Susan Farrell Bankhead, Certified Genealogist (sm)
World War II: Those Who Served
If your family lived in the U.S. when the bombs dropped on Pearl Harbor that early December morning 1941, chances are someone in your family stepped up to serve. Just about every U.S. household was affected in some way by World War II. My dad, David Farrell, joined the Army Air Corps. His brother Stephen joined the Navy.
If you have family members who served, there are several sources you can use to reconstruct some of their stories. This is a sampling.
- Draft Registration: The war officially began in 1939 with the U.S. getting involved after Pearl Harbor. From 1940 to 1946 more than ten million men ages 18-65 registered for the draft. Men born between 28 April 1877 and 16 February 1897 and not currently serving registered during the Fourth Registration or “Old Man’s Registration conducted on 27 April 1942. Because of privacy laws, this is the only registration currently available for viewing. These Draft Registration Cards are available for searching at FamilySearch.org and at Ancestry.com titled “U.S. World War II Draft Registration cards, 1942.”
- Army Enlistment Records: You can search the “World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938–1946″ at Ancestry.com. These records revealed that David Farrell enlisted at March Field Riverside, California, on 14 January 1942. He was born at Minnesota, 1920, ranked as an Aviation Cadet in the Air Corps, had two years’ college, stood 66 inches tall, and weighed 141 pounds.[1]
- Prisoner of War Records: If your ancestor was a prisoner of war, you may find his record in the “World War II Prisoner of War, 1941–1946” database at Ancestry.com. These records revealed that David Farrell was shot down while flying a B-17 on bombing raid over Germany. He was captured and held as a prisoner-of-war in Germany. This database reports he was captured on 7 April 1943, when in fact he was captured 17 April 1943.[2] “World War II Prisoners of the Japanese, 1941-1945”is a new database at Ancestry.com. If your family member was a prisoner of the Japanese, you should also consult Ancestry.com’s “Photographs of Japanese Soldiers and Allied Prisoners of War, 1942-1945.” Taken from NARA’s microfilm publication M1733, this collection contains 46 photos that will help give context to your family member’s experience.
- Missing in Action or Lost at Sea: Eighty thousand persons are listed in the collection “U.S. World War II Military Personnel Missing In Action or Lost At Sea, 1941-1946” found at Ancestry.com.
- Diaries or accounts of men who may have served in the same unit as your family member. Try a Google search for the unit and if you know others he/she served with, search for them as well. When my dad’s B-17 was shot down, several men on the aircraft lost their lives. One was Ball Turret Gunner, Technical Sergeant John E. Barnes. Someone posted online a memorial YouTube of this man’s service and sacrifice. There’s even a picture of my dad in this video. He’s standing behind the men holding a bomb. This video breaks my heart for the loss of so many valiant young men. I appreciate their sacrifice.
Time to go find your family member in the World War II records.
Let me know what you found!
[1] “World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938–1946,” database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 June 2011), record for David Farrell; citing NARA Record Group 64.
[2] ”World War II Prisoner of War, 1941–1946,” database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 June 2011), record for David Farrell; citing NARA Record Group 389.
My Grandfather Lee Hefley served in the Army during WWII. I wrote to St. Louis for his records and they said his records were destroyed in the fire.
I have some original papers about his enlistment and letters he sent. But, I wanted to find out more about the story I had heard as a child. I was told he joined the paratroopers because they earned more money. He went through training but was injured during an expedition jump for the President’s wife.
The story goes that the plane dropped them off on the wrong side of a mountain into a wooded area. My grandfather was stuck in a tree and the jar made him temporarily blind and deaf. One other man hit the ground and broke his leg. Together they helped each other out.
I think it’s a great story but would like to prove it and find out more. I have checked newspapers and looked on the internet but have found nothing.
Not sure where else to look.
That is a great story! It looks to me like you found the database of his enlistment papers on Footnote. That’s great! Off the top of my head, there might be hospital records for him or his partner. I’m wondering if there might not have been a newspaper story because it would be an embarassment to the military to have made that mistake. That said, I would continue to search for a newspaper account. Do you know the name of his partner? If you can find out his name, maybe that man shared HIS story. I would check with local historical societies to see if they have anything.
In case you don’t have it already, I found his obituary online and included it below. The site is http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/webboard/46161.htm
Topic: Obit for Lee Hefley 1993
Conf: Osborne County Queries, Msg: 46161
From: Deleted User
Date: 11/29/2002 06:54 PM
Obituary
“Lee Earl Hefley was born May 22, 1917, to John H. and Grace Simpson Hefley. He passed away September 19, 1993 at Parkview Care Center, Osborne, Kansas. Lee was born in the Rose Valley Community and was a life long resident of Downs, Kansas and graduated from Downs High School in 1935. Lee and Thressa Irene Stegman were married August 31, 1940 at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Cawker City, Kansas. Two children were born to this union: a son Eddie Lee and a daughter Janie Suzanne. Lee was a veteran of World War II and a retired rural letter carrier of the Downs Post Office. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting and fishing. He was a member of the Picnic ants and U.S. Center Sam’s Camping Clubs. He was honored as a master woodcarver by the National Woodcarvers Association of America. Lee’s greatest pride was his family. His greatest joy was helping and teaching others. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Irene; a son Ed and wife Linda of Satellite Beach, Florida; a daughter Jane and husband Elson Kaufman of Carney, Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Karen Bellah, Teresa and husband Mike Telesca, Donna and husband Tony Province, Donald and wife Anita Daufman; six great grandchildren; a sister-in-law Jewell Reel; three neices and one nephew. Funeral services were held Wednesday, September 22, 1993, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Downs with Father Loren Werth officiating. Music was provided by organist Karla Neihouse, congregational singing included the songs, “On Eagles Wings,” “Be Not Afraid,” and “I Have Loved You.” Those serving as pallbearers were David Goheen, Randy Dubbert, Doug Brush, Steve Hake, Gary Roe, and Kenneth Watts. Howard Hofer of VFW Post #1366 presented the American flag. Final resting place is the Downs Cemetery, Downs, Kansas. A memorial fund has been established to the Hospice of the Heartland.”
Thanks for the resources! I’m just beginning and this is helpful. It’s such fun piecing things together.
Margie! You’re welcome! I appreciate your in put, so let me know if I’m not addressing a subject you’d like to see. Glad to have you on board!