WW2 U.S. military records provide family historians with insights into the military record, tours of duty and lived experience of men and women who served in the armed forces of the United States during the Second World War, 1939-1945. War service was so impactful on these people that military records can provide many valuable insights into their lives and the forces that shaped their attitudes and lifestyle post-War. As well the military records may contain valuable information on ancestors, such as physical appearance and medical data, not easily found in other generally accessible sources.
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The United States of America and WW2
WW2 was transformative for the United States society, economy and both internal and external perceptions of the country's global role. After WW1 a policy of non-intervention in foreign conflicts was favoured both across the general American population and many in the political class. More than 100,000 U.S. troops had been killed in WW1, sacrifices that many Americans believed were unwarranted. Even after Japanese aggression in China in 1937 and the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939 the U.S. continued its isolationist stance. This led to the enactment of Neutrality laws barring the export of arms, munitions and instruments of war such as tanks, artillery, warplanes and warships[1].
But between 1939 and 1941 America was still drawn into WW2, almost by stealth. The U.S. President, Franklin Roosevelt, actively worked to circumvent the Neutrality laws, supplying military equipment to the United Kingdom and France. This initially was on a "Cash & Carry" basis[2], then via innovative "Lend-Lease" arrangements[3]. Meanwhile a number of U.S. citizens volunteered to serve in the armed forces of other combatant nations. This included the Eagle Squadrons, three fighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force (RAF) formed from U.S. volunteer pilots.
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The December 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor dramatically changed public and political attitudes. The U.S. declared war on Japan, and its European axis partners, Germany and Italy within days of the attack. The country rapidly mobilized all its resources. The Selective Service System expanded the draft with millions of men conscripted into military service. Meanwhile industries shifted production over to meeting wartime needs. The U.S. soon became a military powerhouse, supplying massive quantities of material as well as fighting men and women in both the European and Pacific theatres. Together these contributions played a critical role that eventually turned the tide of war in the Allies' favour.
By war's end in 1945 more than 16 million American men and women had served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Another 3.5 million worked as federal civilian employees supporting the U.S. war effort[4]. This included more than 120,000 American military personnel held as prisoners of war (POWs) during WW2 by the Axis powers, mainly Germany and Japan[5].
Range of information potentially available in U.S. military records
There are many types of military records for US personnel who served in WW2. These range from draft cards and enlistment/discharge files to complete military service records and post-military service data such as pensions. Depending on the specific document type the information available might include:
| Name | Age at Enlistment/Date of Birth | Home Address | Next of Kin |
| Physical Description/Photograph(s) | Medical Examinations/History | Prior Civilian Occupation | Education |
| Rank/Promotions History | Tours of Duty/Deployments | Campaigns/Battles | Payments |
| Skills Achieved | Leave Records (Dates/Location) | Awards/Medals/Citations | Disciplinary Action |
| Command Reporting Structure | Burial Location (if died on active duty) | Timeline of Military Units in which served | Discharge Details |
Before you start
As with all family history research, it is important to gather as much personal information as possible before initiating a detailed search of WW2 military records. In particular it is crucial to have at hand basic details, such as the full name and date/place of birth to ensure that the records uncovered refer to the correct individual, especially when dealing with common names.
Where to find U.S. WW2 military records
Military service records from WW2 are physically held in the National Military Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The NPRC is part of the U.S. National Archives. Next-of-kin of a deceased WW2 veteran can order a copy of their military records online direct from the NPRC. Other researchers can obtain records using a Standard Form 180, which includes instructions for preparing and submitting requests. Restrictions apply, notably that military records are only open to the public 62 years after the person left the military. The National Archives website provides a useful guide on how to research the records that it holds.
In 1973 a fire at the NPRC repository destroyed millions of Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF). This included an estimated 80% U.S. Army personnel discharged from November 1912 to January 1960. The fire did not damage U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps personnel files. The NPRC has worked to salvage partially burnt documents and collected records from many other government agencies in an on-going effort to reconstruct basic service information lost in the fire[6].
The U.S. National WWII Museum has extensive resources on every aspect of the United States involvement in WW2. Of particular value to the family historian the Museum makes available on request a Guide aimed at assisting veterans and their families in obtaining copies of their military personnel files from the NPRC. The Guide details what types of records available, where they are located, and how to obtain copies. It also summarises what information is available on WW2 military units and ships.
The U.S. Department of Veterans provides guidance on veterans' headstones, markers, and medallions for eligible veterans. Veterans' gravesite photos can be viewed on sites like Billion Graves, which allow searches by name, birth & death date, state, and cemetery.
Regarding PoWs, the National Museum of the USAF provides details about the 41,057 members of the Army Air Forces who were shot down while in aerial combat over hostile territory. Separately the Naval History and Heritage Command offers information on both military personnel and civilian American citizens captured during WW2. The Library of Congress website features a section on American PoWs in Germany during WW2. This includes many personal providing an insight into the wartime experience of these prisoners.
MyHeritage includes a wide range of U.S. WW2 military collections providing access to millions of records, including several specialist datasets. Among the most relevant collections are:
- United States, Index of Navy and Marine Corps Awards, 1925-1994
- American Overseas Military Burials, 1917-1974
- US World War II Prisoners of War, 1941 - 1946
- U.S. World War II Army Enlistment
- Arlington National Cemetery
- World War II Reserve Corps Records
Between them the MyHeritage Knowledge Base, the MyHeritage Blog and Legacy Family Tree Webinars include many articles focused on researching U.S. military records more generally. These include:
- Ask the Expert – Military Records
- Military Records: Search by Name
- American Overseas Military Burials: Researching U.S. Soldier Ancestors Buried
- Top 10 Tips for Researching Your Ancestors’ Military Service
- Accessing National Archives Military Records from Start to Finish
- Compiling a Military Service Record
- Using Military Maps in Genealogy
MyHeritage also includes 14 collections of American newspapers covering the period 1900-1999 with over 43m records. Contemporary newspapers often covered the stories of individual soldiers and the battles in which they fought during WW2 as well as obituaries of those killed in action.
Explore more about WW2 U.S. military records
You can explore other Wiki articles which provide further insights into researching military records as well as suggesting additional resources. While more general in nature they do include information on US personnel serving during WW2:
- World War II
- Military Records
- How to research military records
- How to research US military ancestors
Other good sources for U.S. WW2 military records include:
- Cyndi's List provides a good range of links specific to U.S. military records for WW2. Categories include the Air Force; Battles, Battlefields & Military Sites; Internment; Locality Specific websites; Medals, Awards & Tributes; Prisons & Prisoners; Navies & Ships; Photographs & Memories; Records covering Military Pensions, Burial, Casualties, and the Draft; Regimental Rosters & Histories; and Women in WW2.
- FamilySearch, a free genealogy service affiliated to the Mormon Church is another resource offering an extensive range of links to assist researching of U.S. WW2 records.
References
- ↑ U.S. Department of State. (n.d.-b). American Isolationism in the 1930s. U.S. Department of State.
- ↑ Brinkley, Alan (2012). American history : connecting with the past (14th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education. p. 715. ISBN 9780073406954. OCLC 707486718
- ↑ Lend-Lease Act (1941), in Milestone Documents, National Archives of the United States, Washington, D.C., retrieved February 8, 2024; (notes: "Passed on March 11, 1941, this act set up a system that would allow the United States to lend or lease war supplies to any nation deemed 'vital to the defense of the United States.'"; contains photo of the original bill, H.R. 1776, January 10, 1941, which referred to itself as "An Act to Promote the Defense of the United States." )
- ↑ Research a veteran: The National WWII Museum: New Orleans. The National WWII Museum | New Orleans. (n.d.).
- ↑ Prisoners of World War II (POWs): The National WWII Museum: New Orleans. The National WWII Museum | New Orleans. (1970, April 7).
- ↑ National Archives and Records Administration. (n.d.). The 1973 fire, National Personnel Records Center. National Archives and Records Administration.