Hi from Iowa

[lefty]

Hi, I'm recently new here and already have gleaned some information from this site. I am particularly interested in the 41st Division's (186th Regiment)jungle warfare in New Guinea and also in Ft. McClellan, AL. So if you have anything to share on those topics it would be welcomed!
Thanks,
lefty

[PzJgr]

Howdy Lefty. Welcome to the forum. Here is a link to the Divisions association

41st Division Homepage

It's a start

[Stefan]

Welcome aboard! Jungle warfare is something I have studiously avoided but enjoy t forum!

[bigfun]

Welcome lefty!!
you should check out the Hollandia thread, very interesting!! Might be right up your alley!!

[JCFalkenbergIII]

Hello again Lefty. Did you check out the links I posted ?

[Slipdigit]

Howdy Lefty, good to meetcha.

[lefty]

Yes, JC, I did check out those sites and found them interesting. I had seen a couple of them before. You were also right on with the patch ID. What do you know about lots of WWII records being destroyed in a fire in Chicago in the 70's?
Lefty

[JCFalkenbergIII]

Originally Posted by lefty

Yes, JC, I did check out those sites and found them interesting. I had seen a couple of them before. You were also right on with the patch ID. What do you know about lots of WWII records being destroyed in a fire in Chicago in the 70's?
Lefty

Yes I have Lefty . It is mentioned here .
Where to Write for 20th Century Military Personnel Records (1917-present)

The National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records (NPRC-MPR) is the repository of millions of military personnel, health, and medical records of discharged and deceased veterans of all services during the 20th century. NPRC (MPR) also stores medical treatment records of retirees from all services, as well as records for dependent and other persons treated at naval medical facilities. Information from the records is made available upon written request (with signature and date) to the extent allowed by law. Records relating to the following groups of military personnel are at the National Personnel Records Center, 9700 Page Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63132-5100. They accept requests for information, using Standard Form 180, Request Pertaining to Military Records. The do not respond to telephone or e-mail requests. This form is also used to request military awards and decorations.

• U.S. Army officers and enlisted personnel completely separated after 1956.
• U.S. Air Force officers and enlisted men completely separated after 1956.
• U.S. Navy officers completely separated after 1902 and enlisted men completely separated after 1885.
• U.S. Coast Guard officers completely separated after 1928 and enlisted personnel separated after 1914.

On July 12, 1973, a disastrous fire at NPRC (MPR) destroyed approximately 16-18 million Official Military Personnel Files. No duplicate copies of the records that were destroyed in the fire were maintained, nor was a microfilm copy ever produced. There were no indexes created prior to the fire. In addition, millions of documents had been lent to the Department of Veterans Affairs before the fire occurred. Therefore, a complete listing of the records that were lost is not available. There also may be privacy considerations which will determine who can obtain copies of personnel records making recent records (less than approximately 70 years) unavailable to researchers who are not direct descendants.

To determine if an individual has ever received veterans benefits, an indication of military service, contact the Veterans Administration Benefits Section at 1-800-827-1000.
For World War I draft cards, write National Archives Records Center, Southeast Branch, 1557 St. Joseph Avenue, East Point, GA 30344.

[Skipper]

Welcome on board Lefty. I'm sure you"ll be interested in some of the threads we have about the Pacific war.

[cruachan]

Hi

From Cruachan

[SouthWestPacificVet]

Pleased to meet you Lefty,

I spent quite some time with the 41st, Salamaua, Hollandia, Aitape, Wakde, and Biak. Did you have a Father or family member over there?

Welcome,

[Skipper]

Jack do you have any memories from the Battle of the Java sea, or was that far away from your assignment? I read it was quite a battle.

[SouthWestPacificVet]

Hello Skip,

Yes I do, we listened to some of it on a command car's transmitter set. I also heard quite a bit of the battle of the coral sea in the same manner in a communications tent.

[Skipper]

Cool, so even in the middle of the jungle you managed to get some decent news from other areas.Another thing/ Where did you stay when you landed at the PhilipInes? Did you have barracks, tents or were you billeted in towns, villages or just on the floor or a hammack ?

[SouthWestPacificVet]

Skip,

When you mention Battle of the Java sea, that was early in the war, during my time at Darwin, we slept in tents as I remember. Sleeping on the ground in a hole, or sitting up with your back to a tree trunk wrapped in poncho was the norm on most of those Islands.

A narrow bunk on a navy transport was like a stateroom on the queen Mary, after living in the rain, mud, and swamps.

Lefty, I'm sorry, Skip and I are muscling in on your post.

[Skipper]

You're right Jack, I shall return to the Hollandia post for my next question. It was also an appetizer for Lefty who may be interested.

[lefty]

Jack,
My dad was in New Guinea. I will post on your Hollandia thread later tonight when I have a bit more time.
Thanks for the shout!
Lefty