Welcome to Veterans: Lost and Found! Please limit your posts to:
- Found a dog tag, medal, papers, or uniform of an unknown veteran?
- Looking for information on a family member or lost veteran?
- Post your items and information here for others to search!
- Post pictures, links, and all information you can so others can find it . . .
- Please, no selling of items or information, or linking to solicitations of any kind.
- Check out our other blogs:
- Official Veterans Forum: http://veteransforum.wordpress.com/
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Feel free to click ‘Leave a Reply’ at the bottom of the page to post.
Veterans: Lost and Found 
I am looking for information about my late Father N Law Gene Harris. He served in the Navy and was on a minesweeper named the USS Peril 272. This is the only information i know, i was able to find photos of his ship. Like most of the these Greatest Generation men he did not speak of his time in service. Thank You!
John Murray
My grandfather served during WW ll. He did not like to talk about his time in Germany during WWll, but I would love to know as much as i can about his service in the US army during this time. Here is what I have. Richard Carlton Harris, age 93, of Upton Road, Camden, NC died Saturday, January 11, 2020 in the Currituck Health & Rehabilitation Center. A lifelong resident of Camden County, he was born July 5, 1926 to the late Hersey Harris and Elizabeth Pugh Harris and was the husband of sixty-eight years of the late Louise Whaley Harris. He served his country honorably in the US Army during World War II and the Korean War.
I found a sailors handbook from 1943-1944. It talks about his journey from little rock Arkansas to Hawaii. There’s details about everything from trip to dentist, number of different ships and cargo, even attacks and maps. Seems like a national treasure to me. Where should i turn to get this handbook into a national museum?
Is there information on who the Sailor is? Would you be interested in returning it to the Sailor’s family instead of to the Naval Museum?
Contact Navy Museum in Washington DC there is also Fold3 but I think you need name. Navy Museum has a research division. Good Luck!!
Recently I found in my attic an old trunk but it does have several markings and would like to return it to the soldiers family.
Not sure of the military branch or year.
I’m located in Newton Massachusetts
Captain Daniel Dawes
9664W
02-421949
VBT-2893-33
My students and I are looking for information on Captain Herbert Roy Orr died in 1944 DNB and is buried in Hawaii. The other information we located was that Captain Orr was from Tallahassee and taught at FAMU.
His remains were moved from the Guadalcanal Cemetery.
His WWII diary was sold on Ebay recently. The seller had posted this information about him:
“Captain Herbert Roy Orr (1909-1944) was a Captain in the U.S. Signal Corps during World War II. Orr was previously a professor at the Florida A & M University.
Orr Drive in Tallahassee, Florida, on the campus of Florida A & M University, is named after him.”
I’m not sure which information you are specifically looking for, but I can check ancestry.com for more info if you reply to lmk if you want me to do that.
There is a photo of him here:
He was the commanding officer of the 689th Signal Aircraft Warning Company (a mobile radar unit).
“His death was due to drowning. Circumstances surrounding his drowning were not available.” (This is according to a newspaper article dated May 13, 1944 in the “Call and Post”, a newspaper published in Cleveland Ohio.)
689th Signal Aircraft Warning Company
Activated: 25 March 1942, as 689th Signal Aircraft Warning Reporting Company (Frontier), at Tuskegee Army Flying School, Tuskegee, Alabama
Note: First Colored Signal Aircraft Warning Company
Redesignated: 30 October 1942, as 689th Signal Aircraft Warning Company
Departed: 31 March 1943, Tuskegee, Alabama
Departed: 30 April 1943, for overseas duty
Arrived: 24 May 1943, Efate, New Hebrides
Subordinate to: 24 July 1944, 13th Air Warning Group (Provisional)
Departed: 19 October 1944, Guadalcanal
Arrived: 30 October 1944, Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea
Arrived: 19 December 1944, Biak, Schouten Islands
Subordinate to: 28 November 1944, XIII Fighter Command
Arrived: 30 April 1945, Sanga Sanga Island, Southwest Philippines
Campaigns & Foreign Service Awards:
New Guinea 24 January 1943 – 31 December 1944
Southern Philippines 27 February – 4 July 1945
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation 7 December 1941 – 10 May 1942 or 17 October 1944 – 4 July 1945
I’m in search of a family member of Captain Daniel Dawes.
I believe Massachusetts.
I have his trunk for when he was on a torpedo plane I believe.
Vbt-2893-33
0-421949
9664W
Captain Daniel Cooke Dawes, Army Serial Number 0-421949 was a psychiatrist. He served in Great Britain in WWII. Before and after the war he worked in hospitals in the Boston area. He was also an instructor at the Harvard Medical school. He died in 1970. His obit mentions a daughter Mrs. Jennifer Franchina of Rome, Italy and a granddaughter Allesandra Franchina.
Hello, I am looking for information on Ben Hogan. He served in the army from March 1943 – April 1946. He was originally from New Orleans.
Omg!
Matching up the serial number was the key piece!
He is buried the next town over from me and his wife was a famous doctor in psychiatry!
Thank you so much for confirming a lead I had!!
Hi. I found a WWII dog tag for Thomas M. McMahon Jr W2122052 T42-43. Not sure how to post a pic of it. Would love to know more about him.
The W at the start of his serial number means he was a Warrant Officer. When he first enlisted he would have received an enlisted man’s number and the “W” number when he became a warrant officer. The National Archives files that are on-line show a” Mc Mahon Thomas M Jr” with serial number 11018978 enlisted on 7 January, 1942. This man was a resident of Berkshire County, MA and a college graduate. Here is the obit of (I believe) that same man.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82397742/north-adams-transcript/
You could try to request his army records to see this is the “correct” McMahon with the W2122052 serial number. The process is laid out if you start on the
archives “dot” gov website and “drill down” to sections that relate to getting veterans records.
Hello,
at the end of August we expect some American relatives from our adoption grave in Henri Chapelle.
PFC WEIGANT ROBERT (325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division) saw action on Christmas Eve and died on January 30, 1945.
We also know from testimony that the 82nd Airborne, 325th GIR would also have attended the school and church in Pepinster…
We are still looking for more information about the 325th GIR of the 82nd Airborne during the Battle of the Bulge.
Who can give us more information about this?
You have probably already done some Google Searches such as the one below.
If you search using the phrase:
“325th Glider Infantry Regiment” OR “325th GIR” Pepinster
you get some 100 hits. Several of them are interesting stories about the unit’s stay in Pepinster, such as this one:
https://www.ww2-airborne.us/units/325/325_memories.html
I am looking for information on my grandfather, William Boundar, PFC, who was KIA in April 3, 1945 at the Battle of the Ruhr Pocket. I have done quite a lot of research nut have hit a wall. Specifically is there a place where I can trace his footsteps during the war and how he may have been killed?
Hello Michelle, I’d recommend requesting the Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) from the National Archive in Saint Louis (you can find it online). These records were transferred to the Saint Louis archive in recent years and were not destroyed in the 1973(?) fire. I’m waiting to get the IDPF on my grandfather from WW2. I’m told IDPFs were put together for MIAs and KIAs. They often include unit reports up the chain describing how the member was lost or killed, efforts to locate the missing, communications with next of kin, other basic records, etc. The archives are really backed up from COVID, so an online request could take months or years. You can also hire researchers who visit the archives and make record copies and summaries for you. I plan to make an appointment to visit the Saint Louis archives when they reopen from COVID.
Hello,
I am hoping to contact veterans who may have known my Father. His name is Roy Homer Patrick of Rison, AR. He served in New Guinea and later in the Philippines. His rank in an old picture I have is Technical Sgt. He was awarded the Bronze Star. I would like to speak to veterans who served along side him or even in the same theater. Thank you.
Hi,
I’m french and i think i have bought dog tags of a ww2 veteran. The inscriptions are :
CRONON WINIFRED
38779501 T45
Can you help me on where, when and the army and the unit he served?
Thanks a lot for your support,
Best souvenirs from France.
Jean-Thomas Pitscheider
Hi – very easy task. Thank you for request. Please try to contact the German Federal Office of WAST in Berlin. They have all the records. By providing additional information maybe relatives can be informed. https://www.bundesarchiv.de/DE/Content/Artikel/Ueber-uns/Aus-unserer-Arbeit/z-kartei-pa.html
A friend pointed out a name etched into a piece of foundation iron by the Marne River in Chateau Thierry, France. It said ” Kenneth Ritchie WORLD WAR II 1941(?)-45″ Would like to put a face to the name.
Hi
I live in Australia, but my family (parents) are originally from north-east Italy. During WW2, my father as a youth found a personal ‘dog tag’ in the form a silver sterling horseshoe. My father passed away a few years ago, and I am now in possession of this item, and would like to return it to any family descendants of the veteran.
As I knew the only Allied troops in the area were New Zealanders, British and American, I initially tried the NZ services (closest to home), but they confirmed it did not match any of their records.
Luckily I then found a local military memorabilia expert who advised me that due to the service number inscribed on the front, and the ‘Regd Pending’ and ‘Sterling’ stamps on the reverse it would have belonged to a US soldier.
The name and number on the front are:
Pte L Holloway
6403188
Would appreciate any advice as to how I can search for and (hopefully) contact any descendants?
Hello. I’m the granddaughter of Walter Ross that helped build the Clarksfield Base in the
Phillipines. There is supposed to be a rock there with his name. His records were lost in a fire. I’m just trying to find anything I can on him
Hi, I was in this area about 5 years ago. Maybe you want to try to contact the Phillipine Marines – or the reserve unit. The should be able to help.
Hello I am doing a senior doing a research project for my great-grandfather. His name is Roger Allen Christener. He served in WWII 1943-1945. My grandma said he was wounded in The Battle of Bulge but I am not allowed to say he earned the Purple Heart Metal without actual evidence. He was born on November 9th, 1923 and passed away in 1992. He was also born in Indiana. If you could help me out in any way that would be amazing. Thank you
Alexis Marbaugh
Looking for information for Charles L. S. Howes or the unit he was in during WW 2: 141st Inf, 36th Inf Division, Co L, Texas. He was KIA in France Nov 5, 1944. I think he might have been part of the Lost Battalion. Would appreciate anything anyone can tell me.
Charles Lawrence Smith Howes
He was born on 23 March 1925 (Parkersburg WV) and died 3 November 1944 in France.
He enlisted in the army on 11 Aug 1943, (and he may have entered the army in September).
His Army Serial Number was 35759639.
He was in the 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, 7th Army
If he was in L Company, he would have been in the 3rd Battalion of the 141st.
The “Lost Battalion” of the 141st was the 1st Battalion which was cut off from October 24 to October 30, 1944.
There are three newspaper “clippings” which mention him (search for Howes) on this link:
https://www.wvgenweb.org/jackson/WWIImilitarynews_3.html
Here are the clippings:
“Mr. and Mrs. Clark L. Howes, of Parkersburg, formerly of Sandyville, received a message Saturday in which they were told that their son, Pfc. Charles Howes, had been seriously wounded in France on November 3. Howes had been overseas since last March 1, and on August 25 was wounded in action but recovered quickly and returned to duty. He was awarded the Purple Heart. Relatives said that he was 19 years old and has been serving in the Infantry since September of last year. Mrs. Anna Currey, of Sandyville, is his maternal grandmother. (Friday, Dec 8, 1944)”
“Pfc. Charles L. Howes, infantryman, died Nov. 3, in France from wounds received in action the same day, according to word received by his relatives, including his grandmother, Mrs. K.S. Curry, of Sandyville. He had been overseas since last March 1 and had been previously wounded in action on August 25. He received the Purple Heart. He was 19 years old and graduated from Parkersburg High School in 1943 and entered the service in September of the same year.” (undated)
“Pfc. Charles L Howes, Infantryman, was killed in action in France on Nov 3, relatives (have) been informed. He had been overseas since last March and was previously wounded in action on August 25. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clark Howes, live in Parkersburg, and his grandmother is Mrs. K.S. Currey, of Sandyville. (Friday, Jan 26, 1945)”
There are two (brief) medical records on fold3 dot com and his headstone application is on ancestry dot com.
The August 1944 medical record (which indicates he was discharged back to “Duty”) notes:
First Location: Shoulder; Second Location: Face: Forehead and frontal region; Causative Agent: Artillery Shell, Fragments.
The second medical record, (which is from November 1944 and indicates that he died) notes:
First Location: Thorax, generally; Causative Agent: Artillery Shell, Fragments.
The West Virginia WW2 casualty lists him as DOW (died of wounds).
It would appear he was wounded by artillery shell fragments twice, first not seriously on August 25th and then again on November 3rd. This second wounding resulted in his death.
The headstone application would indicate the body was returned from overseas and was buried in 1948 in West Virginia. You can find a photo of the headstone on findagrave dot com (search for a Charles Howes who died in 1944 and is buried in West VA)
I found a dog tag at camp Wallace in Galveston county Texas. I would like to return it to him or his family.
Leroy Harding
33312789 T42
Mrs. Marie Harding
Gen.Del.
Chester South Carolina
Hello! I am looking for any information on my grandfather PVT Donald Gozzola. What I know: Born In Chicago, IL in 1921. Served with C Company of the 35th Infantry Regiment which was part of the 25th Infantry Division
KIA – April 20, 1945 – Awards include Combat Infantrymans Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart (of which I have) the Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, and the World War II Service Medal.
Records fire in St Louis in 1973 may have destroyed military records. ANY information is welcome!
Thank you,
Sarah Kewak
Hi Sarah. You can request the Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) on your grandfather. These will contain records of your grandfather’s loss (summaries), notification to next of kin (usually by telegram), and more. IDPFs were previously stored at another archive and later moved to the Saint Louis archive a few years ago long after the fire. So write back or call and ask for his IDPF. It’s a shame the form letters don’t mention IDPFs for KIAs and MIAs. I got the same form letter years ago about my MIA grandfather (declared dead in 1946) about the fire and no records in St Louis. It never mentioned IDPFS existed and I didn’t learn about them until several months ago during COVID. Not sure if St Louis is processing these requests yet or taking scheduled visits to its archives due to COVID -their website should say. You should also be able to request citations of the medals for Bronze Star and Purple Heart from the national archive in Maryland. If you are the current next of kin, you should be able to request the citation (written description of actions and circumstance leading to the medal) for the Bronze Star and Purple Heart by calling Army Human Resources Command at 1-800-892-2490.
The IDPF should also indicate the battalion and company he was assigned to so that when you research the history of the regiment and division, it is often mentioned what individual battalions and companies were doing. Here is a link to some history of the 35th Infantry Regiment and 25th Infantry Division. https://www.25thida.org/units/infantry/35th-infantry-regiment/
It seems your grandfather was killed during the capture of the city of Kapintalan (02 – 21 April 1945) on the island of Luzon, part of the Philippines.
RIP to your grandfather and thankful for his service and sacrifice.
Blessings to you and your family!
Gary Mathis
We found a 20 centavos Filipina coin with the name Bob Davis scratched on the coin from 1944.
I am looking for additional information about Mr. Pete(r) Arellano, WWII vet, Rank Private, stationed in 1946 in Camp Röhrnbach, Bavaria, Germany. He was drafted in CA in 1944. We have some personal docs and a daughter, who wants to learn more about here overseas father. When we look at those BDU pics we believe he was about 24 years old. We have his DoD Id.
Season greetings
I’d like to find out more on my grandpas service in the South Pacific theater WW2 1943-1945.
Corporal Henry Ellis Curtis
United state army
El dorado springs, ks
DOB;1926
James Sherman Lee served in world war 2 in the army over in Germany looking for any info ,unit duties,thought to be light machine gunner. Thanks
Hi:
I have a Bronze Star which was awarded to Eugene Czap along with an EAME Campaign Ribbon which has 4 stars and an arrowhead device. I would like to know about Mr. Czap’s service and am requesting assistance with this. Thank you!
There were 16 European-African-Middle Eastern Campaignes. For those service members who participated in one or more designated military campaigns, campaign stars are authorized to be worn on the medal. The Arrowhead device is also authorized to be worn on the medal for those who participated in airborne or amphibious assault landings. Sgt. Czap was a member of the 398th Infantry Reg., Anti-Tank Company, separated 1946 at Brooklyn, NY.
Seeking information on Pfc. Francis X Cooney especially information relating to where he did his basic training, others who may have served in the 1st Army infantry division 26th infantry regiment at battle of Normandy or Caumont France. Also information concerning where he was treated for battle wounds.
Ive been attempting to find my grandfather’s military records, but every website i visit demands $10.00 fee that i will not pay(it’s evil of these individuals to charge for our hero’s stories)
But if anyone could help or advise, my grandfather’s name Hebert C. (Clair) Rogers:
34th Infantry Redbull Division- fought the entire war and I believe saw the most combat. As the war ended, it gets a little fuzzy, he was sent to Military Prison for shooting his superior officer.
Any help verifying or obtaining records/documents would be amazing.
Thank you
Go to: https://vetrecs.archives.gov/VeteranRequest/home.html. and click on “Make a new request.” However, if he was Army, his records were probably destroyed in the 1973 fire. It’s worth a shot to see if they still have parts of his file.
I am looking for anyone who served with my grandfather Lindsay Harris Stockman during WWII. He was awarded a Purple Heart and as a kid I recall seeing maps of possibly Germany or another country. We have never been told the circumstances surrounding him being awarded the Purple Heart or even what unit he belonged to or where he served. I am the third generation to serve in the military and we are trying to feel in the blanks. He was from East Prairie Missouri, Enlisted in June 1944 at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis as a Private. We have heard many family rumors on what he did while serving but would like to know if it is true.
good morning. I have a woman’s dogs tag. St clair ursula born on 30 July 1923. I wanted to know if you can find any documents of this person or what role he had in the army.
Thanks
I am looking for information on my great grandfather, Don Boettler. He was in the last mounted cavalry in WWII. He was also featured on the cover of Time Magazine as the smallest man in the Army, at 5 foot 3 inches. I would love any information on him.
I have been researching for several years for information on my Father who served in the U.S. Army in WW II. He was born on May 16, 1918 in Henry County AL. and enlisted on Feb. 28, 1941. He was discharged in May 1945. He went to basic training at Ft. Barancas in Florida even though he was from AL. He enlisted as a Private and was discharged an Tec5. He passed away in 1971 in Montgomery, AL, in a VA Hospital from cancer. His name was James William Nolan, ASN 34021268. I have no information on unit served, etc. I do know that he was in Alaska when the highway was being constructed and in Europe later. I do remember some of the things he mentioned when I was a child; unfortunately they were always funny stories. He never shared the serious side and I can understand considering my age.
I was informed his file was destroyed in the fire and the only information that I was sent was a paycard and a copy of his enlistment which I already had. They typed out a certificate that he did serve but no discharge. After that many years in the war surely there is a way to get more information. I have had a congressman try to help me with no results either. He does have a military marker on his grave with the Tech5 and WWII but little else. Anyone with ideas where I can search please advise.
There.are so many of us searching. Thank you and God Bless.
Julia Nolan Howard
Dothan, AL.
Does anyone know a family with a member who served as a Lt, in the USMC during WW2? Would have been on Midway Island in July 1942. The name on an item I have may be “R Kohs” or Rkohs” or “Rkoks”. Difficult to read well as it was etched in metal that has tarnished. I found it in Denison TX about 1975.
My grandfather was Staff Sergent Gerald Dubert Dickinson, from Villanova, NY. Served in the Army from 1944-1946. Did go to Germany, but would not speak of his service. The family does have his purple heart & good conduct medal, but no other information. Due to the 1973 fire at the National Archives, we have no further information. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
I am looking for information on my Grandfather, Jewell Clifford Deere, who fought in the Navy during World War 11. He apparently was one of a few survivors of the USS Alabama. His serial number was 1143. He was born March 16, 1921. I’ve heard some stories of his heroism, but would love to find out more.
My grandfather was in ww2 and I’m trying to fine out about him and his service he did. Was born in 1918 and passed In April 1 2001. I know were he is resting. Need more help on this. Thanks
His name is Ira John Walker
I am looking for the discharge papers of my father, Allen Richard Turner, who served in the China Burma India theatre. He was in the Army Air Corp and discharged on 3/9/46. His service number was 14172338. I have checked ancestry but it wasn’t there. Thanks!
Hello. I am looking to find information on my great uncle Anthony A Bloemer “Ralph” who served in an Army tank unit in Europe during WWII. He is from East St. Louis. Unfortunately the St.Louis National Archives could not find records. He enlisted on 7/4/42 and was discharged 4/8/46. My son very much wants to retrace his service. Thanks for any help that can be provided. No information with the VA.
I’m looking for information on my grandfather, Lewis Clarkson. He was drafted in 1941, stayed at Fort Sill. Received oversea orders (I think) in 1944. Fought (I think) at Luzin in 1945, possibly joined the Bushmasters. He received a Silver Star. But I have no historical record of this, only stories. I want to know his rank, his division. Specific locations and times where he fought. Can someone help me?
Looking for photos of 32nd Infantry Division, 129th Field Artillery, company E. WW2, 1941-1945 camp Cable Australia, New Guinea, Philippines. Especially John Szyka, Wisconsin National Guard. My grandfather. ☺️