Search for content in message boards

is a 'great-grandson' able to get Merchant Marines WWII records?

is a 'great-grandson' able to get Merchant Marines WWII records?

Posted: 31 Dec 2013 7:43PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Shepler
My Great Grandfather, Harry O. Shepler (1914-1992) was in the M.M. during WWII

As I'm a great-grandson, thus not falling into most definition's of 'next-of-kin', would they release his records to me if I requested them, or do I have to talk my grandmother into to requesting the info?

Re: is a 'great-grandson' able to get Merchant Marines WWII records?

Posted: 31 Dec 2013 9:53PM GMT
Classification: Query
You can request the Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF); if your ancestor served in WWII and was discharged before 1951, the records are open to the public (part of the archive). It takes quite a while, so be patient!

http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/#e...

Do you have a copy of his DD214? That's probably the best place to start.

Good luck!
Nancy

Re: is a 'great-grandson' able to get Merchant Marines WWII records?

Posted: 1 Jan 2014 4:06PM GMT
Classification: Query
Actually you would have to request his records here- http://www.usmm.org/contact.html

Merchant Marine records are held in a separate location from those of military records

Include Name, Date of Birth, copy of Death Certificate if deceased, Social Security number, Address, and Z or Service number.

Commanding Officer
USCG-National Maritime Center (NMC-421)
ATTN: Correspondence Section
100 Forbes Drive
Martinsburg, WV 25404

Re: is a 'great-grandson' able to get Merchant Marines WWII records?

Posted: 2 Jan 2014 9:58PM GMT
Classification: Query
You're correct - the link is to request discharge papers. Thanks!

Re: is a 'great-grandson' able to get Merchant Marines WWII records?

Posted: 3 Jan 2014 1:15AM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank both of you for your replies

>Include Name, Date of Birth, copy of Death Certificate if deceased, Social Security number, Address, and Z or Service number.

Do you need _All_ of that?

Name and Date (& place) of Birth (& Death) I know, My grandmother might have a copy of the Death Certificate - I'll have to ask her - but she's travelling for the next few months. I think I have his social sec. # (If not I bet I'd be able to find that easily enough).

Which address? Where he was living when he died or do I try to guess which adress he used when he joined-up? He apparently inherited adjacent house lots - and lived in different one's at different points in time in the 40s- and around the same time the street addresses were all re-numbered so I've got 4 different addresses all on the 900 block of the same street on different records in the 40's - but it's all just the same 2 adjacent lots - from the 50s-on his address didn't change anymore though (he sold off the other lot at some point).

however, bigger issue- I have no idea how to find out what his Z/Service Number - How do you find that?

Thank you kindly

Re: is a 'great-grandson' able to get Merchant Marines WWII records?

Posted: 3 Jan 2014 2:07AM GMT
Classification: Query
Just provide as much information as you can, his address at the time of death will do. As to the Z or service number, it may be included in papers at the funeral home that handled his burial. You can also check the local town clerk/tax office to see if he filed any of his seamans, discharge or service papers for safekeeping. It may take a little longer without a Z number, but the main thing is to provide enough accurate information.
per page

Find a board about a specific topic