Research
Hi all, a friend of mine has approached me and asked me to help in searching for info on his family members service during the war. After doing a bit of legwork it seems you either have to pay for that info or go through a lengthy request process. Is there any way around this? or maybe independent researchers on here who could help?
Answers
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It depends. If he wants real specific info on his service, and to get his/her entire record, your friend would need to have a copy of his/her Form DD214, and go through the process outlined in the link to the right ----------> entitled MILITARY SERVICE RECORDS. It IS a long process, and even longer now during COVID.
However, there are many records available online that might pull up some information. I've included a lot of links to the right ----------> that can be browsed to see what can be extracted. During what wars did he/she serve?
Also, just doing a Google search with the full name in quotation marks, followed by the name of the service and/or war, can bring results (if it's not a real common name like John Smith). Fold3 is a site specifically dedicated to military records - you could get a free 30-day subscription to do some deep searching.
Please post some info here and I'd be glad to help. Good luck!
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Hi Glenn thank you so much for you're reply.
I have been searching online and tried everything I can think of but I seem to have no luck finding anything other than an obituary for one of the names.
I will post all of the info I have in case it helps.
1) (Grandpa) John Thomas Cockran (Sometimes went by "Jack"), US Navy, Pacific Fleet, was on a ship when the war ended. DOB: 18 Dec 1925, Missouri USA. He said because his brother was killed in the war, and he had a problem with his left hand, he was rejected from every service twice before the Navy took him and he became a Radioman.
2) Charles Frank Cockran, Pilot, United States Army Air Forces. Was told he flew in D-Day. Shot down sometime after. Older than my grandfather and died before my grandfather joined the Navy.
3) Daniel Beaton
DOB: August 20, 1925
Served in U.S. Navy during World War II as a radar instructor.
4) Paul Epstein
Believe he served in the Navy during WWII, but don't know more than that
5) William Epstein
He was a cadet platoon sergeant (not sure what that means), died in an accident before he could graduate. Family rumour is he was the first Jew accepted to West Point, but not sure if that's true.
6) Mildred Clinton (Solomon)
She travelled as far as we know with the State Department, but curious if there's anything.
7) Anna Solomon
Served in WWII in the UK and France as far as I've been told
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Fold 3 can be accessed for free at a Family History Center
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