USA Korean War Service Records

[agileflower]

Good morning! I'm looking for where I can find USA Korean War Service Records.  I understood that there was some massive fire that destroyed a lot of them? I'm trying to identify relatives who served in Korea (but were not killed). I have specific relatives in mind to find so perhaps if there is no record I can find another way to check and see if they were there and what approximate dates.

Thank you so much for pointing me in the right direction!  I just found this set of forums and they are a treasure trove!

[Andy J2022]

I would suggest starting with the FamilySearch Wiki entry: https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/United_States_Korean_War_1950_to_1953.

 It seems that a lot of Koren War records are held at the state level so it may help if you know which state your relatives lived in. For instance here's a site dealing with Washington State.

[agileflower]

Thank you. I will check into that - the state was Wisconsin. I found one relative whose obituary just said 'US Army and Korea and year dates' - but I'm trying to find out people's rank as well I looked for newspaper articles with names but that wasn't hugely successful. Thank you!

[ciderdrinker]

Hi Lovely to hear from You
If you have Ancestry then casulties are on there 1950-1957 plus prisoners or War and graves overseas for Us soldiers.

Give us the name and someone could check the record is there.

Ciderdrinker

[agileflower]

Hello thank you! I am not sure if they are a casualty or not - I'm looking for both as - yet - unidentified second cousins and if they were in the Korean War (and what their rank was).

I do have one name I know was US Army Korean War (from obit/grave) but not sure how to see what rank.  Name was Clarence V Braun Jr, buried in Wisconsin.

[Bob C]

Clarence "Sonny" Braun's obituary says he served during the Korean Conflict (1951-1956) but does not say where. ( https://www.rootschat.com/links/01t48/ )

About 80% of the Army records from 1912-1960 were destroyed in a fire on 12 July 1973.

Certain of the records have been salvaged as they were partially burnt and others have been reconstructed. To determine if this applies an application for records must be made. ( https://www.rootschat.com/links/01t47/ )

Because he separated more than 62 years ago his military records are open to the public ( https://www.rootschat.com/links/01t46/ )

A better bet might be the Dept of Veterans Affairs since information on rank and service dates would appear on the application for the VA furnished marker. I haven't done any research on how to do this yet but will have to get back to you.

[Bob C]

US Korean War Casualties can be searched here

https://www.rootschat.com/links/01t49/

[Bob C]

The VA function that has marker applications is National Cemetery Administration https://www.rootschat.com/links/01t4a/

You must use the on-line portal to submit FOIA requests https://department.va.gov/foia/

[agileflower]

Thank you so much for your support.  I'm continuing to research the gents on that branch of the family tree to identify who served in the Korean Conflict and I guess then to narrow down to who was there in Feb 1955.

One additional tidbit has arisen.  Apparently, this person had what someone called (language barrier here) a 'full bird feather' on the uniform (still unsure of what branch. Is this a colloquialism that might be helpful? I have looked at the insignias of the current military branches and the only 'birds' I see are of ranks I've not yet come across in any of the gents I am looking at.