US Military Casualty Database

[Steve Campbell]

I have a question about online databases. I often search local cemeteries looking for headstones honouring local veterans, mostly from The Royal Newfoundland Regiment who were killed in action in WW1. I do this mostly in St. John's or in other parts of the island. I find many of these inscriptions, although none of the individuals are buried there. They are either buried in Europe or thier bodies were never recovered from the battlefield. These would be family headstones with a memorial inscription to the fallen soldier. I usually take a picture, and then do some research, using some local books and the internet as sources. Here in Canada we have a number of sources online, where you can type in name, date of death etc, and often get some information such as the specific battle they were killed in, Unit information, hometown, parents names, burial site etc.

Yesterday, I came across a headstone for a local individual who was said to have been killed in action in WW1 while serving with the US Infantry in 1918. The inscription is a little worn, but I have a name. Is there any type of online source for US Army casualties available where I may get some additional information on this soldier?

[Jean-Loup]

You can start with the "Battleflied monuments comminssion" website. 70% of WWII casualties were brought back to the US, so are not listed. I am not sure what the situation was for WWI US troops. In any case, chances are you will find your man.

JL

[Steve Campbell]

You can start with the "Battleflied monuments comminssion" website. 70% of WWII casualties were brought back to the US, so are not listed. I am not sure what the situation was for WWI US troops. In any case, chances are you will find your man.

JL

Thanks! I found that site earlier and recieved no search results. I went back to it after your suggestion, entered just the last name and came up with some information. It corresponds to the date of death on the headstone. Thanks for the help! He's buried in France. I wonder what the connection to Newfoundland is. He entered service from Oregon it says. That's a long way from here.

[Jean-Loup]

One soldier born in Newfoudland was killed near where I live in France, as a member of the US army. He moved to the US in his childhood and aced his entry exams at West Point.
The only way to find the answer to your question is to try to contact relatives of the soldier, etc.

JL

[Steve Campbell]

One soldier born in Newfoudland was killed near where I live in France, as a member of the US army. He moved to the US in his childhood and aced his entry exams at West Point.
The only way to find the answer to your question is to try to contact relatives of the soldier, etc.

JL

I'm going to see if I can find some information on what action his unit may have been involved with on November 5, 1918 and take it from there. Not sure if I'll be able to rely on the familiy, as there isn't much information on the headstone about other family members and it was almost 100 years ago. The headstone was grown over and not tended to. Many of the new generation do not know or care about such things. It's pretty sad when you find these monuments forgotten about, especially in the middle of the city.

[Steve Campbell]

One soldier born in Newfoudland was killed near where I live in France, as a member of the US army. He moved to the US in his childhood and aced his entry exams at West Point.
The only way to find the answer to your question is to try to contact relatives of the soldier, etc.

JL

Do you have the name of this particular soldier?

[Jean-Loup]

Yes, but he was a WWII soldier, send me a PM if you want to know his name.
Even if the family do not remember him, there may be period newspaper articles or other period written documents that can be very helpful. 100 years is easy work for genealogists.