Are you attending RootsTech this month? I will be teaching four World War II research and writing classes. Only the first class, Finding the Answers. The Basics of World War II Research will be livestreamed. If you will be on-site, you can find this course in Ballroom A at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday 28 February.
Description: All the records burned! A fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, in 1973, destroyed approximately 80% of the Army, Air Forces, and National Guard records. This is not the end of the research possibilities for researchers. Many alternative record sources exist to reconstruct service history. Learn how to research World War I and II records for any branch of the military and civilian service, in this informative program. In this engaging and informative presentation, you will learn: A trip through time, exploring the service history of several men and women. Explore resources to search prior to obtaining military and civilian records. Provide information on obtaining Official Military Personnel Files and Civilian Files. Show you what military records can be used to reconstruct service history. Tips on weaving military, genealogical, and historical records together. A brief exploration of the Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF).
Want more educational opportunities:
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Pick up one of our new Quick Guides to research. More will be released the 28th!
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One should not give up hope of finding records for their family research. In our small North Carolina County of Rockingham, the WWII soldiers who were returning from the war were encouraged to file their discharge papers at the county courthouse. Both my father’s and father in law’s discharge papers had the seal from the courthouse. I now encourage descendants to check our local courthouse for military discharge paper. These discharge papers are a treasure trove of information which can be priceless to family members. I know in my case I knew very little about my father’s WWII service, he just didn’t talk about it. Once I read through his discharge papers I knew why.
Thanks so much for our posts, I enjoy each of them.
Hi Linda,
Thank you for commenting! Yes, veterans were encouraged not only after WWII but also WWI, Korea, Vietnam to file their papers – they received 4-6 copies. Anyone who is researching any veteran from those wars, the county is a place to look. Sometimes we get lucky and NPRC has at least the main discharge paper (the one with all the boxes of info), but not always if the file burned. Also be aware the final unit on the discharge may not be the only unit in which someone served. Researching only that unit can lead us down the wrong path.
Jennifer