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USA WWI Casualty Lists

  • 22-01-2008 9:59pm
    #1
    grassynoel
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27 ✭


    Can anybody advise me on tracing a relative that was killed in WWI. I have tried the Commonwealth Graves website but the difficulty is is that he had emigrated to the USA and joined or was conscripted over there. Does anybody know of a website that records US WWI Casualties as good as the Commonwealth one? I've tried Googling but to no avail. I have no details on his Unit, when (post 1917?) or where he was killed. My family don't have much details on him (standard stuff unfortunately for that generation) but there is a spooky story of his brother at home in Ireland, seeing him in some sort of vision at the foot of his bed on the night he was killed with the dreaded telegram coming a few days/weeks later? Any help appreciated, thanks.
    ps. Maybe this should be on the history forum????


Comments

  • #2
    Manic Moran
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,486 Mod ✭✭✭✭Manic Moran


    You can make a request for the official military record at http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/standard-form-180.html

    However, there was a major fire in the records building in 1973, which destroyed over 3/4 of the records of US Army personnel from just before WWI through just before Vietnam. It was an utter disaster, with no backups made, which is why you won't find a comprehensive list. To give you an idea of the size, think a hundred fire trucks, some of which pumped water for over 40 hours straight. (At least one fire truck's system seized from the ceaseless operation)

    http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/fire-1973.html

    It may be possible for them to reconstruct some information from other sources such as medical or finance records, but they'll only do it if there's a request for it.

    NTM


  • #3
    grassynoel
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27 ✭grassynoel


    Thanks for the quick reply MM. It looks like its going to be fairly impossible to trace him as pretty much the only info I have is that he died in WW1 fighting for US Forces. I will fill out the SF 180 Form but I doubt the sparse info I have will be enough. I saw stuff about the fire on that website - an awful lot of info up in smoke, an awful shame. Thanks again.


  • #4
    Manic Moran
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,486 Mod ✭✭✭✭Manic Moran


    Do your research on his vital stats before you fill out the form: Place of birth, date of birth, date/place of marriage (and, of course, person married), that sort of thing. The more info you can give, the more luck they'll have.

    NTM


  • #5
    Mick86
    Closed Accounts Posts: 982 ✭✭✭Mick86


    grassynoel wrote: »
    Does anybody know of a website that records US WWI Casualties ....

    http://www.abmc.gov/search/wwi.php


  • #6
    grassynoel
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27 ✭grassynoel


    I think that website has worked. I have to confirm a few things but Im pretty sure its him, really appreciate that M86. He joined in New York and was a private in the 165th Infantry Regiment, 42nd Division and died on 01/08/18 and is buried in Fere-en-tardenois, France. Now off to google some of the above to try and find out more, thanks again.


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