This site gives insight about records in Ukraine: http://www.halgal.com/locatingrecords.html By using the SS-5 letter at the Social Security Death Index site, the application for Social Security can be ordered; this document will show names of parents, including mother's maiden name. http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ What to expect on the application: http://www.ancestry.com/learn/library/article.aspx?article=919 Michael's death certificate would be another possible source for names of parents, depending on the information of the reporting person. It can be ordered online and will be sent to you immediately upon payment. http://cookcountygenealogy.com/ Best wishes on your search, Mary Mary Snow wrote: > Chris, > > Here is the link to the ship manifest (this page and next page): > http://www.ellisisland.org/search/shipManifest.asp?pID=100873030318 > > The manifest certainly does say that Michal was born in Schinkell, > Germany, which was also listed as his last residence. The ship left for > America from the port of Bremen, Germany. His closest relative, his > father, was listed as living in Oplucko. In the 1920 US census, Michael > is listed as b. Ukraine, mother tongue Polish, which seems to affirm > Oplucko. Perhaps the shipping clerk, seeing last residence as Schinkel, > Germany, simply assumed that was Michal's place of birth. > > Here is a map of Schinkel, Germany: > http://nona.net/features/map/placedetail.505536/Schinkel/ > > LDS records for Oplucko are found using this place search at > familysearch.org: > http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp > > Greek Catholic records are available from 1835-1865; film numbers are > found by using the 'View Film Notes' link at the top right of the page. > Though Michal would not have been listed, his father surely would have > records in the microfilm. Possibly this is why it was indicated you > would have to know the exact town so you could contact government or > church for more information. Today, the records for Oplucko are housed > in the archives in L'viv, Ukraine. > > Location of Family History Center nearest you: > http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp > > > Mary > > Chris wrote: > >> Thank you Mary,here is my G/Father's name >> Michal Medyk b.Oplucko,Poland arrived Apr.1st 1912 >> >> >> I have his Declaration of Intent,Petition For Naturalization,Oath Of Allegiance & Certificate of Arrival Papers. >> I asked if someone could shed some light on this(all I needed to do was turn the light on) : ) >> upon rereading them just now I see Bremen Germany was place where he emigrated from but on manifest it states Schinkell Germany (confused me). >> >> Cecelia wrote "Rereading the original post,I think you mean another kind of papers back in the old country" >> Yes,these are the papers I was referring to when I asked about 1st papers.I was under the impression the 1st papers where those that he applied for to enter the USA. >> Thanks to everyone here..you're an awesome group! >> >