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From: Cyndi Henry <>
Subject: Re: [APG] Looking for Military Records on Deceased WWII Veteran
Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:41:31 -0400
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Christopher,

Could it possibly be that his records were among those lost in the fire of the early 1970's and that is why they cannot locate them?

My uncle, who is very much alive, has only his personal records that he has kept from the service, to ever indicate he served during WWII.

That being said, you might try local VFW's, or American Legion Posts near where your great-uncle resided. If he was ever a member, they will have a copy of his DD214. It will, of course, be up to the post commandant if they will share these records with you. I have had good luck by performing this for individual clients in the past, but I do know of one individual who did not. Still, it is worth trying.

Or you might go directly to the US Department of Veterans Affairs. [ http://www.va.gov ] You will find some excellent information there on how to file for his records from them. Under their military records section I found this:

"
Replacing Military Records
If discharge or separation documents are lost, veterans or the next of kin of deceased veterans may obtain duplicate copies by completing forms found on the Internet at http://www.archives.gov/research/index.html and mailing or faxing them to the NPRC.

Alternatively, write the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 9700 Page Ave., St. Louis, MO 63132-5100. Specify that a duplicate separation document is needed. The veteran’s full name should be printed or typed so that it can be read clearly, but the request must also contain the signature of the veteran or the signature of the next of kin, if the veteran is deceased. Include the veteran’s branch of service, service number or Social Security number and exact or approximate dates and years of service. Use Standard Form 180, “Request Pertaining To Military Records.”

It is not necessary to request a duplicate copy of a veteran’s discharge or separation papers solely for the purpose of filing a claim for VA benefits. If complete information about the veteran’s service is furnished on the application, VA will obtain verification of service."

I hope this has helped somewhat.

Cyndi Beane Henry
Mountain Genealogists

> Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:12:45 -0500> From: > To: > Subject: [APG] Looking for Military Records on Deceased WWII Veteran> > Hi --> > I have been looking for information about my great-uncle's service in > WII, Howard Franklin Burkman, a native of Berks Couty, Pennsylvania. I > sent a request to the NARA for a copy of his DD214 and any other records > about his service. I provided his Service Number, Social Security > Number, VA Claim number, his date of birth, date of death, and they came > back saying that they wanted me to reconstruct his medical records and > that they also could not find his DD214.> > I found out that he entered the service at Allentown, PA in 1942 and > served in the 318th Army Infantry of the 80th Divison in Company J. He > was discharged at Camp Pickett in Virginia in August of 1945. He also > recieved the Purple Heart.> > He was born in Berks County, PA on April 11, 1921 and died in September > 1964 in Reading, PA. He was married twice and both spouses have since > passed away.> > Where else can I look to find information? I recieved the above > information from the Funeral Home in Shillington, PA from what they had > written down on a piece of paper in his file with no copy of the DD214.> > Howard was buried at Pleasant View Cemetery in Spring Twp., Berks > County, PA. He has no stone.> > Thank you,> > Christopher T. Smithson> 127 N. Main Street> Port Deposit, Maryland 21904-1211> (410) 378-2733 (Home)> (410) 690-1299 (Cell)> > http://www.expertgenealogy.com/?x=Smithson>; > > > > > .> > -------------------------------> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message
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