Researching My Father's WWII Records

[716thresearcher]

Hello,

I have been doing this myself for several years in regard to both my dad and my uncle (who was killed in the war) and there's a lot of information out there and it will take some effort to wade through it to find the real nuggets. However, as a good starting place to plan your research strategy, I'd suggest getting some help from this site:

http://www.wwjohnston.net/dadswar/

At the same time you can begin to get an idea of how your dad's unit was structured, its movements, its engagements, etc. by looking here for things like unit histories/operational records, after action reports, etc.:

http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/sear ... ll8/page/8

You have already probably found this site:

http://www.archives.gov/

And if so you will have learned that there was a big fire at the St. Louis facility in 1973 that destroyed 70%-80% of some classes of records. However I've been pleasantly surprised by the extent of success using their service, and they are helpful and thorough, if somewhat predictably slow. (But hey, it's history, right?)

These sources are where I'd begin. Once you get organized and started it will take shape. Good luck in your research.