Author Topic: Looking up servicemen?  (Read 280 times)

Offline kamilyun

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Looking up servicemen?
« on: July 30, 2006, 12:33:17 AM »
Anyone know of how I could find information on deceased servicemen?  Does the military have searchable records/database?

I'm trying to find information on 3 great-uncles of mine.

I only know that one had last name of Chase and had an airfield named after him.

Might be:  Nathan Brown Chase

And this Naval Air Station:  Chase Field

Offline Obie303

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Looking up servicemen?
« Reply #1 on: July 30, 2006, 04:15:40 AM »
You could start your search at http://www.archives.gov  This is the National Archives in D.C.  Just follow the instructions on the web site.  The process will take a while since you cannot request the information via the internet.  All record requests have to be written and mailed in.  

My suggestion is to start asking surviving family members.  Try and gather as much information about your uncles before you start your search.  Some things you will need are where they were born, where they lived, what branch of the service they were in.  Remember that during WW II there was no U.S. Air Force it was the U.S. Army Air Force.  It will make a big difference in your search results.  If you have their ranks and approximate years they served, it'll help in locating their DD-214.  That is their discharge papers.

Some other web sites that you could try are Ancestry.com, VetFriends.com, Genealogy.com.  There are many more you can try but if you dont have specific information about your uncle's personal info, you could end up with the wrong person if the last name is common.  The web sites above charge a fee.  Sometimes they offer a trial offer but the info is usually vague.

One more place to check is the newspapers.  Find an old librarian in the town your uncles may have lived in before they passed away.  Try and find their obituary.  Some good info could be found there as well.

It's sometimes pretty tough but hopefully these ideas help.  Good luck!:aok
I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course,
I have kept the faith.
(quote on a Polish pilot's grave marker in Nottinghamshire, England)

71 (Eagle) Squadron