Army serial number search wwii

The Bureau of the Census completed the project during federal fiscal year on time and below budget. They successfully converted 1, of the 1, rolls, or 87 percent of the rolls of microfilm. The remaining rolls containing approximately 1. In July , the Bureau of the Census provided NARA with 1, data files one per converted roll on twelve class tape cartridges.

NPRC received copies of the files, and they worked with Center for Electronic Records staff to identify the relevant War Department Technical Manuals containing technical documentation for the punch cards. The unique characteristic of the files created by the Bureau of the Census was that FOSDIC read each punch card image up to 10 times in an attempt to create a clean record and extract all characters from the original punch card.

Usually, the first read would contain the majority of data extracted from the card image. If all data could not be extracted, subsequent reads of the card image would result in additional records containing periods for characters successfully read on previous reads and alphanumeric characters for those interpreted on the current read. Varying interpretations of the same character may have occurred across the multiple reads.

A blank record separates records or groups of records pertaining to an individual punch card image. Each file also contained a header record indicating the box and microfilm roll number and an end of file record. These features presented challenges to the NPRC because the alphanumeric data were spread over multiple records, making it hard to use and interpret. The large number of files still presented a logistical problem for identifying and searching for individuals, especially given the computer technology of that time.

Louis Data Systems Center created early edit programs in an attempt to merge best guesses into one record. Given the complexities of the files, however, and the limited ability to search and locate individual records, NARA undertook no additional processing of the electronic version of the "Microfilm Copy of the Army Serial Number File, — That is, until In that year, staff took another look at the languished project, primarily because of the newly developed Access to Archival Databases AAD resource.

They determined that to get the records ready for AAD, the project should be approached in two phases. The first phase involved "merging" the 1, files into 12 files, corresponding to the number of computer tape cartridges provided by the Bureau of the Census. The purpose was to reduce the number of files to a manageable number and allow for an overall evaluation of the scope, content, and quality of the electronic files. This first phase was completed in May and resulted in the series "Electronic Army Serial Number Raw Files, —," which contains 23,, records.

The objective of phase two was to get a single data file with a single "best guess" record for each serial number so that it could be made available through the AAD resource. First, the 12 files were merged again into a single file.

When we collapsed the multiple records, we were able to collapse only the data appearing in the FOSDIC second read of the punch card into the first read. FOSDIC may have correctly interpreted any specific character correctly on the third or later reads of the punch card, but we were unable to apply a more complicated algorithm to the processing to provide a better "guess" than what appears in the resultant file.

We therefore have retained the Electronic Army Serial Number Raw Files, should researchers wish to reprocess the raw data and create a better "best guess" file. The program also matched the associated box and roll data to the end of each cleaned up record. It is important for users of the AAD file to understand how far removed the enlistment records are from the microfilm images of the original computer punch cards.

Each successive processing stage invariably introduced the chance of errors. As with most archival records now used for genealogical research, the records were originally created for a very different purpose than identifying specific individuals. In the case of the enlistment cards, they were designed to reflect, at the time of entrance into service, basic characteristics of each enlistee in the Army, Enlisted Reserve Corps, and the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps.

The Adjutant General's Office used the punch cards to prepare tables analyzing occurrence of the various characteristics among individuals, enlisted or inducted, and to provide information for policies of demobilization.

Therefore, given that the original intent of the program was to prepare statistical tables, less attention may have been paid to the proper spelling of names and accurate keypunching of personal data fields. Most important, the many migrations of these records—from original recording on punch cards, to copying them to microfilm, to FOSDIC processing, to "merging" and "collapsing"—means that error could have been introduced at any phase.

The poor quality of the original microfilm caused most of the errors. Of the sample records examined, 35 percent of them were found to have a scanning error. However, only 4. There are currently active records in the database. Us Army Serial Number Search. Although incomplete, the records contain data for a majority of the enlistments in the US Army during World War II, including each person's serial number.

Ancestry also has Note: this database also indexes draft cards for some other states, but the images of the draft cards for those states are not included those images are available separately at Fold3 -- also see the Fold3 and FamilySearch links just below for more images online. Look for the state you want, then for ' name of state , World War II draft registration cards, Cemeteries and Beneficiaries Army personnel interred in national cemeteries U.

Some of the listings include memorial pages with a photograph. Arizona World War II Draft Registration Cards, images only, but they are listed alphabetically by surname; does not include the fourth registration Arkansas FR indicates a reserve officer, using a system adopted after WW2 and Korea. In the late s, the serial numbers were replaced with the Social Security Number. I have a helmet from WWll with the name R. I know he enlisted in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio or West virginia.

Born , Indiana native. Hope this helps. Based on my grandfathers age he would have had to have been WWI. If so is there a way I can get info on the number on the tag? Thank you for any help or advise. Hi Amy. His serial number is I know he was a private, a radio operator and served in the 3rd Army. That is about all. What are options to find out more? Doug H.

Hi Doug. There are records you can obtain to learn more about his service. If you have a unit it, it is easier to locate information if his OMPF service file burned. My book on research is listed at the end of the article too.

This was extremely helpful, and I do mean extremely. Thank you so much for writing this. Do you have an information as to where I can find serial number information like this for outside of the Us during WW2? Specifically Germany, but any information would be helpful. Thank you. Hi, Debbie. Again I cannot remember the date. He lived in Saginaw, MI when he enlisted in the Marines in As for me, I joined the California Natl. Guard in , while in high school, then joined the US Army in Sept.

My serial number was RA28xxxxxx not sure if I am supposed to show it. Are you trying to find more about his military service? You might want to start with the Library of Michigan in Lansing. They have an extensive collection of military records of people from Michigan. It is open to anyone to request and will be complete not affected by the fire.

I am trying to find my adopted Dads serial number. I found it online the other night but now I cant seem to find it. Can you please help me? The military has no files on him. His name is Frank F. Iron Shooter, serial number and I have no clue what to do next. Amy, in regards to my uncle Frank I.

I cannot locate a dd because he had passed away in a house fire at home. Apparently his records were also in the fire in Missouri back when. I checked everywhere however seems like no one has any records on him. They say if I find something to let them know. So I am still looking. Thank you but if you have any helpful information I sure would appreciate it. He should have filed a copy of his DD at the courthouse in the county where he lived when he was discharged.

Have you contacted the veteran affairs office in that county? They might be able to point you in the right direction. Yes I contacted the courthouse where he lived and also several local veterans offices.

I wrote to Missouri and they said just keep looking. Thank you though. Also maybe he was not in the military? Or maybe he got discharged… My mom thought he was in the Coast Guard, but her memory was kind of poor.

I came across your site and was delighted to find out that there was an explanation to his Army Serial Number. You explained the first two numbers but was there a method for the other six or were they just a random selection?

I believe the term would be drafted. Hi Amy, Wile digging around the California desert I found a dog tag. And I have not been able to find any thing on this person. This dog tag list his next of kin in Los Angeles?

Any help would be grate. Ernest A. I have several relatives who enlisted in the Army during WW2 and according to this serial number breakdown they were drafted 3 … that cannot be because they lied about their age in order to join.

Even a couple of old timers from the VFW have 3 as a first number and I know for a fact they enlisted. I would double check that coding information. Thanks for you comment, Duke. Here is the part referring to the number My father retired from the USAF in as a major. If you do a search on the web, you can find his name and this serial number I memorized as a youth, and his name on the USAF retirement rolls.

Also, I do not know how long after the war this system stayed in place. I see above that those that started with a 0 might have enlisted prior to WWII, but to my knowledge that was not the case with him. Any guidance would be appreciated! Am hoping someone can give me some pointers. He was promoted to 1st Lt. There is more history to the purchase but I would hope to find information so I can figure everything out.

Any help at all would be great. I really appreciate it. Hello — My Uncle enlisted in WW2 in January of — I have found what could be his enlistment record and it notes his Army serial number as Would his serial number have changed if he entered the Air Corps then part of the army and became an officer?

Later in the war he listed as a witness on a missing air crew report and his serial number is noted as O Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on this mystery! When i try to find him in the Nara AAD they can find him. They tall me his records burned in the Nara Fire in So do you know eventualy if by is Army Serial Number i can know more about him sens the few i know about him. His serial Army Number is just in case you know? Best regards. Patrick Leullier From Normandy France. What war, branch of service, etc?

Those numbers are on the request for monument. Yes he served as 1st Lt. I have his enlisted paper and request for monument a few pictures but can not find anything else. He served in the Air Corp. James Marshall Hall. Any help would greatly be appreciated.