Search for content in message boards

Why my two Great-Uncle's Draft/Service in WWI does not show up?

Why my two Great-Uncle's Draft/Service in WWI does not show up?

Posted: 21 Aug 2014 4:15PM GMT
Classification: Military
Surnames: Darwin
I am looking for ideas as I search specifically for the World War I draft information and military service information for two Great-Uncles. My Grandfather (Junius Baylus Darwin) shows up instantly when searching for WWI military service information. Neither of his two brother's show up despite both having served (John Tyler Darwin and Paul Thomas Darwin). I can remember the "triple" picture frame that always sat in my Grandfather's house showing him and his two brothers (one picture in each frame) in their military uniforms. What I am unsure of is if my "uncles" were in the U. S. Army, as my grandfather was, or a different branch. I keep searching using their full names, their initials, middle names (because one uncle was known by his middle name). I really do not think that Granddaddy's two brothers shirked their duty, they were well known in the community of Waco, Texas and it would have been obvious if two of the three never actually served in some capacity. Their military pictures looked very similar to my grandfather's and were of the style that was common when men served in the military during that time. The pictures looked like they were taken by the same photographer, similar in backdrop and such so I really can't see the brothers having this huge plot to "pretend" they served. Both of my Great-Uncles passed away well before I was old enough to be in on the family genealogy so I never got the chance to question them from a "genealogy" point of view of getting specifics. I won't give up, somewhere there is military information for my grandfather's two brothers and I feel that I just have not hit on the right combination of search criteria to pop them up.

Re: Why my two Great-Uncle's Draft/Service in WWI does not show up?

Posted: 24 Aug 2014 10:54PM GMT
Classification: Query
If the uncles were already serving in the National Army or the Texas National Guard at the time of the WWI Registration then they will not have cards, as those men were exempt from filing. Junius was married and claimed a bum ear so he did not Volunteer before Cards had to be filed.

Have you tried the Texas Archives? Most if not all Texans served in either the 36th Division or the 90th Division. There was a 95th but no information has been confirmed as actually being assigned men. It may have been organized on paper but maybe the war ended before it was more than on paper.

Some sites, if you don't already know about them:
http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~worldwarone...
http://www.txgenweb.org/tx/txlinks.html
http://www.texasescapes.com/WorldWarI/WWIChronicles.htm

Both Uncles state they served in WWI on the 1930 Census question asking.

By the way they will not have WWII Draft Registration Cards as those only needed to be filed by men born between April 28, 1877 to February 16, 1897. Tyler was born May 1897 and Paul Sept 1899 according to 1900 census.

LDS Family search has an image of Paul Thomas Darwin's death certificate and it states he was a Veteran of "US Armed Forces" in WWI.
John T Darwin died in CA and they only have an Index. Since the Index has a blank place of birth looks like the informant may not have known of Military service either to contact the VA for Burial, also has mother's maiden name as Halch.

Usually the VA BIRLS file is of Veterans whose family files for a VA benefit or National Cemetery burial.

Having a WWI Draft Registration Card does not mean any man was conscripted into service. Only some were and others still volunteered after filing.

Re: Why my two Great-Uncle's Draft/Service in WWI does not show up?

Posted: 9 Sep 2014 9:09PM GMT
Classification: Query
See Ancestry's "Help" regarding WWI Draft Registration Cards. As other poster suggested, your best bet is probably State or National Archives (NARA). NARA has branch locations scattered around the US.

Ancestry's Help/Tutorial: http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=6482
(scroll down past search form for info)

Re: Why my two Great-Uncle's Draft/Service in WWI does not show up?

Posted: 15 Sep 2014 11:49PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 15 Sep 2014 11:51PM GMT
Have you located any of them on a census. If you have a copy of the 1930 Census. You should check the third column from the end or it might be the second column; but it ask the question if you have served in the military. If you have. It will generally have a yes or Y or No or an N and then there is a column next to it and it pertains to what war or military action. They generally have two WW for WWI.

Re: Why my two Great-Uncle's Draft/Service in WWI does not show up?

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 12:21AM GMT
Classification: Query
They both had checked on the 1930 census that they had served in WWI. John Tyler and Paul Thomas.

Re: Why my two Great-Uncle's Draft/Service in WWI does not show up?

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 12:32AM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you for your reply!

Pat Darwin

Re: Why my two Great-Uncle's Draft/Service in WWI does not show up?

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 12:33AM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you very much for your reply. It is very good information.

Re: Why my two Great-Uncle's Draft/Service in WWI does not show up?

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 12:34AM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you for the information and the link!

Re: Why my two Great-Uncle's Draft/Service in WWI does not show up?

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 12:35AM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you very much for replying and the information.

Re: Why my two Great-Uncle's Draft/Service in WWI does not show up?

Posted: 24 Sep 2014 8:20AM GMT
Classification: Query
You're welcome. Glad I could help.
God Bless, Danny
per page

Find a board about a specific topic