Anyone have any good (easy) resources to look up older military records?

We are working on a tribute for my FIL and it appears he was in the 187th Airborn group but there is also some reference in his things to a group called the Red Devils?

I have his ID number and know he was in Japan in the 50's but that is about it

Thanks!

http://www.dd214.us/methods.html

I hope you don’t need anything in a hurry.

It's still an active unit, out of Ft. Campbell, KY I think.

https://rakkasan.net is one resource for the 187th Airborne.

quote:

Originally posted by JALLEN:
http://www.dd214.us/methods.html

I hope you don’t need anything in a hurry.

Thanks and there is no rush, I was on that site earlier and it was buggy on both Chrome and Safari but I will try later

This will take some time once you send in the request:

https://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel

This brings up a question about my Dad I have.

He almost never said anything about his service other than 2 or 3 stories.
I'm ashamed to say I don't even know which branch he was in.

He had related that after boot camp he was sent to California for "further training" he never elaborated on what that was.

He was lucky, he was headed for Japan when they dropped the bombs that ended the war. I believe he then spent his tour as part of the occupation force.

He held a lifelong dislike of the Japanese people. Once remarking he would never set foot in a local arena because a Japanese owned company donated a large part of the funds to build it.

The older I get the more curious I get about his service. I could supply his SS#, DOB, Full name, Death Certificate and that he was "in" during Aug 1945 time frame but that's about it.

Would that be enough info to get his record?

And then, giving his reluctance to talk about it should I, or should I just adknowledge he did his due and leave it at that?

Your Dad's records along with mine were probably lost in the fire.
I haven't checked out trying to get my Dad's but maybe it's somewhere to start?

I'm content knowing he was in the Philippines during WWII and did what he could. He never talked much about it and I didn't press it once I was no longer a little kid.

Archives.gov


ETA - my link leads to the same place as jallen posted once I clicked on it...

The 187 infantry regiment was in the Pacific for WWII. It's now the 3D Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division. As mentioned above there is a very active Rakassan association in the FT Campbell area. They also have an active facebook and web presence.

The phrase "Red Devils" is liked to the 504 Parachute Infantry Regiment. First and Second BN are part of 1st Brigade 82D Airborne.

I suspect you'll find a pair of jump wings in your FIL's things.

You could also check to see if he put his DD214 on file with county records. Some folks do it when they get out and if he did It would be easier to get then going through DoD. You should also contact the VA and maybe one of the local veterans organizations can help.