Research on family member

I'm having some difficulty accessing any records of a family member who served with the US Army in WWII. I never met him as he died well before I had the opportunity to meet him. The name is Edward F. Gressman, of Co. A 5th Engineers. He was a PFC. If anyone could help me dig up some information I would greatly appreciate it.

 

Have you submitted a SF 180 (request for military records)? You can pick one up at your local VA or Vet Center, or, you can simply download a copy from the following... www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/standard-form-180.html

 

I havent tried that yet I'm just searching on line. But if I cant seem to find anything I'll be doing that. Thanks.

 

You're welcome. His unit? 5th Engineers...under what, Corps? Regiment? Battalion? Division?

 

Military Genealogy - How to Trace the Military Ancestors in Your Family Tree

Ancestry.com This one may require a slight fee..I'm not sure.

 

What state was he from ?

 

Edward F. Gressman of New Jersey. He served withCo. A 5th Engineers. Thats all I know, I'm the only one in the family that cares to know more.

 

EDIT..DELETE

 

GRESSMAN, EDWARD F
Serial number 32205261
Enlisted 27 JAN 42

Here's his full enlistment record:
NARA - AAD - Display Full Records - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records)

With the information in the enlistment record and any information you already know may about him (place of birth, date of birth, etc.), like wilconqr said, fill out a SF-180 or write a letter to the national archives and tell them that you are a relative seeking out military records of a family member. This is your best bet.

NPRC Fax Number :
314-801-9195

NPRC Mailing Address:
National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
314-801-0800

 

I just got back from the mailbox and got my report from the NARA. It took 15 days. Sadly I got the Fire report, a little info but not much.

 

15 Days? I sent a request around Memorial Day weekend and still haven't received a reply. Maybe that's a good thing because there are lots of records for them to send. Or maybe the National Archives is just an incompetent government bureaucracy. I'm leaning toward the latter of the two.

 

I didn't send a form 180 just a short letter asking for all the info of............ that they could supply me under the freedom of information act and thanked them kindly.

 

Dear Friends: I find this link about genealogy matters World War II Casualties .I hope are in your interest

 

Try VI Corps Combat Engineers WWII it is the best site I have found on US Army engineers in WWII. Their scope reaches far beyond the 6th Corps engineers too...

 

My g.uncle claims he was amongst the British volunteers going to Finland's aid (?39/40) and said he was flying with 32 fighter planes from Britain in tight formation but didn't encounter a single German plane. Does this sound likely and is there anywhere a list of who the volunteers were?
He also claims to have been a chief ground instructor at Perth aerodrome in Scotland in 1939 and to have been flown to Canada by Canadian Airways Ltd to join the staff of instructors at No 2 Observer School.
I am interested in trying to verify all this and if anyone can point me in the right direction, I'd be grateful!!

 

In your posting you typed "5th Engineers." Are you referring to the 5th Engineer Combat Regiment or the 5th Engineer Combat Battalion?

Richard V. Horrell