I have received many requests asking basically the same thing: "How do I find my Dad's story?" Obviously, it is more than a few simple steps (especially for those -- the majority from both World Wars -- whose personnel files were destroyed in the 1973 fire). But here are the key steps to doing it.

1. Step 1: Positively identify his unit(s), to as low a level as possible.
   • If he came home, the best source is his discharge paper. If you do not find it among his papers, then call the VA (phone: (800) 827-1000) if he ever applied for VA benefits.
   • If he died in the war
     • If his body is overseas, obtain grave location and some other information by calling the American Battle Monuments Commission (703/696-6897) or writing them at:

       American Battle Monuments Commission
       Courthouse Plaza II
       2300 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 500
       Arlington, VA 22201
       • If he died overseas in the Army, regardless of where he is buried, write (they do not do it by phone) for his Individual Deceased Personnel File (or IDPF) at:

         Administration Section
         Total Army Personnel Command
         ATTN: TAPC-ALP-A (FOIA)
         DCS Personnel and Logistics
         200 Stovall Street
         Alexandria, VA 22332-0405

         Include a signed statement of your willingness to pay the Freedom of Information Act fees up to $50 for the work involved. The actual cost is probably much less than that in most cases, but they cannot do any work to locate the records without this statement from you.

         CAUTION: When you read these files, you are looking at the stark reality of the horror of war and death. These are mortuary and medical records that may be painful for you to read. This will definitely impact you psychologically, whether you are aware of it or not. It might even reach the point where you feel the need for professional spiritual or psychological help in dealing with it. This is perfectly normal. Be prepared for it.

2. Step 2: Find his outfit's Alumni Association: Remember the airmen were in the Army or Navy. For Army, most Associations are at the Division level. So you need to find out what Division his discharge unit (usually Battalion or Regiment) was in. The best source for doing this is Shelby M. Stanton's book "Order of Battle: U. S. Army World War II" from Presidio Press. Try your local library.
   1. Ben Myers' US Veterans' Alumni Associations List: START HERE! Tip for use: just enter the number. For example, for 84th Infantry Division, just enter "84" in the search field.
   2. The list above is very comprehensive for all branches of the armed forces. But if you do not find your Dad's unit there, you might try one of these:
      • Old version of the Ben Myers List in Text Format: The benefit of this version is that you do not have to rely on the search engine of the current list. You can bring up a textual listing of all the Navy or Armor of Infantry or whatever associations that you are seeking and then use your browser's FIND feature or just scroll through the list. The down side is that this list is old: in 1998, the list was as of 1996.
      • VP Navy: An awesome effort to document every Naval patrol squadron -- a MUST for anyone researching Navy patrol squadrons (VP), multi-engine bombing squadrons (VB later desigated patrol bombing squadrons or VPB
      • Aviation Links: This has links to many web pages of aviation units. You will have to sift through it to find the World War II units.
      • Merchant Marine Veterans Inquiries
      • U. S. Maritime Service Veterans Pages on the Merchant Marine and Maritime Service: Includes Shipmate Search
      • U. S. Maritime Service Veterans Pages on Individual Ships: No reunions or personnel, just ship-related information
3. Step 3: Use the telephone! The mail is too slow: none of us are getting younger, and more of the vets are having difficulty writing each year. Time is the critical factor here.
4. Step 4: Mail me an inquiry (by postal mail, not e-mail) for guiding your research. If you have progressed through the first 3 steps and are still stumped, mail me a one-page inquiry, along with a check for $20, payable to Wesley Johnston. Your one-page inquiry should tell me what you do know and what results you have had trying to do the research in each of the first steps. Include your e-mail address and photocopies of any discharge papers or patches. I will send you a list of recommendations on how and where to proceed with your research.

   Mail your inquiry and $20 check to:

   Wesley Johnston
   PMB 113
   231 Market Place
   San Ramon, CA 94583-4743
   
5. Step 5: Attend my workshop, or buy my workshop book if you are going to get into this seriously. Depending on your needs, you should also buy these two books:
   • "Touchstones: A Guide to Records, Rights and Resources for Families of American World War II Casualties" by Ann Bennett Mix ($19.95 through the American WWII Orphans Network or send e-mail to AWON@nas.com). If your father died in the war, this is the book (and the organization) for you.
   • "How to Locate Anyone Who Is or Has Been in the Military" by Lt. Col. Richard S. Johnson from MIE Publishing (Phone: (800) 937-2133). If you are trying to locate one of your Dad's buddies who is not in their unit's veterans' association, this is an important book for you.