Basic Information
The main set of records for a military service man or woman is the Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). This file can be found at the National Personnel Records Center, in St. Louis, Missouri. NPRC also holds Morning Reports, Payroll Records, Army Air Corps IDPFs, and more.
If your soldier died or was discharged by 1952, the records are available to anyone. If your soldier died or was discharged after 1952, only the next-of-kin, or authorized representative can obtain the records. Veterans can obtain copies for free, while others must pay NPRC copy fees.
During WWII, the Marine Corps fell under the authority of the Navy. You will find Marine Corps records interspersed with Naval records.
Explanation of Service Numbers on Wikipedia
Resources
Fold3.com has a lot of USMC records within Naval War Diaries and Squadron histories
Library of the Marine Corps Research Guides Portal
Marine Corps Heritage Foundation
National Museum of the Marine Corps
U.S. Marine Corps Histories (HyperWar)
U.S. Marine Corps History Division
U.S. Marine Corps Manual of Military Occupational Specialties (MOS)
Return to the WWII Toolbox.
© 2016 Jennifer Holik
