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Re: Is a Burial Case File the Same as IDPF
Robert Ragolia Jun 10, 2019 9:41 PM (in response to Kim Clarke)1 person found this helpfulKim,
I was advised by a senior person at Ft. Knox to send a FOIA request for “any and all records” regarding the person you are researching. That way, any additional records at that Office may be found and sent to you.
i believe separate burial records or reinterment records may exist for some KIAs, but I’m not an expert in this area.
Their address is: usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.foia@mail.mil
i would also FOIA St. Louis. I did both.
Good luck. Bob Ragolia
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Re: Is a Burial Case File the Same as IDPF
Elliot Schneider Jun 11, 2019 11:34 AM (in response to Robert Ragolia)2 people found this helpfulHello Kim,
Service members that were MIA or KIA did not receive a discharge paper. These individuals like Robert mentioned had other files that were used such as IDPFs or casualty papers were used and will usually give you an idea what happened and what unit they were with.
Thanks,
Elliot Schneider
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Re: Is a Burial Case File the Same as IDPF
Robert Ragolia Jun 11, 2019 9:17 PM (in response to Kim Clarke)2 people found this helpfulKim,
Elliot’s post is helpful and accurate. Thank you, Elliot.
Again, I’m certainly no expert, but I firmly believe that the Army that I know and served in, would have kept copious records on the over 170,000 WWII KIAs who were buried overseas, then reinterred in the US.
If you know your relative’s unit, research will reveal what collection and Graves Registration units were assigned to your relative’s outfit. Those units traveled with almost every Division and sent daily reports to their HQ of who and where KIAs were buried. Swift collection and burial was paramount for health and morale reasons. Hopefully, their records (Graves Registration’s) will reveal where the deceased was collected from and where he was buried, at least initially. From there other things can start falling into place.
I was advised by a very top CO to keep asking for “any and all” records and files when using FOIA. The more information you can provide makes their job easier and produces faster results – dates, units, rank, serial numbers, etc.
Hope this helps. Keep working the bread crumbs. I’m doing the same.
Sincerely,
Bob Ragolia
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Re: Is a Burial Case File the Same as IDPF
Rebecca CollierJun 17, 2019 2:40 PM (in response to Kim Clarke)
2 people found this helpfulDear Ms. Clarke,
Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!
Burial Case Files were later called the Individual Deceased Personnel File or IDPF. They usually contain documents to identify the remains such as dental records and correspondence to the next-of-kin as to where they would like their relative to be buried -- private cemetery, Veteran’s cemetery, etc.
If you already have his IDPF, then you have the complete file.
We hope this information is helpful.
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Re: Is a Burial Case File the Same as IDPF
Kim Clarke Jun 17, 2019 2:50 PM (in response to Rebecca Collier)I have the IDPF, so this clears up my confusion. Thank you.
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