Tracking down my father's records

[Ernesto]

I know only (from my birth certificate) that he was a 26 yr old USN CPO that was born in Maine. According to the family legend, he died while on duty after he was divorced from my mother in Oct. 1946. In fact, the USMC (through their record checks in '67) certified that I was a "soul surviving son" because my father had died while on active duty. I waived this status because, I actually wanted to go to Vietnam, which I finally did.
So Vet's, who can I write to (IE: Dept of the Navy, etc) for information about him?

[oneold1-4u]

1. You need--

To find a veterans advocate but one with no present ties to the military itself. You may get some info from the internet on where to find one. The military today will not help for records for anyone including yourself. I have a friend (VN vet) who had to prove he served at all. He found people he served with and with pictures they finally "discovered" his records. Don't lose anything of proof of service for yourself or anyone you know.

[DELUSIONAL]

2. One way to begin check the 1930 census

You didn't give the birth year of your father -- but I am guessing it was pre 1930.

You know his last name, his first name and where he was born -- you should be able to find him in the 1930 census.

I took a Genealogy course in tracking down records -- I'll PM you and then let you know some websites which might help in tracking down records.

There are listings of individuals who died in active duty during WWII -- and if you know his division etc. you can get information from survivors.

Anyway start with the 1930 census -- Ancestry.com has indexed the whole 1930 census -- and if you luck out and have any Mormons in your background there's a good chance they have done a lot of the leg work for you.

Also go to http://www.familyhistory.org -- and check out the library resources on military records -- some of this stuff is in the LDS library and can be viewed at one of the family history centers located at a nearby LDS church. You can also search the above site for a list of family history centers near you.

Very often someone at one of these Family History Centers will know exactly which record to search for information about your father.

[TacticalPeek]

3. Have you filed a Standard Form 180?

http://www.archives.gov/facilities/mo/st_louis/military_personnel_records/standard_form_180.html