How do I find more about my Grandpa? (World War 2 vet)

[brxndxn]

My grandpa would never talk to my father about WW2. I asked him about it once (when I was 14) and he said that he was a cook. He said he saw things that no one should see and that he didn't want to talk about it. Then, he gave me all his medals, one of which was a Bronze Star. When I asked him about that, he said that "he cooked good food."

I never really was able to get more about it from him and he's dead now. Is there any sort of army database that has listings of soldiers and information about them?

I heard the bronze star was handed out quite a bit in WW2, but I'd still like to find information as to what he did and where he served. He was a corporal.

My dad said that he typed at about 110wpm (on the old, hard to use typewriters of that time) and did some sort of work in communications. I'm pretty sure he served in Japan.

 

[Armitage]

My grandfather, who flew mustangs in Europe, was much the same way. He died when I was 14, but never wanted to talk aboth the war, although he keptr a mustang model on his desk and showed me his WWII victory medal once.

Do you have his discharge papers or know his unit? That's a good place to start, alot of units have history sites. I think you might also be able to get his service records records from the government, but I don't know how. My grandmother gave me his dishcharge papers after he died, but they are filed away at my dad's place somewhere. I need to find them someday.

Another thing to try is google. Seriously! I googled my grandfathers name (it's a little unusual, so I wasn't swamped) and found a listing on this site.. Some unit sites will also have rosters that will show up.

 

[Armitage]

update...
Based on that link I posted, I may have found may grandfathers unit, and even a photo of the plane he crashed (or was a passenger on) in this incident!!