How do I find more information about my great-grandfather?

Okay, first off, hello. My name is Jenni. I've stumbled upon this forum while doing small research on my great-grandfather.

I am hoping to learn about his time fighting for our country, but, have several roadblocks.

I know very little information about him. He died two years ago, but, never spoke about his time in the war. To anyone.

The information I do know:

Name: Willard E. (believed to be Edgar) Mackey, Sr. (Not to be confused with his son by the same name, Junior.)
DOB: October 11th, 1920
DOD: December 5th, 2008
Other: Served in U.S. Army during WWII

This is basically all of the information I currently have on him.

My question to you lovely people is simple: where do I go from here?

What information do I need to further my search, to learn what he did in the army, where exactly he served, and why/when did he leave?

He is my great-grandfather, he is a part of me. His history is something I'd love to know in order to carry on (at least, the good parts).

Any help is appreciated!

 

Welcome Aboard!!!
Your first step should be talking to your family: Grand Parents, Prarents, Aunts, Uncles every family has someone who knows everything about the family.
Ask them when he was in and if he went overseas.
Look through photo albums and scrap books.
If you live near him you might be able to check with your County Veterans Assistance office. I contacted my local veterans office and was able to obtain a copy of my dad's discharge paperwork.

If you can find a picture of him in uniform it will help us help you figureout his story.

Good luck and good hunting!

 

Formerjughead - Thank you very much for the quick reply.

My grandmother (daughter to this great-grandfather) is our "family genealogist". She has done extensive research on our family dating back, I believe, seven generations. However, I've never heard word of her looking into the army history of her father. Like I said, he never told stories of his time in the army and no one asked.

His wife, my great-grandmother, is still living at the ripe ole' age of 89. I would hope she may have some kind of paper document containing some kind of information, even if just some sort of I.D. number? I'm not sure. The problem with this is that she would not be willing to share these documents until she passes and we can find them ourselves.

I will definitely ask my grandmother if she has any photos of her father in uniform. If anything, I may be able to take a closer look at the photos on display in my great-grandmother's home and see if anyone of them show my great-grandfather in uniform.

Thank you very much for your help.

Is there anything else I should know/look for to start off with, anyone?

 

Hi Jenni, I was able to locate some info on a Willard E. Mackey from Richland County Ohio, born 1920. This maybe your great granfather, the link is provided here.

Willard E Mackey: biography, pictures and information - Footnote.com

You can go to archives.gov and download standard form #180 and send in to get a copy your great grandfathers service records, however be forewarned that a fire at the Records Center in 1973 destroyed millions of records but is worth a try. Another place to look is the Recorder of Deeds office at the courthouse where your great grandfather lived. Service members were encouraged(not required)to register discharge papers there upon returning home. I was able to obtain my granfathers discharge papers in this way. I was able to download a request form from the Recorders office web site, got it notarized per instructions, sent it in the mail and within a week I had a copy of his papers. Good luck with your search and if there is anything else I can try and help you with I would be glad to.

buk2112

 

Jenni,
Also try to look into the "hometown" newspaper archives for stories or even maybe the larger papers in the home state...I myself found some good articles in those types of archives during my searches.

Regards
Clint