Great-Grandfather served in WW2, how do I know what awards he has?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 15:29:56 -0400

I have his “entire” service record through the National Archives. I know where and when he served and what battles he participated in. Obviously they didn’t have ERBs or DD-214 back then. I just need to be pointed in the right direction. What document to search for, who to call, etc.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2018 4:02 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 16:02:03 -0400

You can easily cross-reference his service record with this web page:

http://www.veteranmedals.army.mil/

U.S. Army Veteran Medals Home Page

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2018 6:03 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 18:03:42 -0400

If he served in the Army he would have been issued a WD AGO Form 53-55, which is the equivalent of a modern DD-214. The 53-55 was a double sided document that summarized his service record on one side and had the honorable discharge certificate on the other.

More often than not some awards or periods of service were left off these forms due to administrative errors. For example, my grandfather was wounded and captured in Italy, but his Purple Heart was not included in the awards section of his 53-55. He had to apply for the Purple Heart following his discharge.

If you want to dissect his service record I suggest buying the book, ‘Finding Your Father’s War’. You can find it on amazon.

Response by SSG Laurie Mullen made Sep 30 at 2018 11:46 PM

SSG Laurie Mullen — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 23:46:16 -0400

My father's awards are listed on his equivalent of a DD-214, I'm at work right now so I can't check the form number. His discharge papers have his MOS and awards listed.

My father was Army Air Corps and Infantry so I don't know if the Army's discharge papers look different than the Navy's.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Oct 1 at 2018 12:00 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 00:00:02 -0400

SSG Private RallyPoint Member A lot of,what you are asking is hashed out in this thread. https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/helping-a-wwii-veteran-retrieve-his-uniform?urlhash=3998328

CPT Private RallyPoint Member has a very good comment.

Replacement decorations: https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/awards-and-decorations

Helping a WWII veteran retrieve his uniform? | RallyPoint

Does anyone know where I can find details on a WWII veteran? He has lost his uniform, and I would like to help him get it back with the proper awards and medals so he can go to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Response by SSG Byron Hewett made Oct 1 at 2018 12:59 PM

SSG Byron Hewett — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 12:59:47 -0400

If contact your congress man or woman they have a form for you to fill out and they can get you copies of his records and awards