My mother just called me and asked if I had any information on her father's WWII Service. All I can recall is what he told me when I was a kid.

His info:

Michael Thomas Farina
Born 1916 Haverhill, MA.
Served as a Carpenter in the Navy in WWII
Was stationed at Pearl Harbor previous to the attack
Spent time near The Galapagos Islands and also was in Europe during the war. He was also stationed In Pennsylvania and Newport, RI at times.
He married my grandmother Margaret in 1942 in Springfield, MA, where he grew up.

He died in 1998 Springfield, MA.

Is there any online database which might help me find more detailed information about his service or do I have to write away for records.

Thanks so much!

OMG! On a hunch I tried footnote (the free search function) and found a reference to my grandfather!! These are Pear Harbor muster rools, and he is listed in at least a dozen of them, here is one extract:


Farina, Michael; Page 9; 31-Jul-1941; Report of Changes; 1941; Pennsylvania (BB-38); Pearl Harbor Muster Rolls

Full Name:
Farina, Michael
Publication Title:
Pearl Harbor Muster Rolls
Content Source:
NARA (Bureau of Navy Personnel)
Ship Name:
Pennsylvania
Ship Type:
BB
Hull Number:
38
Ship Type Full:
Battleship
Year:
1941
Document Type:
Report of Changes
Month:
July
Day:
31
Page Number:
9
Enlistment Year:
1940
Enlistment Place:
Springfield

Does anyone have footnote????

Thanks Charlie! I actually was so exited I joined for a trial. Here is what I learned about my grandfather from the Footnote Pearl Harbor records:

Arrived Pearl Harbor from Newport, RI 27 Dec 1940 status: AS
February 21, 1941 he was promoted to status: Sea2c
July 31, 1941 he was promoted from status S2c to S1c

The other records do not say much except that he was on board the S.S. Pennsylvania the whole time and that his S# was 212-60-52 whatever that means. (I assume it was sort of like a SS# for the Navy)

I wish I could find more, I called my mom and she is excited.

JamesBianco wrote:

Thanks Charlie! I actually was so exited I joined for a trial. Here is what I learned about my grandfather from the Footnote Pearl Harbor records: Arrived Pearl Harbor from Newport, RI 27 Dec 1940 status: AS February 21, 1941 he was promoted to status: Sea2c July 31, 1941 he was promoted from status S2c to S1c The other records do not say much except that he was on board the S.S. Pennsylvania the whole time and that his S# was 212-60-52 whatever that means. (I assume it was sort of like a SS# for the Navy) I wish I could find more, I called my mom and she is excited.

from what i found on the SS pennsylvania, The SS Pennsylvania was a combination ocean liner and merchant ship built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast[1] and launched in 1896 for the German Hamburg America Line for the transatlantic trade, particularly German emigration to the United States. She took refuge in the United States upon the outbreak of the First World War and upon the U.S. joining hostilities was seized and renamed the SS Nansemond. She was briefly commissioned as USS Nansemond in 1919,[2] following which she was laid up in the Hudson River before scrapping in 1924.

nevermind, maybe different SS Pennsylvania?

maybe the USS Pennsylvania?

oops! my bad, yea it is the USS PENNSYLVANIA

JamesBianco wrote:

oops! my bad, yea it is the USS PENNSYLVANIA

cool stuff my great grandfather was on the U.S.A.T General Howze and SS Pittston victory

Jim,

This might help.
www.archives.gov/veter...cords.html

I think your best bet is to request your grandfather's service record. I believe that the S# 212-60-52 is his serial number.

Biff

I recently requested the service records for my uncle who served in the Army during WW II. He was discharged in late 1946. As I learned from a very nice letter from the military archives is that most of the army records were lost during a fire in 1973 at the military archives in Missouri. His was among them. All they could give me was a copy of his last pay voucher when he was discharged.

I was excited to receive even that. But it is sad not to have his service record. He served in Africa, Italy, France and Germany with Patton. How exciting but all is now lost.

lilbees

what exactly is in the military records?

The military records are service records. They would contain information on the persons service, theatre of War, awards/medals/, rank and/or promotions, etc.

I have included the final letter I received. I had filled out a form requesting the information but I can't remember where I got it. Probably from Family Search site.

img238.imageshack.us/i...terwb5.jpg

Because of my uncle's service I would have liked to have his records for his children but no luck.

lilbees

Forgot to add: The cost for the records is $15.

thanks i planned on getting the records for my great grandfather he served 46-48

Steve, you did realize the letter only talked about the Army and some Air Force records being destroyed. My understanding when I spoke to them was it did not affect Navy, etc.

lilbees