Looking for WWII Marine Records

[MarineBound]

Good Morning to you all.

I come from a very strong military family, and I have currently decided to try and find old records and such from the veterans in my family. I am focusing on my great grandfather who served in World War 2. Before he passed away, he used to tell his stories about when he was running up Mt. Suribachi, and stories that are very motivating and inspiring. But I was about 4 years old at the time. So I didn't really understand them at the time, but my grandma still tells me them today. I have googled his name, and I have come up with nothing. It is also a problem because when he enlisted, he had to use a fake name. His real name was CA Tolliver. He had no middle name, and so when he enlisted, he enlisted with the name of Matthew James Tolliver. My grandmother (His daughter) was unsure of his rank, but she knows that it was either Cpl. or Sgt. He enlisted in 1940 and when he returned home from Iwo Jima, he got out of the Marines which that was in 1944. My grandma said that he spent time in California, which I figured he was at Twenty-Nine Palms, not sure if I am correct or not. I know that he attend Bootcamp at Parris Island because he was from Kentucky, east of the Mississippi. I also believe that he was infantry? Not too sure, but from the description my grandma gave me it sounded like infantry. I have his EGA, as well as his lapel ribbons, and I would love to get my hands on his records to have them as well. At least to know his platoon number, and regiment number as well. So if any of you know any websites that offer records from World War 2, please let me know. (I have already tried ancestry.com, and nothing came up.) Once again I am looking for:

James Matthew Tolliver
CPL/SGT
Served 1940-1944
Fought in Iwo Jima
Died in 1997

So thank you for your time and help.

Have a great day.
-Ciara Wood

[yanacek]

Ciara: You can request a copy of his military records by following the instructions provided at the link: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/mil...e-records.html

I'm sure once you get the records, you'll find them interesting. I doubt that your grandfather was at Twentynine Palms during WW-II. During that era, it was an Army base at first, and was then turned over to the Navy. I don't think it became a Marine base until sometime during the Korean thing.

[USNAviator]

James Matthew Tolliver
CPL/SGT
Served 1940-1944
Fought in Iwo Jima
Died in 1997

Are you sure about those service dates? The only reason I'm asking is because the Battle of Iwo Jima was fought between mid February till near the end of March in 1945

You'll also need his Social Security number or Enlisted Serial Number in order to access his records through the Archives

Good luck to you

[yanacek]

Are you sure about those service dates? The only reason I'm asking is because the Battle of Iwo Jima was fought between mid February till near the end of March in 1945

Good catch on that date--I did not notice that. Very unlikely he was discharged in 44 anyway since all enlistments were extended through the duration of the war.

[awbrown1462]

you will also need to check the dates of his service that battle The Battle of Iwo Jima (February 19 – March 26, 1945),

[DanM]

Good catch on that date--I did not notice that. Very unlikely he was discharged in 44 anyway since all enlistments were extended through the duration of the war.

There were many who were discharged before the end of the war for a variety of reasons.

[yanacek]

There were many who were discharged before the end of the war for a variety of reasons.

Really DanM? I did not know that. I suppose if you were unfit for duty due to injuries or some other reason. What other reasons are you aware of?

[DanM]

Really DanM? I did not know that. I suppose if you were unfit for duty due to injuries or some other reason. What other reasons are you aware of?

From my grandfather's Honorable Discharge paper "reason of being past 38 years of age under provisions of Section 2,Circular #39,W.D./43 ,to accept employment in an essential war industry." 27 Feb.1943 at the age of 46 years.

From what I understand so many men volunteered after Pearl Harbor the aviation plants in Kansas had a lot of untrained women and no one with experience to train them to build aircraft.

[USNAviator]

Good catch on that date--I did not notice that. Very unlikely he was discharged in 44 anyway since all enlistments were extended through the duration of the war.

No problem on the dates, had to think about it myself. Yes I believe you are correct, for the duration plus six months were the terms. Was I correct re. the SSN or the Serial Number? I don't believe SSN's were used at least until the 60's or perhaps the 50's

Clara;

If you're reading this take heart. You'll find the info you'll want but it may awhile.

[bucksgted]

No problem on the dates, had to think about it myself. Yes I believe you are correct, for the duration plus six months were the terms. Was I correct re. the SSN or the Serial Number? I don't believe SSN's were used at least until the 60's or perhaps the 50's

Clara;

If you're reading this take heart. You'll find the info you'll want but it may awhile.

Trucks and rifles have serial numbers - - we had service numbers. LMAO Service numbers where still in use when I left active duty on 19 FEB 60.

[USNAviator]

From my grandfather's Honorable Discharge paper "reason of being past 38 years of age under provisions of Section 2,Circular #39,W.D./43 ,to accept employment in an essential war industry." 27 Feb.1943 at the age of 46 years.

From what I understand so many men volunteered after Pearl Harbor the aviation plants in Kansas had a lot of untrained women and no one with experience to train them to build aircraft.

Good point DanM! May I ask, were you able to access your grand-fathers DD-214? And if so, did you use his SSN?

[USNAviator]

Trucks and rifles have serial numbers - - we had service numbers. LMAO Service numbers where still in use when I left active duty on 19 FEB 60.

Thanks Ed

Sitting red faced here. Must have been thinking of those old WW2 movies "only give them your name,rank and serial number"

Did find this

Service Number (SN) and Social Security Number (SSN)

Service numbers and social security numbers are used at NPRC (MPR) as part of the identifiers used to store and locate records.
Social Security Number (SSN). Always include the veteran's social security number on a request.
Service Number (SN). Also include the veteran's service number on a request if service was during the period when service numbers were assigned as personal identifiers. The military services discontinued using the service number as an identifier and began using the social security number on the following dates:

Branch of Service	Date of Changeover
Army and Air Force	July 1, 1969
Navy and Marine Corps	January 1, 1972
Coast Guard	October 1, 1974

"NARA ensures, for the Citizen and the Public Servant, for the President and the Congress and the Courts, ready access to essential evidence."

[bucksgted]

Thanks Ed

Sitting red faced here. Must have been thinking of those old WW2 movies "only give them your name,rank and serial number"

Did find this

Service Number (SN) and Social Security Number (SSN)

Service numbers and social security numbers are used at NPRC (MPR) as part of the identifiers used to store and locate records.
Social Security Number (SSN). Always include the veteran's social security number on a request.
Service Number (SN). Also include the veteran's service number on a request if service was during the period when service numbers were assigned as personal identifiers. The military services discontinued using the service number as an identifier and began using the social security number on the following dates:

Branch of Service	Date of Changeover
Army and Air Force	July 1, 1969
Navy and Marine Corps	January 1, 1972
Coast Guard	October 1, 1974

"NARA ensures, for the Citizen and the Public Servant, for the President and the Congress and the Courts, ready access to essential evidence."

Dan, twas just pulling your chain. Didn't mean to cause any "red faces".

[USNAviator]

Dan, twas just pulling your chain. Didn't mean to cause any "red faces".

Understood Ed, was cursing myself for being such a dumb$ss some times. It's this whole getting older thing

Have a great one

[DanM]

I have a copy of his Discharge paper, not a DD-214.It is a W.D.,A.G.O.Form No. 55,April 30,1941

I believe what is needed is on the archives.gov site.The Army started using SSN as serial numbers in 1965.