Finding info on U.S. veterans

In response to numerous emails for information about individual U.S. servicemen (I don't have that info), I have rounded up a number of links that should help in such searches. I would like to thank Stephen Sherman (webmaster of the American Aces of WWII website) for coming up with many of the links on this page.

• Dad's War - This website has all the links about this type of research. The best place to start.
• Navy Service and Medical Records
• National Archives - Military Personnel Records - St. Louis location
• National Archives - Access to Military Service and Pension Records
• Veterans Administration Site - "How do I see my records or records of another veteran?"
• Order a MACR (Missing Air Crew Report)
• Aviation Archives - search for histories, reports, and records of air crew and their units
• American Battle Monuments Commission - search the names in U.S. Military cemetaries
• Military.com - Buddy Finder
• Check to see if someone is deceased by searching in the Social Security Data base
• Veterans Administration Nationwide Gravesite Locator 
• NEDSITE, the ultimate 'People Finder' site index - military section
• Researcher's Page of "World War II on the Web" website - veteran info on both German and U.S. servicemen

Connecting those who served - Veteran and military directory

The more you know about the person you're interested in, the better chance the administrators can find something. Name, rank, serial number, branch of service, unit, dates of service, date of birth, etc. are all very helpful.

FIND A U.S. VETERAN FROM WWII
Listed below are the two best places to write to for military records when tracking down a U.S. veteran. Send letters to these agencies with any of the following information, if you have it:

• Full name and serial number of the individual.
  
• Rank held at a specific time or highest rank achieved.
  
• Names and dates of awards for decorations received (e.g., the Purple Heart).
  
• Unit(s) to which the individual was assigned or attached and the dates of service.
  
• Individual's military occupation or specialty, e.g., pilot, nurse, maintenance technician, military police, etc.
  
• Your relationship to the individual.
  

National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63132


National Archives and Records Service
8th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington DC 20408
Phone: (202) 523-3220
[http://www.nara.gov/]

Good luck in your search.