Hello All, I just received the only document in my grandfather's records (service file lost in 1973 fire). It is his Final Payment Worksheet. I was told he served in the Aleutian Islands but have nothing but pictures to confirm and I have previously posted the pics and will report attached to this thread. You can see them all just search for Lentovich. All threads related have his last name in them. Unfortunately my grandfather passed away in 1992. any help would be appreciated. Thank you - Cortne
The FP Work Sheets have minimal information, but if you are starting with nothing that's not all bad. The most important bit of info is his Army Serial Number. He was appointed to Sergeant from Corporal on 1 Feb 1943. He completed 3 years of service on 25 Jul 1945. He returned to the US from overseas on 24 Sept 1945. He was discharged at 1045 Army Air Force Base Unit, Fort Sheridan, Illinois. The fact that it was an AAF unit does not tell us anything regarding the unit with which he served. At the end of the War, they were sending soldiers to all kinds of units to process them for discharge.
Jumping in here to ask TD-Tommy a question about his comment, "At the end of the War, they were sending soldiers to all kinds of units to process them for discharge." Could one work backwards from this last unit, by searching morning reports, to find the main unit that sent him home?
The odd thing is that his serial number or name turned up no hits from NARA. The only thing I could find in Fold3 was his death notice from Social Security.
I have run into that more than a few times. The NARA's WWII Electronic Enlistment records are not complete.
Thanks everyone! My search continues. It is true I have not found anything else. I actually had to hire someone to find this record. I was also wondering if there were any more comprehensive general records about the Aleutian Islands and those that served there. I
Not sure how to access the MRs. Or if this sheet has the actual unit that he was in while in the aleutians or if this was just the last assigned unit when he came home.
It is possible to access them yourself, but it would require a trip to St. Louis. Most, myself included, usually hire a researcher to do that. Since Morning Reports record changes in a unit's personnel, it is possible to use them to follow a soldier during their service. They will record when and where he joined or left the unit, when he was on sick call or wounded, and when he was promoted. The unit on the Final Payment Worksheet is only the unit he was transferred to in order to be processed for discharge.
Did you check the courthouse from his hometown at the time of discharge? Most men registered a copy of their separation papers. They were told to do so. Some courthouses still have them. Good luck!
I did send another request to National Personal Records Cener once I learned of the Serial Number. We will see what they have. The letter said they may have discharge notice and enlistment records with the National Archives and Records Administration. They asked for a $25 fee. So after a first request that they say they had no records. Now with the Service Number they are able to find more records. Thank you everyone for the suggestions my search continues to locate what unit he was in while he served in the Aleutians. I am thinking pics look like Adak but still cannot confirm.
Thank you I did look at the local recorder's office unfortunately they did not have anything. But I thank you for the lead!