How do you find out where a soldier served in World War 2?

Answer 1

Assuming he is no longer available to be asked, you could try to look at either his medals/ribbons or his discharge papers. If among his Medals in the EAME - the Europe, Africa Middle East Service award, then you have it narrowed down that much. There was a similar award for the PTO and the CBI - Pacific Theater of Operations; China Burma India.

His discharge papers would list what awards he was entitled to, including the above, if any. If he never left the states, obviously, he would have none of the overseas awards.

His discharge papers would also list the LAST unit he was assigned to. This MIGHT be the one he was with overseas, or merely one he was attached to which was returning stateside when it was his turn, or one he was attached to once back, just long enough to be processed out.

Many soldiers recorded their discharge papers in the county courthouse once they got back to their hometown. Some states required this by law. That way, he would always be able to get a certified copy, if he lost the originals. These are usually in the same place in the courthouse where land records are kept, or in the clerk of court's office.

If any wartime letters from the soldier to those at home are available, often the return address will be the unit he was assigned to. Letters sent TO the soldier went to an APO - Army Post Office. These were numbered and there was one for each unit or group of units. The Army knew where these were, but the sender of the letter did not. This was to keep spies from knowing where units were located, if a spy got into the mail. If you know what his address was to receive mail you might be able to determine what unit he was in that way.

The best information is available once you know the unit he was with overseas. Then you research the unit, and you know where he was and what they were doing.