- I want to check all the official records on a relative's service in the First World War. How can I do this?
Visit these link at the National Archives and Records Administration and read these articles about researching WWI personnel.
- Is it true that almost all World War I military records kept at the St. Louis National Personnel Record center were lost in a fire?
The 1973 fire destroyed [many, but not all] U.S. Army personnel records created from 1912 to 1963, but it did not damage U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps personnel files. [From NARA]
- Despite the fire at the National Personnel Records Center, I want to see if they have any information on my grandfather. How can I start this process?
To request a search of personnel records in the National Personnel Records Center, you will need a Standard Form 180, "Request Pertaining to Military Records." Copies of the form are available from the center at 8600 Page Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63132, or from their Web site at:
http://www.archives.gov/facilities/mo/st_louis/military_personnel_records/standard_form_180.html
[From NARA]
Of course, any governmental form is going to have some tricky parts. IN ordering a file from
St. Louis that you MUST include the military service
number. If you do NOT include the military service
number, you will wait 6-9 months and St. Louis will
return the request telling you they cannot process the
request without the militay service number, no exceptions.
An alternative approach is suggested by Lynna Kay Shuffield [See the last question below for information on her website.] In her article on
"WWI Statement of Service Cards", records of service which were sent to the
Adjutant General of every state, she lists where to write for this resource
in every state. You don't have to have the military service number to get this record; also,
once you have this card, and it will have service number on it, you can then write to St. Louis,
Pershing Arrives First
- I've had no luck with official records on my WWI relative. I want to learn what his experience was like. How can I get started to do my own research with published sources?
The key to getting started is to learn your relative's unit.
If the official approach has failed you, there are other ways, some unofficial, to dig up his unit. Here is a list of places to check:
- What was his home state at the time of the war. Many states published summary volumes listing the military service of every citizen during the war. Check at his state governmental library and archives.
- Who disposed of his personal effects when he died. A relative? An executor? Find them and see what happened to his personal effects and check to see if there were any military papers, letters home, a diary he kept overseas, information about where he went to training camp and so forth.
- Where is he buried? Check the records at the cemetery.
- When did he die? Was there an obituary? Is there any one left who knew him after the war that he might have spoken to about his military experience?
- Did he belong to any veterans organizations? They usually keep information on the affiliations of members.
- Does any one have a photo of him in uniform. Shoulder patches can be distinguished for divisions and sometimes for individual regiments.
- How can I learn the details of how my grandfather was wounded in World War I.
The National Archives holds reports on most of the 300,000 men wounded in the war. These include reports on Casualties, or Wound Chevron special orders, can provide valuable military service information, including types of injuries and location of service. (NARA, Records of the U.S. Regular Army Mobile Units, 1821-1942, RG 391)
If he was killed in action Genealogist Lynna Kay Shuffield has written an excellent on-line article on researching WORLD WAR I BURIAL CASE FILES
It's online at:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/2670/COLUMN-040.htm
- What were the Gold Star Mothers. Did they make a trip to Europe to visit their son's graves?
Mothers whose sons were buried overseas were able to make a piligrimage to their son's grave at government expense. Learn more about this program at this NARA website:
World War I Gold Star Mothers Pilgrimages, Part I
By Constance Potter
- How do I learn about the military experience of my relative in the Great War without getting involved with government archives?
Depending on how deeply you wish to study and research Published and Generally Available Sources let me suggest three levels of inquiry.
- For a General Introduction to the operations of the American Expeditionary Forces:
THE WAR TO END ALL WARS, E.M. Coffman
A top-down look at the AEF
OVER THERE, Frank Freidel
Best photo album of the AEF, supplemented by first hand experiences from the Doughboys.
THE DOUGHBOYS, Laurence Stallings
Anecdotal, but very thorough, telling of the AEF's story; has good maps and valuable statistics and facts on every AEF division.
- For Detailed Information on every AEF unit and operation:
AMERICAN ARMIES AND BATTLEFIELDS IN FRANCE, GPO
A unique combination battlefield tour guide, history, atlas, photo album and statistical abstract.
OFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES LAND FORCES IN THE WORLD WAR, US Army, 17 volumes.
Dense, dull but inclusive of much essential information not published elsewhere. Essential for serious research.
ORDER OF BATTLE OF UNITED STATES LAND FORCES IN THE WORLD WAR, 1917-1919, US Army, 3 volumes.
Detailed, important information about every AEF unit.
These three works are now available from the US Army Center for Military History on a 3-CD set and can be ordered through the Government Printing Office for $20:
THE UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR I. (1998) EM 0023, GPOS/N 008-029-00342-2, $20.00.
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/catalog/WWI-Pubs.htm
I cannot recommend this CD set too highly. You can use your search/find commands to search through hundreds of pages of information effortlessly.
For Very Specific information on your relative's military service.
If, say, you are looking for the specific action in which your relative won his silver star, you must go to the detailed unit histories. These are most informative and detailed for divisions and regiments. Here are some tips for finding unit histories [Armies, Corps, Divisions, Regiments]
The US Army Military History Institute maintains on on-line library of unit history bibliographies at:
http://carlisle-www.army.mil/usamhi/UnitHistories.html
Use the "Browse Bibliographies" function to find the World War I list for your relative's unit. Copy or download it.
Now, how to find these works?
- A large number of these unit histories are now being placed on line. We try to add these as we learn there urls. Check in at the DOUGHBOY CENTER'S HISTORICAL RESOURCES ON THE WEB article first
- Certain libraries, archives and depositories have very large collections of these works. These include the New York Public Library, the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and Cantigny - The First Division Foundation and Museum at Wheaton, Illinois.
- Try inter-library loan in your local area. You might get lucky.
- If he was assigned to an Army division, try to find out what states provided the bulk of the manpower for that division. There is a helpful list in Laurence Stalling's book THE DOUGHBOYS. Check at the big city libraries, state university libraries, historical societies and state library and archives for that state. This approach of course does not work for aviation units or specialized units not assigned to divisions. Also, remember that the US Marines in the Great War fought under the Armies 2nd Division.
- If none of these approaches work for you, try one of the book dealers who specialize in the Great War. The Great War Society maintains a list of book dealers specializing in the Great War at:
http://www.worldwar1.com/tgws/sr004.htm
Armistice Day
- My great grandfather was drafted during the Great War. Is there an on-line source for his draft record?
Yes, these sites are worth checking.
- My great uncle was in the National Guard of Colorado and served with their NG division during the war, can I check their records of his service?
Yes. National Guard unit records are not federal records but are in the custody of state repositories. The Genealogist's Address Book, by Elizabeth Petty Bently (Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1995) lists many of these repositories. [From NARA]
- How can I find out more about my late relatives disability payments and benefits.
Contact a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) office in your vicinity to determine if a World War I veteran received a pension or other government benefits.
- My relative was a mechanic in the Air Service. How do I find his unit?
Documentation on personnel serving in the air service is normally found among the rosters included in Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917-1919, entry 644, Record Group 120. This history has been microfilmed by NARA on fifty-eight rolls as publication M990 and is available for examination in the Microfilm Research Room at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., or for purchase from the National Archives Trust Fund. [From NARA}
American Sailors Observe the Surrender
of the High Seas Fleet
- Who is the best on-line expert on Military Genealogical issues?
That would be Lynna Kay Shuffield who has written a number of articles related to the Great War. She also has lots of practical general advice on researching your family. Her articles are archived and she can be contacted at her website:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/2670/COLUMN-001.htm
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