4 ms·
A little over a month ago I had submitted a request to obtain my grandfather's records because when he was alive, he refused to talk about his experiences in WW
by Sylamore 3y ago
A little over a month ago I had submitted a request to obtain my grandfather's records because when he was alive, he refused to talk about his experiences in WWII. Even his children don't know too much other than the unit he was in. the only time he ever talked about his service in the 2nd Armored Division was if he was extremely drunk and agitated.
A week ago I got this letter in the mail...
"Thank you for contacting the National Personnel Records Center. The record needed to answer your inquiry is not in our files. if the record were here on July 12, 1973, it would have been in the area that suffered the mos damage in the fire on that date and may have been destroyed. The fire destroyed the major portion of records of Army military personnel for the period 1912 through 1959, and records of Air Force personnel with surnames Hubbard through Z for the period 1947 through 1963. Fortunately, there are alternate records sources that often contain information which can be used to reconstruct service record data lost in the fire; however, complete records cannot be reconstructed"
"Due to the pandemic and a severely decreased workforce, we are unable to completely fulfill your request at this time. Since the onset of the pandemic, we have focused all available resources to providing a Report of Separation (DD Form 214 or its equivalent) for records requests..."
They were able to provide his enlistment record and a "WD AGO 53-55" form but nothing else. I'm hoping there are actually more detailed records because his last name started with a D and I just need to resubmit a request in a few years when they are able to dig deeper.