I am forwarding this info. on because I think you folks will appreciate it. Gloria Daum ---------- > From: MAK <mkuehl@USC.EDU> > To: MI-WI-ROOTS-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU > Subject: [MI-WI] How to find Military Death Certificates > Date: Friday, June 12, 1998 8:34 AM > > I am finding this thread about military death certificates quite > interesting, but not necessarily factual. If you don't know the answer to a > question, please don't speculate - you are sending people in the wrong > directions. > > I called HQMC this morning and this is the STRAIGHT answer... > > When a Marine dies, a Report of Casualty (DD1300) is issued by the military; > in addition, a death certificate is issued by the State in which the death > occurred. (When overseas, the death certificate is filed in the state of > residency.) The next of kin, is notified in person by a Marine Corps > Officer. Upon written request, the next of kin can request all the > paperwork filed by the United States Marine Corps in the course of the death > investigation (all deaths are investigated as a routine procedure). As part > of the investigation, the death certificate is requested by the > investigating officer from the state and filed with the Marines Offical > Records. The references pertaining to this are 10 USC Section 2271, DODI > 1300.9, and MCO P1741.8. > > The following branches in the Marine Corps can answer your questions > regarding deaths, awards, and service of Marines: Casualty Branch, Awards > Branch, Historical Branch, and the local Veterans Affairs Office. (If you > need the HQMC phone/fax numbers, please email me - local VA is in your > telephone book under government offices.) Another avenue is to write your > congressman, requesting the information and their office will forward it to > the correct branch. A third avenue is to write the question to Marine Mail: > mailm@mqg-smtp3.usmc.mil > > Or you can go to my Finding your Military Ancestors site: > http://www.leatherneck.com/TheStorm/0100/Ancestor/index.html > > I am also told by HQMC, that this works the same way in the other three > branches, except, they have a bigger buracracy than the Marine Corps, so it > is a little more difficult to get information. > > I hope this information is helpful. Semper Fi, R/S MAK > > >X-Message: #31 > >Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 09:15:18 EDT > >From: ABStuart@aol.com > >Subject: MILITARY DEATH CERTIFICATES > > >Someone recently inquired about Death Certificates for members of > >the military who die while on active duty. When a death occurs a, > >from any cause, a standard form, STATEMENT OF CASUALTY, is > >issued to the designated next of kin (during World War II and the > >Korean War it was a Report of Death). This is, for all practical > >purposes, the individual's death certificate. It's universally accepted > >as such by all concerned parties, public and private. If death occurs > >in the U. S. or one of its territories, local authorities DO NOT > >normally prepare a death certificate. Also, the military DOES NOT > >issue a copy of the standard form to local authorities. > > > >If you're seeking info on someone who was KIA or died of any cause > >while on active duty YOU NEED NOT WASTE YOUR TIME (AND > >MONEY) WITH STATE, COUNTY OR LOCAL VITAL RECORDS. > >The fee you pay is, in most cases a SEARCH FEE (i. e., you pay > >for the search, whether you get any info or not). Also, the clerks you > >deal with are EMPLOYEES, not geneologists or researchers and > >may or may not be aware of the above and their principle concern > >anyway is to collect the money your foolish enough to throw at > >them. > > > >REMEMBER, THEY CAN'T GIVE YOU WHAT THEY DON'T HAVE. > > ----------------------------------------------- > List problems? > Check > your WELCOME message FIRST > http://php.indiana.edu/~stephenl/problems.htm SECOND > then contact stephenL@indiana.edu