Seeking POW information for Anthony Perla

Randy,

Here is some information I have found below. Also checked the NARA AAD database for Korean War POW records and his name was not on the list. Not sure about intelligence officers being omitted but worth asking here.

https://www.nsa.gov/about/cryptologic-heritage/historical-figures-publications/publications/korean-war/koreanwar-sigint-…

Hope this helps,

Elliot Schneider

Dear Mr. Herbon,

Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

We searched the Access to Archival Databases (AAD) and located the series Repatriated Korean War Prisoners of War, 1978-1980 in the Records of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (Record Group 15) and the Korean War Data File of American Prisoners of War, 1950 - 1953 in  the Records of the Army Staff (Record Group 319) but neither database included a file for  Anthony Perla.

We also searched the National Archives Catalog and located the series Repatriated American Prisoners of War Data File in Record Group 15 that includes records related to the Korean War. These records have not been digitized or made available via AAD. Please contact the National Archives at College Park - Electronic Records (RDE) at cer@nara.gov for information about and access to this series. 

In addition, we located the series Prisoner of War Reports and Projects, 1954-1956 in the Records of Headquarters U.S. Air Force (Air Staff) (Record Group 341) that may contain some information related to your research. The series Korean War Casualty Rosters, 10/25/1953-11/24/1953 and the series Rosters of Military Personnel Missing in Action During the Korean War, 1/1951-2/1954  in the Records of General Headquarters, Far East Command, Supreme Commander Allied Powers, and United Nations Command (Record Group 554) might also be useful for you. Plus, the series Copies of Records Relating to Korean War Prisoners of War and Personnel Missing in Action, 1993-1996 from the Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Record Group 330) contains records of the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Office (DPMO) which acquired copies of documents from Federal agencies with a history of related responsibilities pertaining to unaccounted for American prisoners of war and persons missing in action during the Korean War. These records have not been digitized. Please contact the National Archives at College Park - Textual Reference (RDT2) at archives2reference@nara.gov for information about these records.

If you have not done so already, we suggest that you request a copy of Anthony Perla’s Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). OMPFs and individual medical reports for those who served in the U.S. Air Force who were separated from the service after 1946 and prior to 1958 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. 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.

If Anthony Perla was killed in action, the information you seek may be contained in his Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF). U.S. Air Force Individual Deceased Personnel Files (IDPFs) from 1940-1973 are in the custody of the National Archives at St. Louis (RL-SL). For access to these records, please contact RL-SL via email at stl.archives@nara.gov.

Finally, you may also be interested in the National Archives Reference Information Paper 102 Records Relating to American Prisoners of War and Missing-in-Action Personnel from the Korean War and During the Cold War Era and Reference Information Paper 103 National Archives Records Relating to the Korean War.

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 RDE, RDT2, and RD-SL. Also, the NPRC closed again as of November 7, 2020 until further notice. NPRC will respond only to requests involving burials, medical emergencies, and homeless veterans.  If your request is urgent, please see Emergency Requests and Deadlines or emergency requests may be faxed to (314) 801-0764.  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 research!