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Archiver > WA-CEMETERIES > 2002-03 > 1016899907


From: "Andi MacDonald" <>
Subject: [WA-CEMETERIES] Re: [APG] armed forces & death certificate
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 08:11:51 -0800
References: <010501c1d21a$37dd09a0$1121fc9e@sprynet.com>


Hello all,

For what it's worth: My husband was the Casualty Assistance Conrol Officer
for the Navy in several duty stations (CACO responds to deaths and ensures
all details are handled for that person and family). I just asked him what
happened when a person died . He said the doctor who pronounced the death
filled out all the forms including whatever state laws were in effect where
the person died. He did handle a few overseas deaths, and the doctor that
pronounced death wrote up the paperwork including the death certificate
information, but he wasn't sure where those papers were filed. He did say
that a copy of the death certificate went with the body when it was
transferred home and families would often file a copy in their own state or
county.

I do know past military members' personnel file (jacket) is maintained at
one of two locations, and death information is maintained in them. I'd have
to research the two sites again to provide addresses, but I'm sure someone
else here knows. Most people say there is one location, but there are two.
If you search the archives for APG-L, you should find an email wherein I
replied to this question previously.

As I am very familiar with burial records, I can share these two sources for
information on military burials. The American Battle Monuments Commission
maintains oversea's burials and has a database of 124,913 Americans buried
in various locations. You can request they do a search on a name and get a
photograph of a headstone or marker or memorial, order flowers to be placed
on a grave, or get a free copy of the Honor Roll certificate for a deceased
during the Korean War by writing: Colonel Anthony N. Corea, Director of
Operations and Finance, American Battle Monuments Commission, Courthouse
Plaza II, Suite 500, 2300 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201, (703)
696-6897. I'm fairly sure they can provide you with information on death
certificates for overseas deaths/burials.

Then there is the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery
Administration (402B), Burial Location Requst, 810 Vermont Ave, NW,
Washington DC 20420. http://www.cem.va.gov/index.htm. No form is needed,
and there is no fee. They will research a burial location (even if in a
non-veterans cemetery) if some basic information is provided. They may have
something at their web site to answer your questions. In early 2000, The
National Cemetery Administration Records Verification Project (a VA
department) was verifying all military burials including private cemeteries.
They started their computer database in 1993. Up until then, they recorded
all burials on a Record of Interment, which later they microfilmed.
--------------
Andrea D. MacDonald "Andi"

Washington State Cemetery Association
http://www.rootsweb.com/~wapsgs/
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change
the world. Indeed it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead

----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter van der Heijden" <>
To: <>
Sent: Friday, March 22, 2002 7:24 PM
Subject: [APG] armed forces & death certificate


> Dear List,
>
> During our past NY Chapter meeting we could not agree on the following:
>
> If someone died while serving in the US armed forces, who (and where)
would have issued a death certificate?
> Guesses ranged from the armed forces (where would that record be?) to the
town that person last lived in.
> And would the following be an issue: died in the US or overseas; body
brought back and buried here or overseas; MIA or KIA; drafted or career?
>
> Does anyone have the answer(s)?
>
> Regards,
>
> Peter van der Heijden
> APG webmaster
>
>
> ==== APG Mailing List ====
> The Association of Professional Genealogists
>

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