World War II Cemetery Records
1939â1945
World War II was the defining event of the 20th century â and it produced the most documented generation of American warriors in history. Over 16 million Americans served, and 405,000 died. American Battle Monuments Commission cemeteries in Normandy, the Philippines, Italy, and across the globe hold the remains of American WWII dead. Domestic burials, VA records, and military pension files document those who returned home. If your family's "Greatest Generation" member served in WWII, their records are accessible.
ð Historical Context
WWII record-keeping was more systematic than WWI but suffered from the same catastrophic 1973 National Archives fire that destroyed approximately 75% of WWII Army records. Despite this loss, substantial WWII records survive: the ABMC overseas cemetery records are complete, VA records are accessible to veterans and next-of-kin, and many unit-level records survived the fire. The 1940 Census (released in 2012) is the last pre-war snapshot of American families, showing households before military service changed them forever.
Available Record Types
Maintains American military cemeteries worldwide with 93,000+ WWII burials. Complete burial records searchable at abmc.gov.
Post-war VA records document medical care, disability compensation, and benefits. Accessible to veterans and next-of-kin.
Military discharge certificates issued after 1950 (some WWII records exist). The DD-214 is the essential post-WWII military service document.
Fourth Registration (1942) captured men aged 45-64 â largely not combat age but genealogically valuable for addresses and family information.
Published lists of WWII casualties from all services â available through National Archives and online genealogy databases.
Death certificates for WWII casualties who died in the US or were repatriated. Many are digitized in state vital records databases.
â ïļ Research Challenges
- âĒSame 1973 fire problem as WWI â approximately 75% of WWII Army records were destroyed. Air Force records also heavily damaged.
- âĒOverseas burials require determining whether a soldier was repatriated or remains in an ABMC cemetery â families had to make this choice, and records are split between ABMC and domestic cemeteries
- âĒPacific theater deaths (Philippines, Iwo Jima, Okinawa) are sometimes harder to locate than European theater deaths due to the nature of those campaigns
- âĒWWII deaths among US civilians (merchant marine, civilians in territories) are in different record systems than military deaths
- âĒJapanese American soldiers (442nd Regimental Combat Team) face research complexity due to the intersection of military service and wartime incarceration records
Research Tips for World War II
The American Battle Monuments Commission (abmc.gov) is the essential starting point for overseas WWII burials â complete, free, and searchable
The National Archives at College Park, MD holds surviving WWII records. Many are accessible online through Fold3 and Ancestry
The 1940 Census (free on Ancestry and FamilySearch) is the last pre-war household snapshot â it captures the family as it was before WWII changed it
VA burial benefit records document domestic veteran burials. Contact the National Cemetery Scheduling Office for records of national cemetery burials
State bonus records and discharge certificates often survived where service records were destroyed in the 1973 fire
WWII unit histories and regimental records often name individuals and document casualties even when service records are lost
What Makes World War II Records Unique
Normandy American Cemetery
The Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France overlooks Omaha Beach and contains 9,387 American burials from the D-Day invasion and subsequent campaign. It is the most visited American military cemetery in the world. All burials are searchable at abmc.gov.
The 1940 Census as genealogical context
Released in 2012 after the standard 72-year privacy period, the 1940 Census is the last pre-WWII household snapshot. It shows family structures, occupations, and addresses just before the war â invaluable for understanding who your WWII ancestor was before they served.
442nd Regimental Combat Team
The Japanese American 442nd RCT became the most decorated unit for its size in US military history â while many of their families were held in internment camps at home. Their service records and casualty lists are in the National Archives, and a specific collection at the Go For Broke National Education Center documents this generation.
Famous Americans of the World War II
Most decorated American soldier of WWII
Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
Son of President TR, only general to land in first wave at D-Day, died shortly after
Normandy American Cemetery, France
World heavyweight boxing champion who served in WWII
Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
Bandleader lost over English Channel â no known grave
No known grave â commemorated at Cambridge American Cemetery, UK
Sample Records from the World War II
| Name | Birth | Death |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Sullivan | 1876 | 1944 |
| Bridget Sullivan | 1880 | 1952 |
| Nikola Tesla | 1856 | 1943 |
| Henry Ford | 1863 | 1947 |
| Mabel Whitfield | 1874 | 1951 |
| Maude Adams | 1872 | 1953 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are most American WWII soldiers buried?
American WWII dead are split between overseas ABMC cemeteries (93,000+ burials in 26 cemeteries worldwide) and domestic cemeteries where bodies were repatriated at family request. After the war, the government offered families the choice: overseas burial in a military cemetery or return of remains to the US. Approximately 60% chose repatriation.
How do I request military records for a WWII veteran?
Submit a Standard Form 180 (Request Pertaining to Military Records) to the National Personnel Records Center. Due to the 1973 fire, about 75% of WWII Army records are unavailable, but many can be partially reconstructed from alternate sources. VA records, discharge papers, and unit records often substitute for destroyed service records.
Is the 1940 Census useful for WWII genealogy?
Very much so. The 1940 Census (available free on Ancestry and FamilySearch) is the last pre-war household snapshot. It shows your ancestor's family, occupation, address, and circumstances just before the war. Comparing the 1940 Census household to the 1950 Census (available from 2022) shows the toll WWII took on a family.
How do I find a WWII soldier buried in an overseas American cemetery?
Go to abmc.gov and use the "Find a Burial" search. Enter the soldier's name and the system will tell you which ABMC cemetery, section, row, and grave number. ABMC cemeteries are permanent American soil â the US government owns the land in perpetuity. You can also request information about visiting specific graves.
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