
Frequently Asked Questions:
What should I know before contacting the Webmaster?
How do I find information on the
Internet about my ship, shipmates, the Navy etc..?
I don't
know anything about my father's Navy DE service. How do I find information?
Who were my father's shipmates. How
can I locate them?
I can't
find the information I need on the Internet. What do I do now?
I need a ship's deck
log or muster roll, but I need someone to do some extensive
searching for the specific
information that I need. I can't go to the Archives myself. Who
can
help me?
Where can I find a ship photos and/or ship information?
I plan to visit the Nation
Archives and look for US Navy information. Where do I look?
How do I request
Medal or Awards replacements?
Before contacting the
webmaster or DESA, please read this information.
As the webmaster, I receive a lot, and
I do mean a lot, of email requesting ship/shipmate information, ship photos or asking
where information can be located. I have developed this page to help those of you
with these requests. I wish I had time to help you find all the information you desire,
but I just do not have that many hours in my day. I volunteer my time as the DESA
webmaster. I hope the information on this page is helpful to you.
Things you should know:
The webmaster does not have individual ship information, ship
roosters or photos.
DESA headquarters has limited individual ship information
that is available only to members.
You must be a Member of DESA to
request information about shipmates who are DESA members.
The Member Email List,
for DESA members only, and Reunions pages are updated
frequently. Please do not request information from the webmaster. Check the Email List and
Reunions often.
There are invaluable resources on the Internet for locating
ship and shipmate information. Please conduct a search before contacting DESA or the
webmaster. Read below for instructions on how to conduct a successful search.
The information you are seeking may not be available on the
Internet or from DESA, but may be available elsewhere. Read below.
The information below is for locating
U.S. Navy DE and Crewmember information only, with emphasis on WWII military service.
If you need help locating information for other timeframes or other types of Navy
ships, please visit the US Navy website.
"How do I find
information on the Internet about my ship, shipmates, the Navy etc..?"
Resources
There are many excellent resources for
locating information on the Internet. This is a partial list of sites that I find
helpful. There are many more sites.
U.S. Navy website - this frequently asked questions page will answer many of
your questions.
U.S. Naval Historical Center - another frequently asked questions page that you want to
be sure to visit! There is a wealth of information here.
DANFS Online - One of the best sources of the
histories on the ships of the U.S. Navy is The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
(DANFS), an eight-volume reference set published by the Naval Historical Center. Webmaster
Andrew Toppan has made DANFS available online at his excellent Hazegray website.
DANFS is published, also, on the Naval Historical
Center website.
NavSource - The simple goal of NavSource Naval History is the preservation of naval history, in the
form of images and text, and to help former shipmates find each other by providing reunion
and contact information. Webmaster Paul Yarnall offer this fantastic resource and works
closely with Hazegray and DESAUSA.org.
Destroyers
Online - Striving to collect, preserve and display historical information about the
ships, their crews and the U.S. Navy. An excellent resource.
Tin
Can Sailors Association - Has a small but growing library of DE information including
photos. A great website and organization.
American
Battle Monuments Commission - If you want to learn about a veteran who died while in
service, visit this website. Go to the WW II or other war area and type the last
name then first name and middle initial WITHOUT punctuation. When the name comes up,
click on the GO box to the left of the listing.
U-Boat Archives - devoted mainly to
u-boat activity in WWII, but contains many photos and information about DEs.
Bulletin Boards are great places to
post a notice that you are seeking information. Some of the sites above offer bulletin
boards. Be sure to visit the DESA Bulletin Board and post a notice. Also, be sure to check the DESA Reunions web page and the DE Links page
To locate other resources, a
"search engine" should be used:
My favorite search engine is Google.
It is important that you search
"correctly". To make most search engines work in your favor you need to be
sure you enter your search information in the correct format. For example, if you are
searching for information about the USS Doyle C. Barnes DE 353 you need to type the
information in quotation marks " ", like this:
"USS Doyle C Barnes DE 353"
Why? This tells the search engine
that you want to find web pages that contain ALL the words you typed, not EACH word. If
you typed Doyle C. Barnes DE 353 without quotation marks, some search engine will return
page results that contain the word Doyle, the word Barnes, the word DE, the number 353,
but not ALL the words on the same page.
Also, if a search engine offers a
Advanced Search option, use it. This allows you to select options that will refine
your search and return the best results.
Be sure to read the Instructions for
the search engine you use. Some engines require the use of the word "and",
"or" , other words, to string words together. These engines do not allow
you to put your search terms in quotations marks, as in the above example.
AOL users need to use another search
engine in addition to the one provided by AOL. The AOL search engine is not known for
being the best.

"I don't know
anything about my father's Navy DE service. I need info"
"Who were my father's shipmates. How can I locate them?"
"I can't find the information I need on the Internet. What do I do now?"
To answer these and
similar questions, you need to obtain information about the DE or the individual sailor.
Where and How To Locate
Information
Personnel (service)
Records
These instructions are for the records
of a sailor discharged, deceased or retired.
Military personnel
records are primarily administrative records and can contain information
such as:
Enlistment/appointment
Duty stations and assignments
Training, qualifications, performance
Awards and medals
Disciplinary actions
Insurance
Emergency data
Administrative remarks
Separation/discharge/retirement (including DD Form 214, Report of Separation,
or equivalent)
Other personnel actions
A DD Form 214, Report of Separation is generally issued when a service member performs active duty or at least
90 consecutive days of active duty training. The Report of Separation
contains information normally needed to verify military service for
benefits, retirement, employment, and membership in veterans' organizations.
Information shown on the Report of Separation may include the service
member's:
Date and place of entry into active duty
Home address at time of entry
Date and place of release from active duty
Home address after separation
Last duty assignment and rank
Military job specialty
Military education
Decorations, medals, badges, citations, and campaign awards
Total creditable service
Foreign service credited
Separation information (type of separation, character of service, authority
and reason for separation, separation and reenlistment eligibility codes)
The report of separation
form issued in most recent years is the DD Form 214, Certificate of Release
or Discharge from Active Duty. Before January 1, 1950, several
similar forms were used by the military services, including the WD AGO 53,
WD AGO 55, WD AGO 53-55, NAVPERS 553, NAVMC 78PD, and the NAVCG 553.
However, when requesting this information for a WWII DE sailor, you should
use the term "DD 214" when you request information because this is the
generic term.
NOTE: By law, the full personnel record can
only be released to the serviceman, or if that individual is deceased, his next of kin.
Limited information is releasable to the general public without the consent
of the veteran or the next-of-kin.
The Process
Before you begin, be sure
you have the following REQUIRED Information:
* The veteran's complete
name used while in service
* Service number If you do not know the
service number, click here
* Social security number If you do not know the number,
contact your local SS office for assistance.
* Branch of service
* Dates of service
* Date and place of birth
* All requests must be signed and dated by the veteran or next-of-kin if the
veteran is deceased.
*For officers who served from 1890 to 1967, the 4 or 6-digit serial number is required!
You can begin the request
process online. Although you initiate the request online, you must print the
completed form and mail or FAX it within 20 days. Go here to fill out the online request form. Remember, the above
noted information is REQUIRED.
If the online request
form does not work (AOL, Netscape and WebTV users may experience problems)
or if you prefer to do things the old fashion way, download a copy of the form and mail your request. Follow the
instructions carefully! Remember, the above noted information is
REQUIRED.
For
more information, visit there web page: The National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records (NPRC-MPR)
Medical Records
These instructions are for the records
of a sailor discharged, deceased or retired between 1912 and 31 January 1994.
Medical records can provide valuable
information about injuries sustained or death information and dates.
Health records cover outpatient,
dental, and mental health treatment which a former member received while in
the military service. Health record documents include induction and
separation physical examinations, and routine medical care (doctor/dental
visits, lab tests, etc.) when the patient was not admitted to a hospital.
In comparison, clinical (hospital inpatient) records are NOT filed with the health records but are generally
retired to NPRC (MPR) by the hospital or facility which created them.
NOTE: By law, medical records can only
be released to the serviceman, or if that individual is deceased, his next of kin. Also,
the request must be submitted in writing. The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 USC 552a) and DOD
directives require a written request, signed and dated.
To obtain a medical
record, the procedure and required information is the same as for obtaining
personel (service) records, above.
For
more information, visit there web page: The National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records (NPRC-MPR)
Ship's Muster Rolls
A muster roll contains the names of all
the sailors aboard the ship at a given time. These rolls were submitted quarterly,
with monthly updates of personnel changes. The roll contains the crewmember's name,
rank/rating, and service number.
To obtain muster rolls from 1939 to
1966, send a written request with the ship's name and hull number and dates of interest.
Submit the request to:
National Archives
Archives II (Two)
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001
(301) 713-7250
Ship's Deck Logs
A deck log is a daily chronology of
certain events for administrative and legal purposes. Deck logs are not narrative and do
not describe or explain a ship's operations.
Generally, these events were
included in the log. This is a partial list: Absentees, Basic information about
Accidents/Injuries/Deaths and if medical treatment was required, Combat Actions, Incidents
at Sea, Movement Orders, Sightings, Sea Conditions, Bearings.
What is NOT in a deck log: Day-to-day
assignments of individual crewmembers, detailed medical treatment for injuries or other
medical matters such as visits to sick bay or injuries not suffered on board ship.
Also, a deck log is NOT a "Captain's Log" of daily written activities. There is
no such thing in the US Navy.
By using the deck logs, a list of
officers can be obtained. Combined with a Muster Roll, a crewlist crew can be compiled.
A deck log was usually 2 pages per day,
60 pages per month/700 pages a year. Some of the logs are now on microfiche. The remaining logs are the original pages placed in binders. The
National Archives does not have the staff to sift through thousands of pages or stacks of microfiche
to respond to your request. Therefore, you must narrow your written request
for a search to a particular time and/or place.
You can visit the archive and conduct a
deck log search. You must arrange an appointment at least two weeks in advance
specifying the ship and time period you wish to search.
Note: There may be a fee
associated with your request that must be paid in advance.
To obtain deck logs from 1941 to 1969,
send a written request to:
National Archives
Archives II (Two)
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001
(301) 713-7250

"I need a ship's deck
log or muster roll, but I need someone to do some extensive searching for the specific
information that I need. I can't go to the Archives myself. Who can help me?"
As stated above,
personnel at the Archives can only do specific research and limited
photocopying for you. They simply don't have the personnel to do extensive
research for you. So, if you do not know the exact timeframe or other
specific information, or just want a whole lot more information, you may
contact the Naval Historical Foundation's Research Service for help.
Please note there is a charge for this service.
For a preliminary consultation and
current rates call (202) 678-4311 or send email to: NHFHistSvc@aol.com
You can also write to them at:
The Naval Historical Foundation's Historical Services
1306 Dahlgren Avenue, SE
Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5055

Ship Photos And/Or Other Research
US Navy
Institute has one of the world's largest
private collections of naval and maritime photography. The majority of the images in the
collection are of vessels, however, photos of aircraft, individuals, combat, personnel,
and weapons are also available. Any of the photographs in the collection which are not
copyrighted are available for purchase.
Currently, there is no list of the more than 450,000 black-and-white images which contain
more than 9,000 Naval Ships.
Photographic prints are available in sizes from 8X10 to 16X20 or larger (depending on
negative quality). Members of the U.S. Naval Institute receive a twenty percent (20%)
discount. It takes four to six weeks to process an order.
U.S. Naval Institute
Photo Sales Service
291 Wood Rd.
Annapolis, MD 21402-5034
Phone (410) 295-1022
Fax (410) 269-7940
National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA) has ship photos available for a fee. NARA uses private
contractors who make copies of these photos for you. You pay the private contractor
to locate and reproduce the photo. The cost varies. Visit the website for more information
or you can submit your request in writing to:
National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA)
Still Picture Branch
8601 Adelphi Rd.
College Park, MD 20740-6001
Phone (301) 713-6625 ext. 234
Naval
Historical Foundation (NHF), a non-profit organization, offers reproductions of historic photography, research services, and document reproduction for records, artifacts,
publications, photographs and other items in the collections of both the Foundation and the Naval Historical Center. This page
of the website provides more information and notes the costs
of services.
Naval Historical Foundation
Washington Navy Yard
1306 Dahlgren Ave SE
Washington, DC 20374-5055
Phone (202) 678-4311
There are other private resources for obtaining/purchasing
photos. Please use a search engine to locate these resources.

"I plan to visit the
Nation Archives and look for US Navy information. Where do I look?"
US Navy Information At The
National Archives
U.S. Navy records were transferred from
the Navy Historical Center in Washington D.C. to the U.S. National Archives at College
Park, Maryland in 1996. Materials at the archives are separated into Record Groups.
US Navy
records from World War II are found in Record Group 38.
Photographs
Photographs are viewed on the fifth floor of the Archives. There are over 18,000
photographs in Record Group 38. Finding aides for the Navy collection consist of 3" X
5" index cards with subjects listed alphabetically. Each photograph is numbered.
Navy photographs are numbered 80 G XXXXXX with the X's numbers between 1 and 999,999.
There is a small Coast Guard collection with numbered 26 G XXXX.
Most photographs in Record Group 38 are 8" X 1 0" black and white prints mounted
on 11" X 14" cardboard. A small number of photographs are found in the textual
records. A few of the photographs, for example photographs taken from POWs, are found in
the Textual Records section of the Archive stored along with the written records they
depict.
Textual Records
Textual records are viewed on the second floor of the Archives. Finding aides for Record
Group 38 consist of lists of the contents of various boxes of records. Records are grouped
by type and in some cases by the departments and divisions of the Naval staff. For
example, Action Reports listed by the names of ships and aircraft squadrons, records and
materials collected from survivors of sunken U-boats and amassed during the interrogation
of survivors by the Office of Naval Intelligence, Various records of the U.S. Fleets, and
records and photographs associated with certain Incidents.
Visit the NARA
website for hours of operation and visitor information.

To Receive Medals or Awards or to
request
Replacements:
Military Awards and Decorations
Requests for the issuance or replacement of
US Navy service medals,
decorations and awards is directed to the Bureau of Naval Personnel.
You must have a
copy of the veterans DD 214 or other official separation document to place a
request.
If you have a copy of the DD 214, go here and
download Form SF-180. Print the form, complete the information and
submit it along with the DD 214 to:
Bureau of Naval Personnel
Liaison Office Room 5409
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
If you do not have a copy of the veterans DD 214 and/or other separation
documents, you will first need to obtain this information from the National
Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, MO. You can request this information
online, here. Although you initiate the request online, you must print the
form and within 20 days mail to:
National Personnel
Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
Phone: 314-801-0800
or FAX to:
314-801-9195
Once you have a copy of
the DD 214, follow the above instructions.
Where to write in case
of a problem or an appeal only:
Chief of Naval Operations
(OPNAV 09B33)
Awards & Special Projects
Washington, DC 20350-2000

Help!
I do not know the service number or rating. What do I do?
Remain calm. You simply have to
backtrack a little to obtain the service number and rating. All is not lost
if you at least know the name of the DE and a date the sailor was aboard the ship. For
example, if your family member served aboard the USS Whitman during WWII and you know he
was in the Pacific in 1944, it's pretty safe to request a copy of the Whitman
Muster
Roll. This roll will note the sailor's service number. Scroll up this page a few
lines until you see Ship's Muster Rolls and Deck Logs for instructions on obtaining these
records.
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