I have more of a question than a story which I hope somebody can answer. My father was a corporal in the 4th marine division his name is William G Kraemer and died in 1987 and thru the years after his death i always intended to make a flag box memorial out of his burial flag but always had things to do. Between working and family .I finally retired and set up a little wood shop and intend that to be my first order of business as I gathered the things I needed I noticed I did not have his Purple Heart from when he was wounded on the first day of fighting on Iwo Jima . I called my older brother and he informed me that Our dad never received the medal. We reminisced about the old man and both realized that he never spoke about his time in the marines or the battles he was in the only two things I remembered him saying to me were when both he and myself were eating lunch in the extreme heat onetime I had the audacity to complain and he told me to shut up and if I would feel better if I had to eat lunch by a pile of dead japs .the other time was I cut myself bad and needed stitches and me that when they were loading him on to the Amtrak after he was wounded the guy next to him was squirting blood out of 2 bullet holes in his chest so bad that he stuck his 2 fingers deep in the holes and the bleeding stopped. My brothers only story was that he got in bad trouble one time after dad told him not to do what he got in trouble for that he told him he’d gouge out his eyes and skull f—- him if he got in trouble like that again and I never heard him use that language at anybody ever.So getting back to the question does anybody out there know how I can get his Purple Heart. I have his discharge papers and an article in the local paper about him being wounded. Thx to all our brave vets out there. Ron
Hi Ron, to request actual replacement engraved DOD medals start with the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. The process can actually be started on line. After they verify the award they then will forward the request to the Medals and Awards Branch at Headquarters USMC in Washington D.C. You will need to be very patient it might take a while. It is a good thing that you are doing. You also might find that your Father has earned other awards as well. Good Luck in your quest to honor your Dad. SEMPER FI! Harry 1371
Not sure if they ca help, try the MCRD Meseum at San Diego,they have historians there and have helped me in the past. Jeff Smith, 1974-1980
Try the records department in St. Louis. If they can’t help, they can point you in the right direction.
Chances are his records at St. Louis, like those of thousands of other WWII may have burned up in a large fire that occurred several years ago.
The fastest way to obtain any records and any awards & decorations he earned is to write to your federal congressman and/or senator. Send any information you have, name/rank/serial number would be essential. They usually have veterans representatives in staff that will bird dog his records and awards for you. When found, don’t be surprised if your representative or senator presents your fathers awards to you.
It may take a little time but it is worth the wait. My brothers and I asked for help in determining and obtaining my fathers awards from his service during the battle of Okinawa during WWII.
Good luck and Semper Fi’ to your Farher’s service on Iwo.
There were no Marine or Navy records destroyed in the 1973 fire, only records damaged during the fire were Army, Army Air Corps and Air Force and only if the discharge date was prior to 1957, and 80% of those records were recovered. Does not matter who helps you still have to go through NPRC . Side note, if any Marine ever tells you his records were lost in “The Fire” he is not being honest. Nick 0311
Address Request on update of ribbons and medals
Navy Personnel Command, (PERs-312-D2)
900 Page Avenue, Room 5409
St. Louis, MO 63132
Give them as much information as you can on where you’ve served, your service number, and dates. You’ll be pleasantly surprised. Be patient, sometimes it takes 4 to 6 months to get a reply. Thanks for letting me add to correct this issue.
Check out this site. I think you can get his records and medals through them:
https://www.va.gov/records/get-military-service-records/
I whimpered after “skull fuck etc.” Your father was a great man.
Also, I am not sure how the military handled it in the 1940’s but if a DD214 exist should list the awards your father received. Other wise it is a bit of a detective puzzle. If you know the battles and units he was in it is easier to put together a story. There are personal awards, like the purple heart but there are also unit and other awards you might want to look for. Any rate your Dad falls into the Hero category for even surviving Iwo Jima. When he was running through the black sand I was toddling around in diapers. My generation thanks his generation for having the courage to be there.
You may also try your Marine liaison through you local Marine Corps league they may be able to help or at least point you in the right direction. Semper Fi good luck
Your local Veteran Services Officer may be able to help. He can read the red tape that’s required. I went to Navy personnel command and the VET Service officer. Good luck and Semper Fi.
I am late in replying and see that several good suggestions were given. Before I provide the URL link that I suggest checking out, allow me to share a very short story. I believe I have been sitting in your seat these past couple of years. My Dad passed this last April amid all this Global Pandemic we are now fighting. He was 98. I am glad in some ways he found a way to skip out on much of this as many his age and some much younger have either been mortally hit or outright KIA by this damn little virus. Dad served in the U.S. Army in the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater of Operations as a High-Speed Radio Specialist (TSgt) at Headquarters Kunming China under General Stillwell during WWII. A couple of years ago a local university archivist came and spent several days with Dad recording his WWII stories and experiences. My two brothers and I have yet to finish listening to all the stories Dad had provided them. The one story that stood out for me occurred on a very early Sunday morning at Headquarters and just before daybreak. As told, the Officer-on-Duty (OOD) came running into the COM Room yelling and screaming looking for someone or anyone who could get an urgent message out to the field. The problem the OOD was having was that most of the operators and staff had been in the city that Saturday night and early Sunday morning for some hard-earned Liberty Call. In fact, many of the men had literally just staggered back to their quarters and hit the rack. The one lone operator on duty that morning was a Rookie Corporal who had just arrived that week and was not yet confident with all the equipment and the protocols. The OOD decides to wake the Colonel to get instructions on how to proceed. The Colonel could be heard on the phone saying to the OOD, “….wake up TSgt BRIDGES! That man can operate and send messages faster and more accurately than most of the men even if he “is” drunk. Now, go get his ass out of the rack and get that message sent!” Based on the big grin Dad would always have on his face telling this particular story, I am confident and quite certain….Message Sent!
DBridges
MARDET, USS Ranger
3rd Bat, 1st MARDIV
Wpns CO, LAR-AAV, MTNDIV
URL Link – https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/benefits_book/benefits_chap15.asp
If all else fails, contact your local congressman. He/she can cut through red tape.
One way to get what you are looking for is to go to the Archives. https://www.va.gov/records/get-military-service-records/
This is where all the files are kept. If you need anymore help please feel free to contact me At my email address or thru the Marine Corps League on Facebook
Sorry for your loss. Semper Fidelis
I work with a local Veteran Court project and we frequently need to obtain expedited copies of the DD214 or the service records to show the nexus of the charged offense to military service.
While all the resources suggested here are good, most of the returns to individual requests are slower than a herd of turtles in a tub of peanut butter. Use your local Veteran Service Officer who can help prepare the proper forms and submit them under their office letterhead.
If you need WWII medals [e.g., Purple Heart, WWII Victory and Pacific Theater] send me an email at Old782Gear@aol.com …. I have several I’ll be happy to provide for the display and you can replace them later. I usually have medals from WWII, Korea and Vietnam that are rescued from garage & estate sales.
Footnote: If you can locate a Michael’s Craft Supply, they often have the flag cases on sale where you can buy two for about $60. total.
My dad also served in the USMC during the Korean War and I joined before Desert Storm . I hate to say it but the great majority of USMC Veterans I’ve come across aren’t the most honest bunch . When you start digging into their service records you might not like what you find ! So , please keep that in mind , before you start digging into your dad’s record .
I resent your assertion that a “Great Majority ” of Marines are dishonest! There are some, as are shown on this site, but not a majority! Harry 1371
One that comes to mind is Sen. Richard Blumenthol who lied about his service in Vietnam.
Everything that i have read all leads back to the first comment, you need the NPRC ! The military branches do not store records, thus the NPRC. The most important thing is that there must be clear and undisputed evidence of the award. Kurt does make a point about what one might find. During WW-2 the DD-214 is on the reverse side of the discharge. If the award of the Purple Heart is not shown on it, then it will get complicated. I have run across Nam vets that were wounded and treated by a Corpsman in the field but the treatment was never entered into their medical record and never received the award, and years later wanted it but were denied because of the lack of evidence. Bill 0331
Thank all the vets for your help and suggestions in helping me find out how to get my fathers Purple Heart . Thanks again for your service in keeping all of us free .Ron