Finding Your Father's War

[Kyt]

Sounds like a handy guide for people looking for US veteran's info:

Amazon.com: Finding Your Father's War: A Practical Guide to Researching and Understanding Service in the World War II U.S. Army: Jonathan Gawne: Books

Leading military historian and researcher, Jonathan Gawne, explains and shares the techniques he uses to research archives, libraries, veteran associations and myriad other sources of information to track down the wartime career of an individual. The author describes this as "What I did, and what you can do to find out what 'he' did in the army."

The book gives an overview of the Army in World War II, from the basics up. Learn the difference between a corporal and a major, or a squad and a brigade. What can you tell from a serial number? What is the difference between the quartermaster corps and the transportation corps? What was the path most soldiers took from civilian life to trained soldier? What (and where) is the ETO, PTO and ATO? All the basic facts you need to understand Army service in WW2.

He goes on to explain how to find information from such sources as discharges, uniforms, paperwork, the National Personnel records center, National Archives, other facilities and what you can expect from veterans organizations (and how to find them). Places to look for information and what you can or cannot get from them.

Finally the book helps you to assemble the data you have collected and piece the story of your relatives' wartime service together. It also gives advice on preserving the memories - oral histories, photos, artifacts, documents, etc.

Detailed appendices give information on such things as insignia of ranks and branches, listing of common MOS's, a breakdown of each division by sub unit, with a brief history and a listing of their campaigns, a capsule history of each campaign and a bibliography of useful books on various campaigns and units. Color illustrations of campaign ribbons, decorations and insignia accompany the detailed text.

This book addresses an increasing need to record and understand the lives of the greatest generation and their service to the country.

REVIEWS

"... helps you assemble the data you have collected and piece the story of your relative's wartime service together. It also gives advice on preserving the memories - oral histories, photos, artifacts, documents, etc. ... addresses an increasing need to record and understand the lives of the "greatest generation and their service to the country." - HistoryBuff.com, January 2007

"...for those interested in WWII army service, there is no source better than FINDING YOUR FATHER'S WAR". We are greatly impressed with the depictions "...Gawne provides a wealth of background information and keys to interpreting military records and items from the WWII period.... This book is a great starting point."ARMY Magazine April 2007

"...This work is a road map for users seeking to trace their relative's wartime army service... a Useful source for genealogists and readers interested in the wartime military."06/2007 CHOICE

"...a useful book for anyone trying to establish the history of any US veteran during W.W.II."10/07 J.A. Graf, Military Trader

"...a thoroughly comprehensive guide to the U.S. Army in the World War II period... covers an enormous range of subjects..."The NYMAS Review 41, Summer 2007

"...very practical useful guide to assist all those whose relatives served in the wartime US Army. ...very well illustrated... Finding You Father's War is highly recommended for all those who find themselves in need of assistance in doing research on World War II."Journal For America's Military Past Spring/ Summer 2007

"...a terrific guide that details how to go about researching and understanding the lives of a generation of servicemen that answered their nation's call when the world was at war."On Point Magazine Winter 2007-8

"... a fascinating book...no veteran post should be without it."Daily Times (Delaware County), 04/2008