Joe Beine, author of the Genealogy Roots Blog, posted an article yesterday about the World War II Army Enlistment Records database at NARA . I visited the NARA website and conducted a search for records of my relatives . I found quite a few records, including one for Edward W . Niedzialkosky and another for Bernard P. Niedzialkosky . Both of these men were first cousins to my grandfather, Kostanty Niedzialkowski.
The record for Edward W. Niedzialkosky reads as follows:
Army Serial Number: 31073487
Name: Niedzialkosky Edward W
Residence: State: Massachusetts
Residence: County: Worcester
Place of Enlistment: Ft Devens Massachusetts
Date of Enlistment Day: 18
Date of Enlistment Month: 03
Date of Enlistment Year: 42
Grade: Alpha Designation: Private
Grade: Code: Private
Branch: Alpha Designation: Branch Immaterial – Warrant Officers, USA
Branch: Code: Branch Immaterial – Warrant Officers, USA
Field Use as Desired: #
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Longevity: ###
Source of Army Personnel: Civil Life
Nativity: Massachusetts
Year of Birth: 05
Race and Citizenship: White, citizen
Education: Grammar school
Civilian Occupation: Traktor Driver* or Truck Driver, Heavy or Chauffeur or Truck Driver, Light
Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Component of the Army: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Card Number: #
Box Number: 0391
Film Reel Number: 3.112
The record for Bernard P. Niedzialkosky reads as follows:
Army Serial Number: 31511069
Name: Niedzialkosky Bernard P
Residence: State: Massachusetts
Residence: County: Worcester
Place of Enlistment: Ft Banks Boston Massachusetts
Date of Enlistment Day: 08
Date of Enlistment Month: 05
Date of Enlistment Year: 46
Grade: Alpha Designation: Private
Grade: Code: Private
Branch: Alpha Designation: Â No branch assignment
Branch: Code: No branch assignment
Field Use as Desired: #
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Longevity: ###
Source of Army Personnel: Civil Life
Nativity: Massachusetts
Year of Birth: 28
Race and Citizenship: White, citizen
Education: Grammar school
Civilian Occupation: Gunsmith* (Armorer.) or Diesel Mechanic (Automobile mechanic, Diesel engine.) or Camera Repairman (Camera repairman, still camera.) or Instrument Repairman, Nonelectrical (Instrument maker.) or Utility Repairman (Mechanic, general.) or Equipment Maintenance Man, Motion Picture (Motion picture equipment repairman.) or Radio Repairman* (Radio electrician.) or Office machine Serviceman or Electric Motor Repairman or Refrigeration Mechanic* or Shop Maintenance Mechanic or Master Mechanic or Locksmith* or Calker
Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Component of the Army: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Card Number: #
Box Number: 0451
Film Reel Number: 3.173
For my own files, I copied the records, reduced the font size and the table cell size so each record would fit on one page, and converted the files to PDF . Click on the links to see the PDF files for the World War II Army Enlistment Record for Edward W. Niedzialkosky – 1942 and the World War II Army Enlistment Record for Bernard P. Niedzialkosky – 1946.
On his blog, Joe Beine explains the origin of this database . These particular records are of great value since a 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in Saint Louis destroyed about 80% of the records for US Army personnel discharged between November 1, 1912 and January 1, 1960.
Copyright © 2006 by Stephen J. Danko
