My FIL has been telling some really random stories about his dad in WW2 that don't seem to add up. Is there a way that I can order/access a WW2 vets records to see where he was deployed, what his roles were, etc.?

I don't think he's necessarily lying about anything, I just don't think he knows what he's talking about and he's getting stories about his dad mixed up and confused with other stories he's heard or read about over the years. I'm actually just curious for my own curiosity's sake.

TIA

Might be easier and quicker to find out grandads unit and goggle the history of that unit.

While you're at it, Google veterans records and/or National archives. I think they will release WWII records to almost anyone, as it had been so long ago

Good luck with NARA. The 1973 fire was bad news.

my parents were able to get some info on my grandfather's WWII record after 73, so it's worth a try.

on a related note, i have a cousin who was a Marine in the late 90s/early 00s and i caught him straight up lying about his service.

My great grandfather was shot down off the coast of Sicily in '43 by Messerschmitt 109's.

His initial bombing run was unsuccessful and decided to try again, and was downed in his b26 marauder.

Long story short I knew my great grandmother very well and she would tell me anything about him I wanted to know but would not discuss his time in WWII, period.

I wrote the Nara and the information on hand was phenomenal. The missing aircraft crew report and personnel files answered every question I ever had. They had copies of the telegram announcing his Mia status and one for his declaration of death. They also had two copies of notes written by my great great grandmother begging for news of her son along with a letter written by my great grandmother asking for his condition because. His kids were at home crying.

Anyway give it a try. They might have what you're after.

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My great grandfather was shot down off the coast of Sicily in '43 by Messerschmitt 109's.

His initial bombing run was unsuccessful and decided to try again, and was downed in his b26 marauder.

Long story short I knew my great grandmother very well and she would tell me anything about him I wanted to know but would not discuss his time in WWII, period.

I wrote the Nara and the information on hand was phenomenal. The missing aircraft crew report and personnel files answered every question I ever had. They had copies of the telegram announcing his Mia status and one for his declaration of death. They also had two copies of notes written by my great great grandmother begging for news of her son along with a letter written by my great grandmother asking for his condition because. His kids were at home crying.

Anyway give it a try. They might have what you're after.

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That's awesome!

First step is to request the records from NARA. You can go online, download the Form, print it off, fill it out, send it in. They will contact you if they cannot find anything. All in all it may take up to 90 days, but it is worth it.

Then find out what units he was in, what his MOS (infantry, artillery, medic, typist, etc) was, what campaigns he was in, and what his awards/decorations are. That should sum it up pretty clearly.

Then you can validate the story that is being told with what is on paper.

However, that may not be the whole story. I actually had to get stuff added to my grandfathers record because the archives were missing information, but my grandfather had the originals so we sent them in for updating.

Good luck!

Other than winning an argument with your FIL, what will this solve? He's probably confused, as you say yourself. Are you hoping to have him busted for stealing honor on behalf of a deceased veteran?

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First step is to request the records from NARA. You can go online, download the Form, print it off, fill it out, send it in. They will contact you if they cannot find anything. All in all it may take up to 90 days, but it is worth it.

Then find out what units he was in, what his MOS (infantry, artillery, medic, typist, etc) was, what campaigns he was in, and what his awards/decorations are. That should sum it up pretty clearly.

Then you can validate the story that is being told with what is on paper.

However, that may not be the whole story. I actually had to get stuff added to my grandfathers record because the archives were missing information, but my grandfather had the originals so we sent them in for updating.

Good luck!

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Can you request this info without being the next of kin...I have no idea about what my grandfather did while in the service and it would be pretty neat to find out. Example my uncle always said that he was a paratrooper in WWII, but I know that cant be true because he was born in 1930, and therefore not old enough to be in WWII. I guess he means Korea, but like I said I have no idea. What's the best way to go about getting this information, with me being the grandson?

Some guys lied about their age and got into the service as young as 12, so it's not impossible, just highly, highly unlikely.

And go to the web site. My memory is that you don't have to be a direct relative to request WWII records.

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Other than winning an argument with your FIL, what will this solve? He's probably confused, as you say yourself. Are you hoping to have him busted for stealing honor on behalf of a deceased veteran?

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Seriously? You're kidding right? These are comments made while sitting on a couch during the holidays watching the History/Military channel. No one is using this for any personal gain and never in the OP did I insinuate such a thing.

And at any point in the OP did I say that we were even arguing about it? I even clarified that I didn't think he was intentionally lying about anything....simply getting his 70 year old thoughts/history/stories mixed up. I don't argue with him about any of this stuff....the WW2 vet passed away before I was even married into the family and I have nothing to base anything on from my perspective.


I've gone through some of my own grandfather's records (just out of curiosity) to see where they were deployed, what their assignments were, ranks, etc. That's stuff I appreciate knowing and will be able to share with my own kids someday. My wife doesn't have the same interest in her grandfather's military history, but I'd like to be able to share the same info about her grandparents that I know about my own. If my FIL's stories made sense, I'd probably just take his word for it and pass along the stories that I've heard from him. Now, since they don't add up, I'd like to have the stories (or as much as can be understood from paper) as they actually happened.

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Other than winning an argument with your FIL, what will this solve? He's probably confused, as you say yourself. Are you hoping to have him busted for stealing honor on behalf of a deceased veteran?

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Seriously? You're kidding right? These are comments made while sitting on a couch during the holidays watching the History/Military channel.

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You've got me pegged, chief.

This isn't the zoo. The people that post on this board have real experience and expertise, which is why you came here. Please leave your "you don't know football"-like insults in the zoo, this board is one of the few civilized ones on TA.

WTF are you talking about?

Where did I insult you in that post?

My "These are comments...." statement is referring back to my FIL's comments in the OP.....not yours.

oh, I apologize then, I thought you were trotting out the zoo's favorite insult

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oh, I apologize then, I thought you were trotting out the zoo's favorite insult

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Apology accepted! Sorry for all of the confusion.

I think it says it on the request form (NARA SF-180).

Anyways, the answer is Yes and No. The records become public accessible at a certain point in time (62 years after they are filed). If he was in WWII or Korea you should be good to go. That is assuming he didn't serve into the 1950's.

If not, then you need to be next of kin. Can anyone sign for you?

Edit: I have done both and it works fine so I speak from experience.

While researching my Grandfather's academic record at TAMC, I discovered that the dead have no "right to privacy". I'd assume that records of deceased service members are available.