Military Records: World War II & Korean Conflict Overseas Interments

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the original source of the data on this CD-ROM?

2. What historical background should I know to use this data?

3. Why are there discrepancies between the number of records

shown here and war statistics on file elsewhere?

4. How can I obtain copies of these records ?

1. What is the original source of the data on this CD-ROM?

This CD-ROM is comprised of the service records of more than 160,000 American patriots who were stationed around the world and interred outside the continental United States between 1940 and the early 1990s. Each entry gives the soldier’s name, rank, unit, place of induction into the service, death date, location of interment, and a list of awards received from the military. These records are also preserved in the National Archives.

2. What historical background should I know to use this data?

You really don’t need to be familiar with any specific historical information to use this CD-ROM. Some helpful facts and battle dates of US involvement in the war are listed below (dates can be useful as a “cross-reference” if you know which conflicts your ancestors were involved in):

1932

· November 8 - Franklin Delano Roosevelt elected President of the US.

1934

· August 2 - German President Hindenburg dies; Adolf Hitler becomes the Fuhrer.

1939

· September 1 - Germany invades Poland. World War II officially begins.

· September 5 - Roosevelt issues neutrality proclamations. Increase in all armed forces’ enlistment and authorization of retired officers, men and nurses to be called to Navy and Marines active duty.

· November 4 - Neutrality Act of 1939. Arms embargo repealed.

1940

· May 7 - Pacific Fleet ordered to remain indefinitely in Hawaiian waters by Roosevelt.

· July 10 - Battle of Britain begins.

· September 16 - Roosevelt signs Selective Training & Service Act; 16 million register for draft.

· November 5 - Roosevelt re-elected.

1941

· March 11 - Lend-Lease Act. 1939 Neutrality Act changed to allow aid to Allies.

· June 12 - All members of the Naval Reserve not in deferred status are called to active duty.

· December 7 - Surprise attack on US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor—360 Japanese aircraft sink 6 ships and damage 12 others. US aircraft carriers were not present at Pearl Harbor, escaping the attack. Japanese declaration of war reaches Washington; Roosevelt orders mobilization.

· December 8 - US and Britain declare war on Japan.

· December 11 - Germany and Italy declare war on the US; US declares war on Germany and Italy.

· December 31 - Japanese submarines shell Kauai, Maui and Hawaii.

1942

· March 17 – In agreement with Allied gov’ts, US responsible for defense of entire Pacific Ocean.

· May 4-9 - Battle of Coral Sea.

· June 4-6 - Battle of Midway.

· November 12-15 - Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. (US and Japan)

1943

· March 2-3 - Battle of Bismark Sea. (US/Australia & Japan) [Many battles vs Japan all year.]

1944

· January 27 - Siege of Leningrad ends after 900 days.

· June 6 - D-Day. Allied Exped. Force under command of US Gen. Eisenhower invades W. Europe.

1945

· April 12 - President Roosevelt dies; Vice President Harry S. Truman becomes President.

· April 30 - Hitler commits suicide as Russian troops reach the Reichstag.

· May 5 - Cease fire issued on the Western Front.

· May 8 - V-E Day is declared.

· August 8 - "Fat Man" atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Kyushu, Japan.

· August 14 - Japan accepts provisions of the Potsdam Declaration and agrees to surrender.

· August 15 - V-J Day declared.

3. Why are there discrepancies between the number of records shown here and war statistics on file elsewhere?

This product contains only records for overseas interments for World War II and the Korean Conflict, so the ratio of records to total deaths for these events is not likely to be high. According to Mr Alan Aimone, Archivist of the Military Academy at West Point,

“Incomplete U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy personnel World War II capture

records will account for some of the discrepancy. Some military figures are

educated guesses for planning purposes and estimating various contingencies.

Sometimes reporters, historians, media information gatherers etc. see these

estimated figures and take them as actual numbers. Also, information is given

with clarification and published or broadcast material gets out without the

clarification statements.”

4. How can I obtain copies of these records?

The data in this compilation was collected from the National Archives. For more information on how to get copies of individual records, visit

http://www.nara.gov/research/

or send a specific e-mail message to inquire@nara.gov

or write to get details on obtaining the forms necessary to request records at

National Archives and Records Administration

General Reference Branch, Attn: NWCTB

700 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington, D.C. 20408-0001

(Note: When writing to request further information, be sure to describe the type of record you are looking for and which war corresponds to it. If you know the state you need, include that as well. For the data you find on this CD-ROM, you will most likely require NATF Form 80.)