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Researching a World War II Veteran

I am very lucky to regularly hear from veterans of the 182nd Infantry from World War II, as well as their children and grandchildren. Sometimes, I am even able to help them find new information, documents or photographs of a particular veteran. It can be difficult to track down the specifics of an individual’s wartime service, though. I wanted to share a few tips here, along with some guidelines for what I can and can not help with on the research front.

First of all, it is important to note that my research focuses on one company of the 182nd Infantry, and their service during World War II. Over the years I have collected hundreds of primary source documents from locations such as the National Archives and the Massachusetts National Guard Museum and Archives. While some of these documents relate to the entire 182nd Infantry, or even the full Americal Division, in most cases they pertain only to Company G of the 182nd. This unit of approximately 200 men made up just a small portion of the 182nd during the war. Thus, I am often unable to help researchers trying to find out more about their relatives. Please contact me if you are unsure what company a 182nd Infantry serviceman served with – I may be able to determine this.

Since I can’t answer everyone’s questions, I always try to point them in the proper direction to do their own research. The starting point for any research into a U.S. service member is the National Archives. The most important pieces of paperwork to track down are discharge papers and separation records. These days, those forms are known as the DD-214, but during World War II, they went by other designations such as WD AGO 53, WD AGO 55, WD AGO 53-55, NAVPERS 553, NAVMC 78PD, and NAVCG 553. These forms list the veteran’s name, address, rank, duties, foreign service, and other important facts. Unfortunately, when researching U.S. Army records during World War II, there is a rather serious problem. In 1973, a massive fire at the National Archives repository in St. Louis destroyed most of these records (read more about that fire here). If you do not have a copy of the veteran’s service records, you should request them through the National Archives here, but be aware that they may no longer exist due to the fire. These records, when they do exist, are held at the National Archives location in St. Louis, at a place known as the National Personnel Records Center.

Other important military records from World War II can be obtained to expand the knowledge of a veteran’s war service. At the National Archives in College Park, MD, dozens of boxes contain the original reports and documents created by Americal Division units during the war. These include important records such as Unit Histories (example here), Operations Reports (example here), and many others. The College Park location of the National Archives also holds photographs of many war time events and people. You can learn more about visiting this location to do research at this link.

Other documents generated by World War II U.S. Army units can be found at the National Archives location in St. Louis. These included Unit Rosters, and Morning Reports (see example here). These reports are highly informative. Morning Reports were created each day by each company, and they list what the unit did during the day. The also list out any changes to the unit’s personnel, such as the departure of sick and wounded, arrival of replacements, and reporting of those killed. You can find out more on their website.

The last archival destination I recommend for 182nd Infantry research is the Massachusetts National Guard Museum and Archives. Located in Concord, MA, this facility houses the records pertaining to the unit’s time prior to departure for the Pacific in January 1942. There is a wealth of photographic material here on the pre-war years, as well as rosters and paperwork. Please note that this National Guard facility does not hold records related to the 182nd’s four years overseas in the Pacific – a period when the unit had been federalized and served in the U.S. Army.

In terms of reading material, one book in particular is crucial to knowing the story of the 182nd Infantry Regiment in World War II. This is Under the Southern Cross, written by Captain Francis D. Cronin a few years after the war. It can be purchased from the Americal Legacy Foundation in their Online Store.

I hope this this general information is helpful to those investigating the service of a World War II service member. If you have specific questions about a 182nd Infantry Regiment individual, please feel free to contact me at 182ndinfantry@gmail.com.

Published inHistory

15 Comments

  1. Tim J. Adamescu Tim J. Adamescu

    Dave,
    First I would like to comment on what a great job you have done on your website. It shows your compassion for passing on history to others and the time spent, which I am sure, was very gratifying to you. I too love researching history, not only for myself, but for friends and family as well, which brings me to this email.
    My sister in law’s father, Emil Chipko, was with the 182nd infantry during the Cebu campaign with the medical detachment which, from my research, I believe, would be the 3rd Battalion Section. At the start of the campaign he was a corporal, but there was a commendation for him that states he was in charge of a litter squad that evacuated 47 wounded men from 03/29/45 to 3/31/45. It was because of this, he was promoted to staff sargeant.
    I have been unsuccessful in locating information regarding the medical detachment of the 182nd. Could you possibly direct me in the right direction and or share what you might have? I look forward to your response. Below is all my information for contacting me.
    Best regards,

    Tim J. Adamescu

  2. Dave Colamaria Dave Colamaria

    Thanks so much for your comment Tim. I appreciate the feedback. I will send you an email to respond to your question.

  3. John D Hogan John D Hogan

    Dave:
    Excellent website; informative, well arranged and superbly detailed. It should serve as a model for others. Your attention to detail is precise, however, not pedantic or boring.

    As you have focused on G Company, I have been researching my father’s service as a 2Lt. of H Company during the action around Hill 260 in March of 1944. He was reported as Missing in Action in the After Action Report which you have included in this website. Any information that you might have would be most helpful as I am attempting to figure out his medals as relates to his time .
    Thank you for any help.
    Best
    John D. Hogan

  4. D C D C

    Hi John, thanks for contacting me. I have quite a bit of paperwork, but very little on H, unfortunately. I may have some regiment level info that you could use. But you definitely ought to try to get copies of the morning reports from the National Archives for that company for March/April 1944.

  5. Deb Such Deb Such

    Hi Dave,

    Thank you so much for your research! I recently found out that my grandfather belonged to Company C. All the accounts and pictures on here have helped me show my mother a glimpse of what her father may have gone through during the war. They never met so this has helped us humanize him in a way. We appreciate all your hard work and research. We all benefit and hopefully keep their legacy alive!

  6. D C D C

    Thank you! It means a lot to hear that from you.

  7. Al Al

    What an excellent source of info! My great uncle Ralph Holso was evidently with G Co. and killed on Hil 260 in Bougainville (how come no one in my entire family history knew this!?). Might you have more info on this fella or any of his surviving comrades that knew him?

  8. Anonymous Anonymous

    Hi Dave,
    Just wanted to comment on the St. Louis fire that supposedly destroyed records. When I was discharged in 1969, I met up with an old friend who served in the Navy during Vietnam. I noticed he had his certificate of honorable discharge framed on his living room wall. As you might expect, I asked where he got that! My friend said I should call the people in St Louis and just ask. I did., and some POS told me my records were destroyed in a fire and i should hang on to my DD-214 as it was the only proof I would ever have that I served. After the internet was established, I saw a link to military records and a copy of my DD-214 was mailed to me in a few days, no charge. No accounting for me TDY to SEA but at least I was able to get a VA loan for our first home. Just a word of caution to any vet who was given the fairytale about a fire destroying their records. At least you can still get a copy of your DD-214 if you need it.
    Bob F.

  9. D C D C

    Hi Bob, I’m pleased you finally received your records! One of the important things to note about this fire is that the records destroyed were from the World War II-Korea period for the most part. The World War II and 1950s records that were destroyed were Army and US Army Air Force/Air Force materials. Vietnam records were mostly not damaged, aside from some Air Force material pre-1964.

    Not all of the records were destroyed, so researchers of the World War II time period should always request records to be sure.

    More info can be found here:
    https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/fire-1973

  10. Alan McWilliams Alan McWilliams

    I have a copy of the Battle Honors awarded to Company E 182nd Infantry by George C. Marshall for the battle for Hill 260 in Bougainville, Solomon Islands on May 10-11, 1944. My Uncle, George McWilliams was a member of Company E and one of the approximately 25% of the company who survived. I would be happy to provide a photograph of the battle honors awarded to this company to anyone researching this battle or others in the Pacific.

  11. Robert Smith Robert Smith

    My wife’s sister lives in Eugene Oregon, she is the wife of Jack Morton who was in Roy’s Raiders. 3 passed away in 2008, she is 94 years old and suffering from cancer. I knew Jack for a few years. He was (like so many others), very reticent about his part in the war. He was some troubled, but was a very nice.

  12. D C D C

    Thanks for writing! I had many, many long conversations with Jack over the phone. We also shared a lot of long letters. I was never had the chance to meet him in person, but I did visit his grave on a trip to Oregon. I’m very sorry to hear that she is struggling with cancer.

  13. Susan Czarnecki Susan Czarnecki

    I found a picture of my dad sitting on a Army Jeep. The date is 1945, New Caledonia. His name is Forrest D. Moodie, he was a Captain, and a Denist while in the Army. I’m wondering about more information?
    He is still alive, he will turn 104 in Feb. but his memory is not good.

  14. D C D C

    Thanks for writing. I’m pleased to hear your father is still with you! By 1945 the 182nd would not have been on New Caledonia, so I don’t have any information. If you’d like to try to dig into the Archives and find more information, I have some starting guides here:

    http://www.182ndinfantry.org/researching-ww2-veteran/

  15. Eileen O'Brien Eileen O'Brien

    Hi Dave:

    I will definitely look into the National Archives to find out more information about my father, Silvio DeCilio’s, time in the Pacific. I have several photographs of his company, natives, Japanese prisoner, and letters home. One of the photos is of him with his 182 Infantry, Company F, lst Squandron in Goro New Caledonia dated March 1942. Several of his friends from the North End and West End of Boston were with him. Unfortunately, he like many developed malaria and was sent to Australia to recover. I do have his discharge papers, so that should help me as well.

    Thank you for all you do.

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