How do I find out if my father was in the military? Just want to know if he served in any capacity.
How do I find out if my father was in the military? Just want to know if he served in any capacity.
Kevin,
Any additional information name, dob, place of birth?
Thanks,
Elliot
Dear Mr. Coaston,
Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!
We suggest that you request a copy of his/her Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). OMPFs for those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces after 1958 and prior to October 2002 are in the custody of NARA's National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. In many cases where Army and Air Force personnel records were destroyed in the 1973 fire, proof of service can be provided from other records such as morning reports, payrolls, and military orders, and a certificate of military service will be issued. Navy and Marine Corps OMPFs were not affected by the fire. Please complete a GSA Standard Form 180 and mail it to NARA's National Personnel Records Center, (Military Personnel Records), 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138-1002. Veterans and their next of kin also may use eVetRecs to request records. See eVetRecs Help for instructions. For more information see Request Military Service Records.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NPRC is closed except for emergencies. Currently, NPRC will continue servicing requests ONLY associated with medical treatments, burials, and homeless veterans seeking admittance to a homeless shelter. If your request is urgent, please see Emergency Requests and Deadlines. Please refrain from submitting non-emergency requests such as replacement medals, administrative corrections, or records research until NPRC returns to pre-COVID staffing levels. Please check archives.gov/veterans for updates to the NPRC operating hours and status. We apologize for any inconvenience.
We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your family research!
I'm probably sure it would have been before 1958.
Again, don't know if he was even a part of it.
Found a photo of him with what appeared to be
a military hat. No living relatives.
Benjamin J. Coaston
November 1, 1923
Birthplace Listed: Baton Rouge, La.
Kevin,
Here is some information below.
| Name: | Benjamin Jr Coaston |
|---|---|
| Name (Original): | COASTON BENJAMIN JR |
| Event Type: | Military Service |
| Event Date: | 30 Oct 1943 |
| Term of Enlistment: | Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law |
| Event Place: | Spokane, Washington, United States |
| Race: | Negro |
| Citizenship Status: | citizen |
| Birth Year: | 1923 |
| Birthplace: | LOUISIANA |
| Education Level: | Grammar school |
| Civilian Occupation: | Messengers, errand boys, and office boys and girls |
| Marital Status: | Single, with dependents |
| Military Rank: | Private |
| Army Branch: | No branch assignment |
| Army Component: | Selectees (Enlisted Men) |
| Source Reference: | Civil Life |
| Serial Number: | 39468759 |
| Affiliate ARC Identifier: | 1263923 |
| Box Film Number: | 14397.10 |
Fold 3 has his information:
Benjamin Coaston Jr
Army Serial Number: 39468759
Enlistment Place: Spokane Washington
Enlistment Date: 30 Oct 1943
Army Branch: No branch assignment
Branch: Army
Race or Ethnicity: Negro
Residence: Yakima County, Washington
Enlistment Term: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Source of Army Personnel: Civil Life
Army Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Level of Education: Grammar school
Occupation: Messengers, errand boys, and office boys and girls
Marital Status: Single, with dependents
Birth Date: 1923
Birth Place: Louisiana
Source Box Number: 1439
Source Film Reel Number: 7.10
Conflict Period: World War II Served for: United States of America
Can you upload it here for people to see.
Thanks,
Elliot
Dear Mr. Coaston,
Thank you for posting your follow-up request on History Hub!
We suggest that you request a copy of his Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). OMPFs and individual medical reports for those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces and who were separated from the service prior to 1959 are in the custody of NARA's National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. In many cases where Army and Army Air Corps personnel records were destroyed in the 1973 fire, proof of service can be provided from other records such as morning reports, payrolls, and military orders, and a certificate of military service will be issued. Navy and Marine Corps OMPFs were not affected by the fire. Please complete a GSA Standard Form 180 and mail it to NARA's National Personnel Records Center, (Military Personnel Records), 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138-1002. For more information see Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF), Archival Records Requests.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NPRC is closed except for emergencies. Currently, NPRC will continue servicing requests ONLY associated with medical treatments, burials, and homeless veterans seeking admittance to a homeless shelter. If your request is urgent, please see Emergency Requests and Deadlines. Please refrain from submitting non-emergency requests such as replacement medals, administrative corrections, or records research until NPRC returns to pre-COVID staffing levels. Please check archives.gov/veterans for updates to the NPRC operating hours and status. We apologize for any inconvenience.
We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your family research!
I have 1 single picture of my Grandfather Benjamin Coaston, would you mind contacting me to see if it's the same person? How To: Contact Another User