But, after he recovered he became a mechanic in the Army. I have some of his Army records that he kept.
Would Morning Reports be of use to me since he did not serve overseas?
The first place to start is with Morning Reports to verify what units he was in and when. Then once you have a timeline of service, move into Unit Records to learn more. If you need to get the records, I am taking new clients right now. Please email me at info@wwiirwc.com
Jennifer
How do we track down the morning reports? Both of my Grandfathers were in WWII and my Wife’s Grandfather was in WWII. I went to the National Archives in St. Louis.
J.R.
There are two other articles in the blog post that tell you how and what else the records contain. You can go to St. Louis and pull them yourself or hire a researcher. If you need a researcher, I am taking new clients right now. Email me at info@wwiirwc.com
Jennifer
What if we’re told the records burned in the St. Louis fire? How do we know what unit they were in?