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The following links may assist in locating information about a former POW or veteran.
SPECIFIC RECORDS ON US POWS WWII to current
1. Go to NARA Data Base Click here
2. Click on World War II Prisoners of War File, ca. 1942 - ca. 1947 for
the Record Group 389: Records of the Office of the Provost Marshal
General
3. Click on "search" on the RIGHT side of the dialog box. A new window appears- cursor to bottm for form
4. Type the information requested in the "Enter Values" and search the
results for the person you are searching for.
NOTE: If you know the serial number, if it is less than 8 digits, add zeroes in front of the number
Remember- this list has numerous inaccuracies, particularly in the numbering of the POW camps. Frequently, the number refers ONLY to the Japanese POW Area Command, e.g., Osaka. All Osaka camps were considered as mere branches of the headquarters camp #1, aka Chikko.


Short Summary of known NARA Record Groups: RG407;
More on-line resources

Obtaining POW Medal:
Most eligible veterans are in receipt of their medals. However you can request replacements if lost. Letter requests are now accepted. Mail written requests to: National Personnel Records Center, National Archives Records Administration, Attn: NCPMA (Army)/MCPMF (USAF), NCPMN (Navy, USMC, Coast Guard), 9700 Page Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63132-5100. DOD 1348.33M deleted the requirement for any form.

OBTAINING MILITARY RECORDS/DOCUMENTS:
Go to http://www.archives.gov/veterans/ - This is a simple site now and you can request records over the Internet.

If you are not the veteran or next of kin, download form SF-180. This form is needed to make a request for military personnel records or for requesting replacements for a veteran's medals. SF-180 is a PDF file which you can print, complete and mail.

The DUTCH have an online database too. Check this site: http://www.ogs.nl/
Click on "Schlachtofferregister" and "Raadplegen van het Slachtofferregister" and then put the name you are looking in the searchable box and voila you are in....

BRITISH RECORDS RELATING TO CHANGI
Complete Japanese records exist for all 58000 POWS

OBTAINING REPLACEMENT MEDALS: (Replacement medals are issued by the government ONLY in cases when no original was issued.)
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/ see link in left column

CONTACTING VETERAN SERVICE OFFICERS (VSO's) TO ASSIST IN RECORD RETRIEVAL OR OBTAINING BENEFITS (Honorably Discharged)
http://www.va.gov/sta/guide/home.asp?DIVISION=ALL

NATIONAL PERSONNEL CENTER (St. Louis, MO) TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
314 538-4218
314 538-4122
314 538-4142
314 538-4144
314 538-4020

NOTE: Peak calling times are weekdays between 10:00 am CST and 3:00 pm CST. Staff is available to take your call as early as 7:30 am and as late as 5:00 pm cst.

RECORDS (Mailing addresses):
1. Claims files for pensions based on Federal military service, 1775-1916, and bounty land warrant application files based on wartime service, 1775-1855
2. Regular Army enlisted personnel serving from 1789 through October 31,1912, and officers serving from 1789 through June 30, 1917.
3. Records relating to persons who served in the Confederate States Army from 1861 through 1865.
4. Volunteer service of persons serving during an emergency and whose
service was considered to be in the federal interest, during the period 1775-1902.
5. Morning Reports, pre-1917
6. Unit operational records, pre-1939
7. Unit rosters, pre-1917... Contact:

Archives I Textual Reference Branch
National Archives and Records Administration
Washington, D.C. 20408
(202)-501-5430

1. Morning reports, 1917-1974 (In 1974 the Army discontinued the use of morning reports and switched to PDC cards. PDC cards are also in the custody of the NPRC.)
2. Unit rosters, 1917-present, Regular Army
3. Officers separated after June 30, 1917, and enlisted personnel separated after October 31, 1912... Contact:

National Personnel Records Center
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100

Unit operational records, 1939-1954, and 1954 to present for units which served in Southeast Asia... Contact:

Archives II Textual Reference Branch
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road - College Park, MD 20740-6001 - (301)-713-7250

Unit operational records, 1954-present for units which did not serve in
Southeast Asia; Organizational History Files, 1955- 1979

Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts Office
SAIS-IDP-F/P, Suite 201
1725 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, VA 22202-4102
DSN 327-3377; (703)-607-3377

Organizational History Files, 1980-present
Organizational History Branch
U.S. Army Center of Military History
1099 14th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005-3402
DSN 763-5413; (202)-761-5413

Unit rosters, 1917-present, Army Reserve
Veterans:
Army Reserve Personnel Center
ATTN: ARPC-SFR-SSD
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5200
Public:
U.S. Army Reserve Personnel Center
ATTN: ARPC-IMP-F (FOIA)
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5200

Unit Lineages and Honors
Organizational History Branch
U.S. Army Center of Military History
1099 14th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005-3402
DSN 763-5413; (202) 761-5413

Awards for active duty personnel:
Military Awards Branch
Hoffman Building II, 200 Stovall Street, Alexandria, VA 22332-0400
DSN 221-8699; (703) 325-8699

Awards for veterans:
U.S. Army Reserve Personnel Center
Veterans Services Directorate
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5200

Official photographs, 1861-1988
Still Picture Branch
Special Archives Division
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001
(301) 713-6660

Official photographs and videos
Defense Visual Information Center
1363 Z Street Center, March Air Force Base, CA 92518-2727
DSN 348-1505; (909) 413-1505

Motion pictures, 1898 to present:
Motion Picture, Sound & Video Branch
Special Archives Division
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001
(301) 713-7060

Official papers:
US Army Military History Institute
Carlisle Barracks PA 17013-5008
DSN 242-3611; (717) 245-3611
Official US Army publications

Official publications:
US Army Publications Center
2800 Eastern Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21220-2896
DSN 584-2272; (410) 671-2272

Information concerning flags, colors, streamers, guidons, insignia, & uniforms (AR-840-10)
US Army Institute of Heraldry
9235 Gunston Road, Room S-112, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5579
DSN 656-4968/4969; (703) 806-4968/4969

US Army Air Forces records:
US Air Force Historical Research Agency
600 Chennault Circle, Maxwell AFB, AL 36112-6424
DSN 493-5834; (205) 953-5834