Looking For Old Military Records

[MiloMorai]

Dan maybe you could tell people how you go about doing this research.

I did some research on my Canadian granduncles (8) from WW1 starting with Archives Canada. Even found a video, tho couldn't pick one granduncle out.

[branch37]

Hoping to find after action reports for the Meuse Argonne stuff. I'd guess he was among those 1277 casualties, many who were sent home to convalesce  which would explain his getting home Feb 1, 1919 and the early discharge on the 22nd.  Might take a little bit, but I think it's doable.  And if we're lucky his Army Records survived the 70s fire at the Records Center in St. Louis.  I'll let you know when I find out.

I was talking to a relative at a family reunion tonight and turns out he wasn’t technically wounded, but hospitalized with a severe case of Spanish Flu during the 1918 outbreak. Apparently severe enough to warrant a discharge.


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[JimmyD3]

How do you find current data, or specifically Vietnam data? I'm kind of curious as to what medals I got (if any), in the Air Force, I don't have a clue.

[redcatcherb412]

How do you find current data, or specifically Vietnam data? I'm kind of curious as to what medals I got (if any), in the Air Force, I don't have a clue.

Hey Kenai

This webpage has the address for the archives in St Louis

National Personnel Records Center
1 Archives Drive
St. Louis, MO 63138 or


https://www.archives.gov/veterans/replace-medals.html#air-force

guess it helps to put the link in

and a link for online requests. Your dd214 should show awards up to when you seperated, but sometimes some unit awards get added afterwards. I had to get all mine replaced when lost in a move (Army) and they even replaced the Purple Heart with the name engraved like the original.

[JimmyD3]

Thanks Redctchr. 

[redcatcherb412]

Thanks Redctchr. 

No problem sir, good luck with your search. 

[BFOOT1]

Dan, mind if I PM you stuff as well? Just let me know what information you need to help you out sir!

[Guppy35]

Dan, mind if I PM you stuff as well? Just let me know what information you need to help you out sir!

No problem

Branch, today I got in the mail a reprint copy of the 36th Division in the World War, written in 1920.   Author is H. Ben Chastaine.   I got it for five bucks on abebooks.com.    Fascinating book.  The roll of honor in the back is frightening when you see how many guys died in just 2 days in October 1918.   Still waiting to hear back on whether any of his records survived the St.Louis fire

[Guppy35]

Think about how horrific the first day in combat his C Company endured on October 8, 1918.  They had 41 KIAs.  A Company is 80-150 guys.   So they lost 1/3rd to a half of thier strength on the first day.  I can’t imagine what that must have been like. 

I wonder if his sickness in the end saved him?

[Guppy35]

From the history it says there were 160 cases of influenza in the division.  This was post armistice so it’s possible grandpa was there on the 8th.  C Company was in the first wave of attackers and got held up in the wire and hammered by machine guns.  The regimental commander was leading them and was one of the first killed by a shell burst.

[MiloMorai]

On casualties

The Royal Newfoundland Regiment at Beaumont-Hamel in the Somme battle, of 780 men who went forward only about 110 survived unscathed, of whom only 68 were available for roll call the following day.

[1stpar3]

Think about how horrific the first day in combat his C Company endured on October 8, 1918.  They had 41 KIAs.  A Company is 80-150 guys.   So they lost 1/3rd to a half of thier strength on the first day.  I can’t imagine what that must have been like. 

I wonder if his sickness in the end saved him?

It will blow your mind, WHEN you consider all the forces involved with YOU BEING HERE today! Through out all of history...Black Death, wars, plain ole stupidity, the list is too long to comprehend! I thank God EVERY day, that you guys are here! It sure does inspire me to live with purpose. Saw a quote from Mark Twain..."The most important days in one's life, are the day they are born...and the day they understood WHY". WOW  Well one reason why...was to give me purpose to carry on 

[Guppy35]

One of the joys of hunting for stuff like this is learning about stuff I don’t know.   Mailman dropped off another book today

“They called them Soldier Boys” by Gregory W. Ball.  It’s the history of the 142nd Infantry Regiment in WW1.  Not grandpas 141st, but they were right next to them throughout the war.  Sadly no luck on a specific 141st history.

The definitive work on the 36th is a bit out of my price range right now with the lowest price being $200.   

The Ball book gives a good accounting of the formation of the Texas regiments as well as more specifics on the combat in WW1, with good maps to go with accounts of the fighting.  Might be worth your while if you want some good background on grandpa’s war.

[redcatcherb412]

Think about how horrific the first day in combat his C Company endured on October 8, 1918.  They had 41 KIAs.  A Company is 80-150 guys.   So they lost 1/3rd to a half of thier strength on the first day.  I can’t imagine what that must have been like. 

I wonder if his sickness in the end saved him?

That is umfathonable. My infantry company strength was ninety and in one firefight in May 68 we had three KIA and nine WIA. They rolled the remaining guys to merge with another under strength company. I can't imagine the effect 40-60pct losses in one firefight. The casualties in WW1 with the open charges I have read about are horrendous.

 

[1stpar3]

That is umfathonable. My infantry company strength was ninety and in one firefight in May 68 we had three KIA and nine WIA. They rolled the remaining guys to merge with another under strength company. I can't imagine the effect 40-60pct losses in one firefight. The casualties in WW1 with the open charges I have read about are horrendous.

EXACTLY. AND they KEPT ON and ON. No quit in them, its simply amazing to me.Bond of brotherhood or whatever kept them going...THAT is what is amazing to me. The fact that they KNEW FULL well what was waiting in the days to come, and STILL forged on. All you guys are my HEROES