Posted on Feb 14, 2016
How can I look up a honorably discharged soldier's records?
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I just found out two of my grandpa's brothers served and I'm interested to see where, what they did etc. Nobody in my family knows anything, so I was wondering if there is some sort of database that I have access to where I can get a snapshot of what they did.
Honorable Discharge
Discharge
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 5
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If you have some basic information for each of them, you can go on to the va.gov website and request a search for each Soldier's records by filling out a form available online. You, or someone designated as the "next of kin" will have to sign the form and mail it in to the National Archives. Several weeks later you may get a packet with your family member's service record. I did this for my grandfather and father-in-law who both served in the Navy during World War II. I got more information on my grandfather than my father-in-law. Some of the info wasn't that interesting but some of it was pure gold. I'd highly recommend going through the Veterans Affairs website and sites like Ancestry.com. Also look for service era and unit specific message boards on Facebook and online. You may be able to connect with people that your ancestors actually served with to find out more about them. If you're lucky, your efforts will pay off.
I found out that my great uncle died on the USS Morrison off the coast of Okinawa after his ship was hit by 5 kamikaze planes. He died at his post, manning a 20mm anti-aircraft gun. I actually connected with one of his shipmates who remembered Uncle Gil and told me the story of how he died. A tragic story, but one that deserves to be remembered and passed on.
I wish you the best of luck in your search for your family's past.
I found out that my great uncle died on the USS Morrison off the coast of Okinawa after his ship was hit by 5 kamikaze planes. He died at his post, manning a 20mm anti-aircraft gun. I actually connected with one of his shipmates who remembered Uncle Gil and told me the story of how he died. A tragic story, but one that deserves to be remembered and passed on.
I wish you the best of luck in your search for your family's past.
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PFC (Join to see)
MAJ David Wallace - thank you so much for such a positive response. this is the first time in years I have any hope at all of figuring out what he did or ribbons and medals he should have earned. I do have pictures of him in his uniform and a picture of his unit patch. I am planning on getting it tattooed on my leg along with my mine as a coverup of another tattoo.
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LTC Jason Mackay
PFC (Join to see) - the St Louis fire is tough to work through. Your best bet is to figure out from photos and what documents you have what his awards and decorations would have been and make a request for his decorations and other records with what you have.
https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/other-request-methods.html
Https://http://www.archives.gov/veterans/replace-medals
https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/other-request-methods.html
Https://http://www.archives.gov/veterans/replace-medals
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay - also you can pull their induction data here. This was dodgy. I ended up having to pull my grandfather's serial number off the dog tag my grandmother kept and work it that way. https://aad.archives.gov/aad/fielded-search.jsp?dt=893&cat=GP23&tf=F&bc=,sl
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NationalArchives.com. ? standard form 180/184. Wait, after 6 months, file again. They have been really responsive to my queries. I received Form 20s for myself and both brothers.
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