Searching for info re: Grandfather's service

[cfisher3]

I thought this forum might be appropriate for this.

I am trying to track down my grandfather's military service history.
Unfortunately, he never really spoke of it except for very rare instances, and never to me, just to some of my older family members, so I really have no first hand knowledge to go on.

I did contact an office and was able to get a very few records, namely a re-enlistment document from 1946, and a few awards, t which they have sent me replacements, since he never kept his.

Other than this, I know very little. I have his serial number from the one record I have.

Stories from my family are very loose and disconnected as well.
I've heard that he completed airborne training.
I've heard that he spent some time in St Lo France during or after the invasion.

The re-enlistment information I have is from Camp Bastrop TX in 1946, that much I do know.

Does anyne have any info or direction for where I might search?

[hojo]

I thought this forum might be appropriate for this.

I am trying to track down my grandfather's military service history.
Unfortunately, he never really spoke of it except for very rare instances, and never to me, just to some of my older family members, so I really have no first hand knowledge to go on.

I did contact an office and was able to get a very few records, namely a re-enlistment document from 1946, and a few awards, t which they have sent me replacements, since he never kept his.

Other than this, I know very little. I have his serial number from the one record I have.

Stories from my family are very loose and disconnected as well.
I've heard that he completed airborne training.
I've heard that he spent some time in St Lo France during or after the invasion.

The re-enlistment information I have is from Camp Bastrop TX in 1946, that much I do know.

Does anyne have any info or direction for where I might search?

It sounds like you have been down the same road road I have been tracing my father's service record. You have probably learned of the fire at the National Personnel Records Center in 1973. I might have learned a little more than you have, maybe not. I did learn the place of my father's injuries and that it was his 2nd time of the same cause of his life-long injuries. MAYBE if you look a little deeper in the same search sites you might find some more. I was looking for not only my father's WW II's service but also all 3 of his brother's. Found records on all of their service assignments during WW II but not all, probably due to the fire of '73. Sure hope you can find everything's that available but I know it ain't easy.

[cfisher3]

Yes that fire... was actually told that he had records that were destroyed there.
I've found many things for different family members of mine, but when it comes to my grandfather, the one person who interested me in the search, I cannot. Frustrating to say the least.

I also forgot to add in my OP that he was believed to be 82nd Airborne division. I've checked some historical 82nd websites but to no avail, I know there had to be many, many men in the82nd, thats why I'm here to ask for help.

[hojo]

Yes that fire... was actually told that he had records that were destroyed there.
I've found many things for different family members of mine, but when it comes to my grandfather, the one person who interested me in the search, I cannot. Frustrating to say the least.

I also forgot to add in my OP that he was believed to be 82nd Airborne division. I've checked some historical 82nd websites but to no avail, I know there had to be many, many men in the82nd, thats why I'm here to ask for help.

Have you checked his local court house to see if he registered his DD214 there?

[cfisher3]

I have not as of yet, but someone else recommended that as well.
Its a start, but I suspect that he never filed it as he basically left the army behind once he was out.
Thanks for the advice!

[AK Airborne]

Longshot but ... . Try any of the places that he worked. He just might have included a copy of his DD214. It gave guys a "leg up" in the hiring process. Since so many guys joined early in life they didn't really have a bona fide trade to speak of. This put many of them in a hiring pool where sometimes the smallest thing made a difference. Back in those days there was a lot more respect for veterans so if they had to hire somebody, why not a vet? Good luck.