WWII soldiers showing off their mustaches

Research A Veteran

How to Locate Someone Who Fought in World War 2

Inquiry a Veteran Guide


Please note that the National Archives are currently closed to external researchers due to the pandemic, and they are currently only accepting emergency requests for records to help veterans.

More than 16 1000000 American men and women served in the U.s.a. Armed Forces during World War Two, and some other iii.five million worked equally federal civilian employees during the war. These men and women are our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or siblings. Many have shared their stories, only many others have not, and few details from their time in service are known.

The purpose of this guide is to assist veterans and their families in obtaining copies of their war machine personnel files from the National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri.

Details include the types of records available, where they are located, and how to obtain copies. The latter part of the guide details the information available on WWII units and ships. By researching the unit or ship to which a veteran was assigned, you can brainstorm to piece together his or her unique wartime story, and better understand what the war means to your family.

This complimentary resources supports research initiatives of the Museum'south Institute for the Report of State of war and Democracy.

Request Guide

WWII Research Services

As each moment passes, more memories of Earth State of war II leave u.s.a.. Connecting with a loved i's WWII experience becomes tougher with each passing day—conversations, old documents, and photos fade.

Larn More

More Data


Individuals Who Never Made Information technology Home

Request the Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF). The IDPF will almost always establish his unit and give information on his burying. In many cases, it will as well give valuable information almost where and when he died, mayhap including reports of the action in which he died. For men whose remains were never recovered or identified, extremely valuable records of the testimonies of his buddies are usually included, giving boggling data about the action, what happened to him, and when they last saw him. Notation: Youmust send a letter earlier whatsoever data can be sent out to you. The letter should include your signed statement of willingness to pay the Freedom of Information Act fees for the work involved. If you are requesting your relative's IDPF, they may non charge you.

Department of the Ground forces
U.S. Regular army Human Resources Control
ATTN: AHRC-FOIA
1600 Spearhead Division Avenue, Dept. 107
Fort Knox, Kentucky 40122-5504
502-613-4400
usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.foia@mail.mil

If the deceased was buried overseas and you desire information on a gravesite or possible memorial site, contact the American Battle Monuments Commission.

American Battle Monuments Commission
Courthouse Plaza 2
2300 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 500
Arlington, VA 22201
703-696-6897

Missing in Activity

You tin can find a listing of dead and missing Army and Air Strength personnel by canton at The National Archives and Records Administration website.

Individuals Who Made Information technology Home After the State of war

If the individual came home and then his discharge papers volition provide a lot of valuable information. If you do not have these papers yous will desire to contact theNational Personnel Records Heart To get this information yous must fill up out a Standard Form 180. To go a form, call the following numbers and exit your name and address. The Standard Form 180 will be mailed to yous.

National Personnel Records Heart
(War machine Personnel Records)
1 Athenaeum Drive
St. Louis, MO 63138
314-801-0800
On the Web

The National Personnel Records Center might non take whatsoever data about the individual due to a burn down in 1973 that destroyed many records. If this is the example, yous may effort contacting the Department of Veteran Affairs. They accept addresses and information on veterans who applied for benefits. To find out if they have whatsoever information on your veteran, call them at 800-827-1000.

If the Department of Veteran Affairs does non accept whatsoever data you tin try contacting the Veteran Affairs Insurance Center at 800-669-8477.

If you lot practice not know the individual's Social Security number and they practical for veterans benefits afterwards April of 1973 you lot can send a $2 cheque made payable to the Department of Veteran Diplomacy. In a letter to them, inquire for the individual's VA claim number, not his Social Security number. If the claim number is nine digits, and then it is also the individual's SS number. Mail service this alphabetic character to:

Department of Veteran Affairs
Records Direction Processing Center
P.O. Box 5020
St. Louis, MO 63115

Finding A Armed forces Unit

Once you find the private's data, or if you already knew it, you can contact members of their military unit. Many can be hands found with Internet inquiry. From there y'all can contact the person in charge of the grouping to get further detailed information. This is the all-time way to become in contact with the soldiers who served with this person.