Series 1888: World War II Dead, Return of. 1947-1950.
U. S. Military Records (RG 58).

Series 1888: World War II Dead, Return of. 1947-1950.
U. S. Military Records (RG 58).

      This series consists of instructions, lists, schedules, notifications, and reports concerning the return of American dead of World War II from temporary overseas cemeteries. The schedules and lists contain the name, rank, service number, and service of the deceased, the name and town of his next of kin, and the cemetery which the remains would be interred. The escort reports provide some detailed information about the actual burial, noting who, if any, provided military honors. The notification telegrams were provided to the next of kin informing them that the remains were available for immediate shipment to the place of interment and requesting affirmation of disposition instructions already provided by the next of kin. None of these records indicate the date or place of death or the actual military unit in which the deceased served. For the various schedules, lists, and notices, arrangement is chronological, normally by month, and then alphabetical within each time period. Arrangement for other files is generally chronological.

      By Act of the 79^th Congress, Public Law 383, May 16, 1946, the removal, return, and final disposition of American dead of World War II were made the responsibility of the Secretary of War. The Army Quartermaster General was assigned the mission to oversee that project in accordance with the wishes of the next of kin (see Disposition of War Dead Instructions: 1947, in box 9940). The next of kin were given the choices of leaving the deceased in permanent American cemeteries overseas or returning them to the United States for burial in either a private cemetery or a national cemetery. The remains of Mississippians were returned primarily through the Memphis Army General Depot for burial in a private cemetery or in one of the national cemeteries at Corinth, Natchez, or Vicksburg. The remains were escorted by a member of the deceased’s own service. If the family desired military honors at the graveside service, they were provided by local National Guard or Veterans organizations, such as the American Legion or the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

See Also:
      Series 1878: Casualty Lists (WWII). 1946-1947.
      Series 1697: Military Veteran Death Record Cards. 1941-1956 (RG 44).