OT WW1 Question for Jim T or other

[togor]

My daughter (amateur geneologist) has been poking around the ol' family tree this summer and stumbled upon a record of military disability for my paternal grandfather, who died 8 years before I was born, and about whom I know little. The record appears to show an April 1917 induction date, and I think a 6-digit serial number. Where's the best place to go to try to find out about his service record?

On the humorous side, the condition given on the disability form was...hemarroids! (Which apparently were not so severe as to deny him a post-war occupation as a postal clerk!) I am told that the condition was quite common then and I suppose if bad enough, it could keep one's mind from all manner of soldierly duties.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Rick the Librarian]

Check in the National Archives. If memory serves me correctly, the have a "veterans section". I was able to obtain my uncle's service record (he was a WWI Marine) for $50. Well worth it, as they send you LOTS of information.

I believe you have to have his Social Security number, or similar i.d.

[kragluver]

I have been trying to find info on my G-Grandfather who served in the AEF during WW1. Unfortunately, National Archives (NARA) was not that helpful as a fire in 1973 destroyed many of the Army records from WW1 (I'm told the fire did not hurt the Marine or Navy records though). I did have some success in contacting the state library in Michigan (where he enlisted). They sent me a copy of his enlistment record including unit information. If you know where your grandfather lived when he joined up, you should be able to contact that state's Adjutant General's office and find out some info. The folks here in Texas and in Michigan were VERY helpful. Also, his county of residence may have info as they often kept records on file for veterans benefits.

[Jim Tarleton]

The records destroyed in the fire were of certain alphabetical series. They may have your grandfather's records. You need to send tham all the information you have as to the unit he served in, dates he was in service, etc. Many of the WWI vets didn't live long enough to get SS numbers (like my grandfather), but is he had one, that will help. By the way, as a grandchild, you may not have access to his records. I had to go through my mother to get my grandfather's records. Ditto on the state level.

Jim

[Emri]

on "Ancestors.com" . For a short while ( The week preceding Veterans Day/ Armistice Day last year ) they were offering free info, but I believe it is a "paid service" site. I continue to get spam from them wanting me to use their services. All I got for "free" was a copy of a draft registration for my great uncle. He served and survived WWI only to die of TB in 1920. I understand many more soldiers suffered this disease also in that time period.

FWIW,

Emri