This page honors
Jack Forgy and Ann Mix before him -- who have persevered
to obtain some of the Basic Records on our Fathers and loved ones -- using the most
updated information we can find. Please alert us if you find better or more useful sources
or methods than what you find here, saved and contributed from various sources. Click Here.
The most recent references are at the top, but other perspectives and good approaches
that have worked in the past are also included for reference. So if this is your first stop in seeking
Basic Records, we suggest that you give the whole page a look, as there's a lot of detail here,
including a seperate E-Mail note from Jack Forgy on how to get the Form 180, and
a special paragraph he always recommended we include, for best results.
-- Submitted August, 2012 with thanks to Kathy Le Comte --
Have you sent for these Basic Records?
There are many military records available to the next-of-kin of World War II servicemen. Most of these records are free of charge, but for some fees may be applicable to cover research or copy costs. In addition to military information, these documents may contain some or all of the following: serviceman’s full name, birth place and birth date; serial number; marriage date and place; home address at time of service; names and addresses of close family members; educational institutions attended; and more. It is important to provide as much information about your serviceman as possible, including full name, serial number, unit/s assigned to, date of death, proof of death, and proof of your relationship to the serviceman. If you do not have all of this information do not let that stop you from making a request; provide as much information as possible. If you do not have the service number, you may be able to find it on Ancestry.com in a collection titled U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945. Many times adding “son/daughter of (father’s name)” after your signature is acceptable as proof of next-of-kin. Here are some of the basic records available:
VA Claim File – Documents in this file will include the serviceman’s serial number and possibly social security number. During World War II the serial number was not the social security number. The file will also contain the names of the designated next-of-kin and possibly marriage and birth records. To obtain this file call (800) 827-1000. Explain that you want to request a “retired file.” Be prepared to provide the serviceman’s name, serial number, and widow’s name. Because these files are not in one location, the VA will give the address to write to request the file. Be sure to request the entire file. For more information, visit the Department of Veterans Affairs website at: VA Website.
Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) or 201 File – The National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO (NPRC) is the repository for service records from World War II. The main record to request is the Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). This file will have information about your serviceman’s enlistment, duty stations and assignments, training, qualifications, awards and decorations, disciplinary actions, insurance, emergency data, administrative remarks, Report of Separation, and other personnel information. To obtain the file you must submit Standard Form 180 (SF-180). You can request the form by mail or download it from the NPRC website, but the form must be signed and submitted by mail. Fill out the form as completely as possible. The NPRC suffered a catastrophic fire in 1973, resulting in the loss of many WWII records. The NPRC likely will tell you that your records of interest were lost in the fire and need to be reconstructed. This means that they will have to ask other federal agencies for records or information to fulfill your request as best as possible. This may take several months. For more information visit the NPRC website at: NPRC Website.
Other NPRC Records – The NPRC holds many other types of military files. Once you have requested the OMPF and have a basic timeline of your serviceman’s military career you might be interested in obtaining other military files, such as medical records, flight records, Morning Reports, final pay voucher, and more. Visit the NPRC website for more information. Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) – This file is the military report pertaining to the discovery, recovery, identification and final disposition of American WWII remains. It will contain information about the return of the serviceman’s personal effects, where the remains were found, the condition they were in, how they were indentified, and when and where they were buried. Some of the information in this file can be graphic as it does deal with human remains. In your letter requesting the IDPF you MUST state at the beginning of your letter that you are making a request based on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Provide the serviceman’s name, serial number, dates of birth and death, and branch and unit of service. Write to: U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Attn: AHRC-PAO (FOIA), Room 7S65, 200 Stovall Street, Alexandria, VA 22331-0400. For more information visit the Human Resources Command website at: HRC Website.
To Request Medals or a Burial Marker – You may be entitled to a replacement set of your serviceman’s medals, but there is a charge. Contact the NPRC for information on how to make a request. You may be entitled to a cemetery marker for your serviceman, even if he is buried or memorialized overseas. Contact the VA for information.
-- Submitted February, 2004 with thanks to Jack Forgy --
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, MOYou 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, click here to go to the: National Archives.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 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 the latest issue of 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
V. The Marine Corps has copies of casualty reports on microfilm and will send you a copy.
Mortuary Affairs Branch, PO Box 886999, Great Lakes IL 60088-6999,
Phone: (800)-876-1131 Ex 621, 627 or 628 Fax: (847)-688-3964
Contact:
Marine Corps Historical Center 1254 Charles Morris St. SE,
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.
ATTN: Reference Section, Washington DC 20374-5040
Phone: (202) 433-3483 or Fax: (202) 433-4691
Write to:
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.
Old Military Civilian Records, National Archives,
7th and Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20408
Phone 202 501-5385
Contact:
American Battle Monuments Commission Operations
Court House Plaza 2, Suite 500, 2300 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington VA 22201
Phone: (703) 696-6897 Fax: (703) 696-6666You can access information on the war dead buried overseas and on ABMC memorials at their website:
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; and AWON member-researcher Col. Jack Forgy (ret.), February, 2004.
-- Saved from an E-Mail to the MSU/AWON List by Jack Forgy, dated Friday, July 14, 2000 --
For a better appreciation of the scope of the 1973 Fire in St Louis go to the NPRC Web page at: NPRC Website.
You may also download the Standard Form 180 from this site at: NPRC Website - Form 180.
The fire actually destroyed millions of records, so your chances of obtaining the Personnel Records jacket are not good. But if it has been years since your last request, it would be worth another submission as something may have been discovered.
Also there are alternate records such as Morning Reports and the Surgeon General's Medical Tape which were not burned in the fire.Your chances of sucess are increased if you are very specific in what you ask for. Based on an AWON visit to NPRC we have recommended several times in the past that you state the following in Para 3, Section II of the SF 180.
"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 to include the SGO Tape. Flight Records for Army Air Corps Personnel Morning Reports for date of death, and Certificate of Service."
If you are requesting Morning Reports submit a separate request and ask for only one date, preferably the date the sodlier died. If you ask for a complex search you will probably be told to hire a researcher or come in person. If you are requesting Awards and Decorations I would also suggest sunmitting a separate request for those only, as it takes a long time to get a response. Only Army and Army Air Corps Records were burned. Navy and Marine Corps Records were not. Finally, it is never a good idea to fib on goverment forms.
While I doubt if they will ever prosecute you for perjury, they may just make it more difficult for all of us to get information, such as insisting that we submit birth certificates.
Sincerely, Jack Forgy
Warrenton, VA
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