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Off The Bus and On The Yellow Footprints.

Discussion in '☆☆ New Recruits ☆☆' started by Larson1776, Aug 13, 2018.

  1. Larson1776

    Larson1776 New Member

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    Hello everyone! Thanks for having me. Im a Gulf War era Marine (Sgt). I've been reading American war history since I could read a book. Mostly WW2, then Vietnam and the rest of my reading I would categorize as "random". Im here to learn and I should have joined something like this a long time ago. I look forward to the different threads.

    Im also trying to learn more about the unit history of a couple Great Uncles that served and were KIA in WW2. One in Normandy and one in The Phillipines. I know next to nothing about their service records and I have no pictures, so Im doing what I can to piece together their story, so that their stories and sacrifice will be known forever. Im unofficially the family military historian.

    Thanks again for having me!

    Bill S.
     
    Larson1776, Aug 13, 2018
    #1
  2. lwd

    lwd Ace

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    Welcome aboard.

    It's my understanding that at least some of the WWII era service records are open to the public if the individuals are deceased so you may be able to get copies without going to next of kin.
     
    lwd, Aug 13, 2018
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  3. Half Track

    Half Track Well-Known Member

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    Welcome to the forum!
     
    Half Track, Aug 13, 2018
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  4. Larson1776

    Larson1776 New Member

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    Thanks Half Track!
     
    Larson1776, Aug 13, 2018
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  5. Larson1776

    Larson1776 New Member

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    Iwd,

    Thanks for the welcome. In response to your comment, I'm hoping the non-next of kin request will yield more information on both uncles. At a minimum Im hoping to determine the ribbons and medals they rate, so that I can buy copies for a flag box. It's a real shame no one kept pictures, but those were different times, I guess.
     
    Larson1776, Aug 13, 2018
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  6. lwd

    lwd Ace

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    It's possible you may qualify as next of kin if they didn't have any decedents. If so you may be able to get the government to replace their medals. Others here are a lot more familiar with this than I am.
     
    lwd, Aug 13, 2018
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  7. JJWilson

    JJWilson Well-Known Member

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    Welcome to the Forums Larson, you most definitely will learn something, and I wish you luck on your search for your Great Uncles service records!
     
    JJWilson, Aug 13, 2018
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  8. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

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    Welcome aboard...
     
    CAC, Aug 13, 2018
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  9. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Communicating with the National Archives in St. Louis will be necessary at some point. Then go up the road a piece and get a good bottle of Scotch from Randall's Liquors.
     
    OpanaPointer, Aug 13, 2018
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  10. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    We'll try to help. A good start would be names and birth places. Date of KIA would also be useful.
     
    LRusso216, Aug 13, 2018
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  11. GRW

    GRW Pillboxologist WW2|ORG Editor

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    Welcome to the forums!
     
    GRW, Aug 13, 2018
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  12. Aaronzene

    Aaronzene New Member

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    Hello, Bill! Welcome to the forum!
     
    Aaronzene, Aug 14, 2018
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  13. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    Personnel records where the veteran's service ended more than 62 years ago are considered Archival Records and are available to the general public. It is not necessary to be related to the veteran, let alone their NOK. The greater obstacle is the amount of time it takes for the NARA to fulfill a records request, and whether the veteran's personnel record survived the 1973 fire.
     
    TD-Tommy776, Aug 14, 2018
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