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WWII USMC

BethSchultz

My dad was a Marine in WWII.  He was age 19.  He never talked about it.  He was in the Marines for 22.5 years.  I have pictures, but don't know where he was during WWII.  I found lists with his name, rank, etc., but they just say "in the field" during the time of WWII.  

(OCT 1944: Private 1st Class- 1st Battalion, (75mm), 13th Marines, 5th Martine Division, Fmf, in the Field) 

(Jan - April 1945: Private 1st Class- 1st Battalion, (105mm), 13th Marines, 5th Marine Division, Fmf, in the Field)

Oct 1945: (Corporal - 4th Bn, (155mm How), 13th Mar, 5th Mardic, Fmf, Sasebo, Kyushu, Japan.) 

Does "in the field" mean that he was involved in a battle?  How do I find out which ones?   What is the difference between 5th Martine & 5th Marine Division, or are the both the same?  Where do I request his records if he retired from the Marines in the 60's?  

Beth

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    Thank you for posting your question on History Hub!

    Typically, “in the field” refers to time spent away from base camp; this may be due to a battle, but could also cover events such as training exercises. One way to determine potential actions your father may have participated in is by searching Record Group 127: Records of the U.S. Marine Corps for his battalion, unit/regiment, and division. In particular, Entry A1 1051, Series: Records Relating to United States Marine Corps Operations in World War II, 1939–1949 consists of records documenting the principal amphibious assaults and ground combat operations of the Marine Corps during the World War II era, as well as occupation of formerly enemy-controlled areas. As best as we can determine, “5th Martine Division” is a typo on the records you have already researched, and is no different from “5th Marine Division.”

    If you locate any records in RG 127 that you would like to examine in more detail, we would be happy to make them available to you or your representative in our research room at Archives II in College Park, MD. To make an appointment to visit the National Archives, please visit the Textual Research Room Appointments page. All researchers must register for a NARA Researcher Card. Researchers are further encouraged to pre-register in advance of a visit. This process consists of two parts, including completing the Online Researcher Orientation and Online Kiosk Registration. Should you be unable to come to the National Archives you may wish to hire a professional researcher instead; a list of some of these researchers can be viewed at https://www.archives.gov/research/hire-help.

    You may also be interested in obtaining your father’s Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). While detailed information about his participation in battles and military engagements is NOT contained in the record, it will go into further detail about his service history, including: date and type of enlistment/appointment; duty stations and assignments; training, qualifications, performance; awards and decorations received; disciplinary actions; insurance; emergency data; administrative remarks; date and type of separation/discharge/retirement (including DD Form 214, Report of Separation, or equivalent); and other personnel actions.

    OMPFs of Officers and Enlisted Personnel of the U.S. Marine Corps who were separated from service after 1904 and prior to January 1, 1999 are located at NARA's National Personnel Records Center, (Military Personnel Records), 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO  63138-1002.  Certain information in the records is not available to the general public without the written consent of the veteran or his next of kin. You may apply for access to these records online at http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/. Alternatively, you can download Standard Form 180 (SF-180) at https://www.archives.gov/files/research/order/standard-form-180.pdf and send in your request via postal mail. For a complete copy of a personnel file, in Section II, on the line for "Other" (Specify), write "Complete copy of every page of personnel file - not an extract."

    We invite you to continue the conversation with community members on History Hub, but should you have follow up questions for the staff at Archives II, please email us at archives2reference@nara.gov so that we can assist you further. 

    We hope this assists you with your research! 

    Sincerely,

    Textual Reference Archives II Branch (RR2RR)

    [RR2RR 24-60978-BAK]

Reply
  • 0

     

    Thank you for posting your question on History Hub!

    Typically, “in the field” refers to time spent away from base camp; this may be due to a battle, but could also cover events such as training exercises. One way to determine potential actions your father may have participated in is by searching Record Group 127: Records of the U.S. Marine Corps for his battalion, unit/regiment, and division. In particular, Entry A1 1051, Series: Records Relating to United States Marine Corps Operations in World War II, 1939–1949 consists of records documenting the principal amphibious assaults and ground combat operations of the Marine Corps during the World War II era, as well as occupation of formerly enemy-controlled areas. As best as we can determine, “5th Martine Division” is a typo on the records you have already researched, and is no different from “5th Marine Division.”

    If you locate any records in RG 127 that you would like to examine in more detail, we would be happy to make them available to you or your representative in our research room at Archives II in College Park, MD. To make an appointment to visit the National Archives, please visit the Textual Research Room Appointments page. All researchers must register for a NARA Researcher Card. Researchers are further encouraged to pre-register in advance of a visit. This process consists of two parts, including completing the Online Researcher Orientation and Online Kiosk Registration. Should you be unable to come to the National Archives you may wish to hire a professional researcher instead; a list of some of these researchers can be viewed at https://www.archives.gov/research/hire-help.

    You may also be interested in obtaining your father’s Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). While detailed information about his participation in battles and military engagements is NOT contained in the record, it will go into further detail about his service history, including: date and type of enlistment/appointment; duty stations and assignments; training, qualifications, performance; awards and decorations received; disciplinary actions; insurance; emergency data; administrative remarks; date and type of separation/discharge/retirement (including DD Form 214, Report of Separation, or equivalent); and other personnel actions.

    OMPFs of Officers and Enlisted Personnel of the U.S. Marine Corps who were separated from service after 1904 and prior to January 1, 1999 are located at NARA's National Personnel Records Center, (Military Personnel Records), 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO  63138-1002.  Certain information in the records is not available to the general public without the written consent of the veteran or his next of kin. You may apply for access to these records online at http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/. Alternatively, you can download Standard Form 180 (SF-180) at https://www.archives.gov/files/research/order/standard-form-180.pdf and send in your request via postal mail. For a complete copy of a personnel file, in Section II, on the line for "Other" (Specify), write "Complete copy of every page of personnel file - not an extract."

    We invite you to continue the conversation with community members on History Hub, but should you have follow up questions for the staff at Archives II, please email us at archives2reference@nara.gov so that we can assist you further. 

    We hope this assists you with your research! 

    Sincerely,

    Textual Reference Archives II Branch (RR2RR)

    [RR2RR 24-60978-BAK]

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