5 Replies Latest reply on Jul 16, 2021 3:39 PM by Sarah Nicholas

    Seeking military records of Benjamin R Preston

    Sarah Nicholas Wayfarer
    Sarah Nicholas Jul 11, 2021 8:24 PM

      I’m looking for military records on my husband’s  grandfather, Benjamin R (Robert) Preston. I know he was a Marine stationed at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard ( in Kittery, Maine or Portsmouth, New Hampshire depending on what records you look at) in 1944 and that he was a Corporal at the time. Is there any way to obtain more information with so little to go on? The information I have was taken from a Marine muster roll in Jan of 1944.

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        • Re: Seeking military records of Benjamin R Preston
          Lisha Penn Ranger
          Lisha Penn Expert Jul 14, 2021 2:43 PM (in response to Sarah Nicholas)

          Dear Ms. Nicholas,

           

          Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

           

          We searched the National Archives Catalog and located the Muster Rolls and Personnel Diaries, 1/1941 - 12/1980 in the Records of the U.S. Marine Corps (Record Group 127) that may include the Benjamin R. Preston for 1941-1945. Some of these records have been digitized and are available using the Catalog. For more information about the non-digitized records, please contact the National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference (RDT2) via email at archives2reference@nara.gov.

           

          We suggest that you request a copy of his Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). OMPFs and medical records of officers and enlisted personnel of the U.S. Marine Corps who were separated from service after 1904 and before 1959 are located at NARA's National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), (Military Personnel Records), 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO  63138-1002.  To request these records, please mail a completed GSA Standard Form 180 to NPRC. Veterans and their next of kin also may use eVetRecs to request records. See eVetRecs Help for instructions. For more information see Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF), Archival Records Requests.

           

          Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of NARA staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgement as well as a substantive response to your reference request from RDT2. Also, NPRC will continue servicing requests ONLY associated with medical treatments, burials, homeless veterans seeking admittance to a homeless shelter, and those involving the VA Home Loan program. 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 this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.

           

          We hope this is helpful.  Best of luck with your family research!

           

          • Re: Seeking military records of Benjamin R Preston
            Alice Lane Ranger
            Alice Lane Jul 15, 2021 2:08 AM (in response to Sarah Nicholas)

            Hi Sarah,

            Welcome to History Hub

             

            Would you like to share more information. I found a couple of Benj Preston, one was in the Army and the other was too old to be him. Was his father's name the same.

            Need a place of birth and the date and if possible his burial date and location.

             

            Thanks

            Alice Lane

            Research Volunteer