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Re: Find US Army unit in France, 1946
Rebecca CollierJul 6, 2018 10:13 AM (in response to denisewyo)
2 people found this helpfulDear Ms. Hawkins,
Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!
First, begin by determining what U.S. units were stationed near these towns in France during 1946. In the Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1905-1981 (Record Group 407), there is a series titled Station Lists, 1942 - 1953. The station lists are arranged by theater (such as European Theater) and thereunder by date. The lists were computer generated usually once or twice a month. Each list is arranged by type of unit and thereunder in order by unit name or number. The station listed for each unit is the nearest town, camp, city, etc. Since U.S. Army units were still segregated at that time and he was African American, he would only be assigned to a Colored unit. Once the unit is known, you would need to search the records of the unit for names or a chance listing. Unfortunately, rosters for Army units serving in World War II from 1944-46 were destroyed in accordance with Army disposition authorities. For access to the station lists and Army unit records, please contact the National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference (RDT2) via email at archives2reference@nara.gov.
To verify the name, you can request a copy of his Official Military Personnel File. OMPFs for enlisted men of the U.S. Army who were separated from the service after October 1912 and prior to 1957 are in the custody of NARA's National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. In many cases where 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. 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.
The OMPF will not contain the current addresses of former service personnel or their survivors on file. The Federal agency most likely to have such addresses is the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA can forward a message from you to the veteran, providing the veteran has filed a claim with VA, and they have an address on record. To forward a message, please write your message and place it in an unsealed, stamped envelope. Also include a note to the VA explaining who it is you are trying to reach and add as much identifying information as you have. Place all of this in another envelope addressed to the nearest Veterans Affairs Regional Office (you can find the address at https://www.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp). If the veteran is in their records, your message to the veteran will be sealed and the envelope addressed to the address they have on file for the veteran. Please note that the veteran may not have informed the VA of a change of address, so they cannot guarantee receipt of your message. If the veteran receives your note, it is then up to the veteran to contact you.
We hope this information is helpful. Best of luck with your research!