Tracy Here's another long shot: The Port Authority of NY/NJ (http://www.panynj.gov) may be able to point you to a source from which you may be able to trace your ancestor's book number. Dan From: <GaelEire@aol.com> > My grandfather was a tug boat captain. He had his own boat & worked for the > Pennsylvania Railroad. He remained a civilian during WWII. I imagine the > Merchant Marine pass showed security clearance, which is why it was issued. > > He had throat cancer and was hospitalized at the US Naval Hospital in > Baltimore. I never understood how he wound up in that hospital as opposed to > King's County, but it's now beginning to make sense. The US Naval Hospital > is now part of Johns Hopkins - whom I contacted regarding old records. They > don't have any. I thought maybe I could get this 'z number' from the > hospital records, but no such luck. My grandfather died in 1946, so I don't > believe the VA came into the picture. > > I obtained a schedule of pension payments from the Railroad Retirement Board, > but that was all they could give me. Is there any chance the RRB would have > the 'z number' somewhere in their records? I know that's a long shot. > > Take care, > Tracy