MORE RESOURCES FOR RESEARCHING
WWII MILITARY SERVICE
August 15 marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. As with the May issue, this month's First Friday Genealogy with Sassy Janeoffers several ways to honor and research family members who served in WWII.
At left, Navy personnel crowd the decks of the USS Missouri to witness the formal surrender of the Empire of Japan on 2 Sep 1945. (Image courtesy Naval History and Heritage Command)
To reduce the spread of COVID-19 and keep staff members safe, many archives and libraries are closed and/or limiting research services for paper records. Expect longer response times for paper records from facilities still offering email services.
The Archives of the Naval History and Heritage Command offers digital and paper records. This month's featured photo (above) comes from their collections. Search their holdings at these links:
Undated photo of the crew of the USS S-28 (SS-133), lost at sea 4 Jul 1944.
(Courtesy submarinememorial.org)
On Eternal Patrol is "dedicated to all men lost while serving in the U.S. Submarine Force." I discovered this excellent site while researching my husband's cousin, 20-year-old RM3C Marvin McMillan, who was among the crew lost on the USS S-28.
This site offers a wealth of reliable information, including photos and links for the individual men lost. The subs themselves are also documented. Perhaps most importantly, On Eternal Patrol documents the work of underwater archeologists who have found wreckage.
The official 75th World War II Commemoration in the United States is being managed by the Department of Defense. Tributes, events, and flyovers, are planned. Digital exhibits are also available.
During August and September, the Commemoration focuses on “stories, artifacts, and oral histories honoring the role of WWII veterans, as well as local companies, organizations, and civilians, whose contributions to the war effort may have been overlooked in history.”
