Friday, January 20

World War II (WWII) Enlistment Records


Some of the everyday heroes of World War II

I like large databases, ones with millions of records. Plug in a family name, and you're almost bound to find some relative or other. That's one of the allures of the WWII Enlistment Records from the National Archives (NARA)


There are more than 9 million records here of just about every man and woman who enlisted in the Army in World War II (1938-1946). My dad's in here, along with a host of uncles, great-uncles, some aunts and a few in-laws.

Along with a name, the records include rank, serial number, state and county of residence, date and place of enlistment, Army branch, term of enlistment, date and place of birth, race, education, civilian occupation, marital status, height and weight, military occupational specialty (1945 and later), and box and reel number of the original records on microfilm.



Don't forget to also check for your family history at NewspaperArchive and Newspapers.com. These are subscription databases, but they are among the most powerful research tools available for looking into family roots. And visit the main page of Free Genealogy Tools for more, umm, free genealogical tools.

16 comments :

Anonymous said...

Where can similar information about the US Navy be found?

Anonymous said...

Same place. Go on-line to nara.gov and download an SF-180 form. The details on to whom you should send it are on the form.

Note that the Federal Personnel Records Center is chinsy on to whom they will send personal info, like servivce and medical records. They claim a policy of restricting "next-of-kin" to parents, spouse, children and siblings if the person of the record is no longer alive. That is not in the law, but is a policy. Request a waiver of the policy if you are a grandchild and none of the policy "next-of-kin" remain alive. If you get stonewalled, as I did, send a lette by certified mail, return receipt requested to the Archivist of the United States in Washington. If you do not get a response from the Archivist's office within a few weeks call their Inspector General's office with a Privacy Act complaint. I had to push to get my grandfather's Nsavy service and medical records, but succeeded.

Anonymous said...

so tired of paying to find out who i am! all i want to know is where i came from. is this site going to make me pay too?

David said...

I hope you noticed the name of this site: FREE genealogy tools...no paying involved!

"so tired of paying to find out who i am! all i want to know is where i came from. is this site going to make me pay too?"

Julie said...

How do we find the address of the Archivist of the United States in Washington?
We are in the U.K and have spent along time searching for someone who was here 1944-1945 and was in the U.S Navy.

David said...

Julie...have a look at this list of NARA researchers:

http://www.archives.gov/research/hire-help/college-park.html

One of them may be able to help you in your search.

Best of luck...David

Julie said...

Thank's David will give it a try. Julie.

Anonymous said...

looking for information on my grandparents. the lived in germany during the war and i am looking to find out any information about them. they came to canada in 1951

David said...

Anon...where have you looked already? If you haven't tried Ancestry.com, I'd certainly suggest that as your best place to start.

Dan said...

I really need a help to find my grand grand fathers details.

My Grand Grand Father enrolled in French Army, in Pondicherry, India. He was not able to make up to the journey on the day called far.

Will there be any record for his enrolment in French Army ?

Could any help me?

Thanks
Dan

Anonymous said...

Just came across this information and I think it will be very useful for many.

Ordering National Archives Publications
FREE Publication FREE publications:

For FREE publications, contact:
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Archives I Research Support Branch (NWCC1)
700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20408-0001

Telephone:
866-325-7208 (toll-free)
or 202-357-5332

Anonymous said...

Just came across this information and I think it will be very useful for many.

Ordering National Archives Publications
FREE Publication FREE publications:

For FREE publications, contact:
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Archives I Research Support Branch (NWCC1)
700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20408-0001

Telephone:
866-325-7208 (toll-free)
or 202-357-5332

Anonymous said...

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001
Telephone: 1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272

Anonymous said...

looking for records for the Merchant Marines during WW2. any suggestions

Anonymous said...

Where can I find the battles my person has been in WWII?

Anonymous said...

For free?

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