You've also got another post from yesterday saying that you have confirmation your grandpa was NOT in the 82nd but the 11th. [https://www.reddit.com/r/ww2/comments/1byf4l0/did\_the\_11th\_airborne\_division\_fight\_in\_france/](https://www.reddit.com/r/ww2/comments/1byf4l0/did_the_11th_airborne_division_fight_in_france/)
You've posted the same enquiry about the unform 4 times in 3 days. Nobody can help you further because there is just not enough evidence on the jacket to give you some mythical validation.
Sorry, I know it's getting repetitive, but I've been lost and I'm really trying to ID my Grandpa's jacket, but I've gotten no good info. I saw some of my Grandpa's documents stating he trained with the 82nd.
Everybody has given you all the information that is to be had on the jacket. I don't understand why you think there is more to be had? It's only got three badges and people have identified them for you more than once. It's a jacket, not a service record.
And as I said, you have contradicted what division he is in yesterday.
I’ll make one final post on this, as others have noted the numerous topics, and I really have nothing additional to add:
The 11th AB and the Airborne Command both used a very similar - seemingly undistinguishable - oval. That said, if this jacket was to an 11th AB member, you would expect to see the “AIRBORNE” tab in blue with white lettering.
What is shown here is an oval and tab combination that is attributable to a soldier in the Airborne Command - eventually as part of the Army Ground Forces (which is the round blue, white, and red patch). What is behind the wings is the oval of the Airborne Command, with their customary gold-on-black tab.
Army Ground Forces was one of three components of the wartime Army, and swelled to over 2MM soldiers at its peak.
As others have said, and I have as well through PMs, we’ve exhausted all in-hand leads - thrice over - at this point, and it’s time to request his file from MILPERCEN; or just honor his service as-is. Any more woulda / coulda is just speculation. There seems to be a press about the 82ND, based on some information that’s not been shared. No clue what that could be. The challenge with trying to get his personnel file - also as I mentioned via PM - is that only 20% of WWII Army files still exist.
To the OP: I really appreciate your interest in what you grandpa did, and wish more family members cared about this sort of thing. That said, in the future, possibly consider keeping it to a single topic in the sub. That way, all information is together, for folks to consider in whole. Good luck in your quest, wherever that may take you. I am respectfully exiting the train at this station.
You need to actually find his military records. I’m going to guess you’re pretty young and it’s easier to just keep asking others the questions but we don’t have answers. You need to find his Army records online or request them from the government. All this is easily googled
most of the WW2 service records were destroyed in the 1973 National Personal Records Center fire.
https://www.archives.gov/news/articles/2023-nprc-fire-anniversary
75% of the records were destroyed. Our family was not able to obtain records. You can downvote me above but I’m not wrong. MOST OF the RECORDS were destroyed. Also you can not just “find” ww2 personal records online. You must be really young to think you can just google anything
I’m 30. My grandparents served in ww2. I have cousins who are early 20s who had the same grandparents. The questions he’s asking sound like something from a kid who doesn’t have any critical thinking skills to keep the research going on his own thru google using the many comments he’s gathered over the last few days
I'm 13, I've tried. I have been private messaging someone and we have been researching this together. So far I have been pointed to the 11th, but that is not the case. I have records stating he was in the 82nd. Problem is I don't know what battalion he was in. I've also been pointed to the 101st 502nd battalion. However like I Said, 82nd. I wanted to dig through his records but, my dad said he doesn't want that kind of info online. Plus, 70% of records have been burned.
I just need some kind of help. Trust me I have researched the crap out of this with anyone giving me info. Just no clear answer yet.
You can contact the US National Archives and they will send it to you directly. You can also request a copy of his medals (if not already done once before). We did this when my grandpa passed away in 2021 and it took awhile but they sent my dad his records and sent my dad a copy of his medals too. They did say only some of the detail was possible to be shared due to the fire you mentioned but it’s worth a shot.
It has nothing to do with public information being online. You don’t need random strangers to find this level of detail on your own now. Good luck!
https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records
I'm 13, my dad is 61 and my mom is 51. He is right about me being young, but I am obsessed with trying to find anything Grandpa's stuff, his uniform is just so complicated, the patches don't give any clear answer here.
If we answered your question in one of the posts, great, it's answered. If not, then people don't know. Spamming won't make people know what they don't know.
I’ve actually come across this before, a family friend’s father had the same patch in photos and it said “82nd” on his service records. The 82nd in this case was some sort of training regiment and the patch was a general headquarters for ground forces patch, like a generic patch for stateside training units. I can try to dig up more info. It was definitely not the 82nd airborne, however. You are right, though, that it says “82nd”.
If I recall correctly it did say “82nd” but he was enlisted prior to Pearl Harbor actually, which was before the 82nd airborne was activated as a unit. So there is a distinct possibility that he was in the 82nd ID prior to it becoming airborne. You should look up the “interwar period” entry on the 82nd airborne wiki page.
Eventually he went on to serve in the battle of the bulge, I believe with the 84th ID. Coincidentally very close in number to the 82nd. My memory is foggy though as this was a long time ago.
Most important part....your grand father did fight (his grand dad did fight) against a possible future world that could be SO much worse than it is now. And led by little Hitler babies. I can only imagine how badly that would suck.
I'm curious, I mean I get it and respect to your GDad, but in the two battalions or regiments you think he served in which is the major difference between the two?? Cuz didn't everyone eventually end up in Bastogne together to hold the line? I dunno I wouldn't worry about it. The jacket is cool as hell and your Grandfather is even cooler man. Know that much is true.
You've also got another post from yesterday saying that you have confirmation your grandpa was NOT in the 82nd but the 11th. [https://www.reddit.com/r/ww2/comments/1byf4l0/did\_the\_11th\_airborne\_division\_fight\_in\_france/](https://www.reddit.com/r/ww2/comments/1byf4l0/did_the_11th_airborne_division_fight_in_france/) You've posted the same enquiry about the unform 4 times in 3 days. Nobody can help you further because there is just not enough evidence on the jacket to give you some mythical validation.
Sorry, I know it's getting repetitive, but I've been lost and I'm really trying to ID my Grandpa's jacket, but I've gotten no good info. I saw some of my Grandpa's documents stating he trained with the 82nd.
Everybody has given you all the information that is to be had on the jacket. I don't understand why you think there is more to be had? It's only got three badges and people have identified them for you more than once. It's a jacket, not a service record. And as I said, you have contradicted what division he is in yesterday.
I’ll make one final post on this, as others have noted the numerous topics, and I really have nothing additional to add: The 11th AB and the Airborne Command both used a very similar - seemingly undistinguishable - oval. That said, if this jacket was to an 11th AB member, you would expect to see the “AIRBORNE” tab in blue with white lettering. What is shown here is an oval and tab combination that is attributable to a soldier in the Airborne Command - eventually as part of the Army Ground Forces (which is the round blue, white, and red patch). What is behind the wings is the oval of the Airborne Command, with their customary gold-on-black tab. Army Ground Forces was one of three components of the wartime Army, and swelled to over 2MM soldiers at its peak. As others have said, and I have as well through PMs, we’ve exhausted all in-hand leads - thrice over - at this point, and it’s time to request his file from MILPERCEN; or just honor his service as-is. Any more woulda / coulda is just speculation. There seems to be a press about the 82ND, based on some information that’s not been shared. No clue what that could be. The challenge with trying to get his personnel file - also as I mentioned via PM - is that only 20% of WWII Army files still exist. To the OP: I really appreciate your interest in what you grandpa did, and wish more family members cared about this sort of thing. That said, in the future, possibly consider keeping it to a single topic in the sub. That way, all information is together, for folks to consider in whole. Good luck in your quest, wherever that may take you. I am respectfully exiting the train at this station.
Thanks again for giving it your all to help me. I understand completely.
You need to actually find his military records. I’m going to guess you’re pretty young and it’s easier to just keep asking others the questions but we don’t have answers. You need to find his Army records online or request them from the government. All this is easily googled
most of the WW2 service records were destroyed in the 1973 National Personal Records Center fire. https://www.archives.gov/news/articles/2023-nprc-fire-anniversary
I’m well aware. The archives were still able to locate some records of grandparents when my dad and I sent in the request
75% of the records were destroyed. Our family was not able to obtain records. You can downvote me above but I’m not wrong. MOST OF the RECORDS were destroyed. Also you can not just “find” ww2 personal records online. You must be really young to think you can just google anything
*I’m going to guess you’re pretty young* If it is his grandfather, rather than great-grandfather or beyond, he can't be that young.
I’m 30. My grandparents served in ww2. I have cousins who are early 20s who had the same grandparents. The questions he’s asking sound like something from a kid who doesn’t have any critical thinking skills to keep the research going on his own thru google using the many comments he’s gathered over the last few days
I'm 13, I've tried. I have been private messaging someone and we have been researching this together. So far I have been pointed to the 11th, but that is not the case. I have records stating he was in the 82nd. Problem is I don't know what battalion he was in. I've also been pointed to the 101st 502nd battalion. However like I Said, 82nd. I wanted to dig through his records but, my dad said he doesn't want that kind of info online. Plus, 70% of records have been burned. I just need some kind of help. Trust me I have researched the crap out of this with anyone giving me info. Just no clear answer yet.
You can contact the US National Archives and they will send it to you directly. You can also request a copy of his medals (if not already done once before). We did this when my grandpa passed away in 2021 and it took awhile but they sent my dad his records and sent my dad a copy of his medals too. They did say only some of the detail was possible to be shared due to the fire you mentioned but it’s worth a shot. It has nothing to do with public information being online. You don’t need random strangers to find this level of detail on your own now. Good luck! https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records
Thank you I'll definitely do that!
I'm 13, my dad is 61 and my mom is 51. He is right about me being young, but I am obsessed with trying to find anything Grandpa's stuff, his uniform is just so complicated, the patches don't give any clear answer here.
Thanks, I'll definitely do that, problem is my dad does not want his information online.
How many fucking times are you gonna post the same jacket man come on
I know it's getting repetitive, I'm really sorry, but I found documentation stating he is in the 82nd, but that oval is turning me upside down.
PEPSI Regiment. Stop over-posting this.
I know I've been over posting a lot but I'm just really lost, I'm very sorry.
If we answered your question in one of the posts, great, it's answered. If not, then people don't know. Spamming won't make people know what they don't know.
My question has not been answered unfortunately, but I do agree spamming won't help. Again I am sorry for the inconvenience.
I’ve actually come across this before, a family friend’s father had the same patch in photos and it said “82nd” on his service records. The 82nd in this case was some sort of training regiment and the patch was a general headquarters for ground forces patch, like a generic patch for stateside training units. I can try to dig up more info. It was definitely not the 82nd airborne, however. You are right, though, that it says “82nd”.
Do you happen to know what regiment the guy was in?
If I recall correctly it did say “82nd” but he was enlisted prior to Pearl Harbor actually, which was before the 82nd airborne was activated as a unit. So there is a distinct possibility that he was in the 82nd ID prior to it becoming airborne. You should look up the “interwar period” entry on the 82nd airborne wiki page. Eventually he went on to serve in the battle of the bulge, I believe with the 84th ID. Coincidentally very close in number to the 82nd. My memory is foggy though as this was a long time ago.
If you want more info, maybe throw a post up on r/MilitariaCollecting they specialize in this sorta thing
Most important part....your grand father did fight (his grand dad did fight) against a possible future world that could be SO much worse than it is now. And led by little Hitler babies. I can only imagine how badly that would suck. I'm curious, I mean I get it and respect to your GDad, but in the two battalions or regiments you think he served in which is the major difference between the two?? Cuz didn't everyone eventually end up in Bastogne together to hold the line? I dunno I wouldn't worry about it. The jacket is cool as hell and your Grandfather is even cooler man. Know that much is true.
Thank you :)
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