Best Way To Find Service History

JSJJ388

JSJJ388

GREEN GREMLIN
Joined
Aug 31, 2016
Location
HAMPTONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
So I've broken my mother's golden rule and started digging into my family history. Particularly about my great grandfather. I know his basic info, but that's about it. I am specifically looking for his WWII service records, where he was, who he served with, ect. Is there a way to get this info? Any hp is appreciated.
 
If you know the county, check local archives.
 
CasterTroy said:
Can't help with research, but curious why the rule?
Click to expand...
Danny Elfman Skeleton GIF
 
CasterTroy said:
Can't help with research, but curious why the rule?
Click to expand...
There is quite the mystery as to who the father of my great grandmother is. As well as that my great grandfather (who I'm researching) was very secretive of his military service. He hid all his military stuff and instructed his only son to never open any of it. So there is a lot of secrecy on that side of the family.

Mom always said we were better off not knowing, I guess we will see.

Reason I'm looking into the service history is that the very little we have been told is that he served closely with Patton. I've always been fascinated by Patton (may or may not be the reason) and I want to know more of the story.
 
JSJJ388 said:
Reason I'm looking into the service history is that the very little we have been told is that he served closely with Patton.
Click to expand...
That alone might be the golden key to helping the search. My grandfather on my mom's side also served very closely with General Patton. US Army Major Carl Shirley is my grandfather that served in WW2 and Korea. Records have it that he used to be Patton's personal driver. Yes, in a Jeep. I know mom has old photos of the men he used to serve with. Maybe your grandpa may have been one of them...but that's a huge wtf coincidence. But wouldn't that be insane?
 
XJsavage said:
That alone might be the golden key to helping the search. My grandfather on my mom's side also served very closely with General Patton. US Army Major Carl Shirley is my grandfather that served in WW2 and Korea. Records have it that he used to be Patton's personal driver. Yes, in a Jeep. I know mom has old photos of the men he used to serve with. Maybe your grandpa may have been one of them...but that's a huge wtf coincidence. But wouldn't that be insane?
Click to expand...

That would be crazy for sure. Lem Macemore is my great grandfather, if that happens to ring any bells.
 
JSJJ388 said:
So I've broken my mother's golden rule and started digging into my family history. Particularly about my great grandfather. I know his basic info, but that's about it. I am specifically looking for his WWII service records, where he was, who he served with, ect. Is there a way to get this info? Any hp is appreciated.
Click to expand...
I did this a few years ago for my grandfather that was in the pacific during the war.Dont get your hopes up,esp if he was in the Army.Sometime in the 70's they had a fire that destroyed most of the records of folks in the army and IIRC the air force up to a certain letter of the last name.I had to use moms information to get what little info I did.They will also send you any medals that he received during his service.I dont have time right now to dig into it but Ill try to find the info for the place I contacted about his service records and medals.I hope it turns out better for you than it did for me.
 
1-tonmudder said:
.Sometime in the 70's they had a fire that destroyed most of the records of folks in the army and IIRC the air force up to a certain letter of the last name.
Click to expand...
Real quick google search.Might not be completely relative but you'll get the ideal.
www.va.gov

Reconstruct military records destroyed in NPRC fire | Veterans Affairs

In 1973, a fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri, destroyed the records held for Veterans who were discharged from the Army and Air Force during certain periods of time. Find out if your records may have been destroyed in this fire, and how to reconstruct...
www.va.gov www.va.gov
 
1-tonmudder said:
I did this a few years ago for my grandfather that was in the pacific during the war.Dont get your hopes up,esp if he was in the Army.Sometime in the 70's they had a fire that destroyed most of the records of folks in the army and IIRC the air force up to a certain letter of the last name.I had to use moms information to get what little info I did.They will also send you any medals that he received during his service.I dont have time right now to dig into it but Ill try to find the info for the place I contacted about his service records and medals.I hope it turns out better for you than it did for me.
Click to expand...
That's crazy.
 
The way we found out history of my grandfather on my dads side was we found his unit and went that route through u it history. His records were lost in the fire and that was a dead end. Best of luck and please keep this thread updated as to what you find. The greatest generation did amazing things and their service should never be forgotten!
 
If I recall correctly, I found my grandfather's draft card through the free portion of Ancestory.com a handful of years back.

They called him up for WWII, then told him he had Tuberculous and sent him home to die. (And he didn't have it. Lived to a ripe age of 94.)
 
Back
Top