EagleScoutMilitaria Posted August 15, 2016 Share #1 Posted August 15, 2016 Hello everyone, I want to start by saying this medal is not actually mine it belongs to a friend of mine and I'm trying to help him research it. This medal was purchased at a militaria show awhile back, the gentle who sold it said that it was a Korean War era WIA purple heart. I have tried most conventional methods online to try and find more info on it but I am coming up empty. Can anyone help me find anymore information on this? Thanks, Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted August 15, 2016 Share #2 Posted August 15, 2016 can't make out name ? images too small ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleScoutMilitaria Posted August 15, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted August 15, 2016 Sorry about that the name is Thomas V. Bellere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DakotaDave Posted August 16, 2016 Share #4 Posted August 16, 2016 All I can find is that he enlisted US Army 31Oct 1952 and was released 20Aug 1954, buried Calverton National Cemetery NY. DakotaDave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleScoutMilitaria Posted August 16, 2016 Author Share #5 Posted August 16, 2016 Hey Dave thanks for the information. I had much the same issue when I began looking for more information. I really appreciate the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted August 17, 2016 Share #6 Posted August 17, 2016 Not finding him listed in Korean war NARA WIA or POW lists ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleScoutMilitaria Posted August 17, 2016 Author Share #7 Posted August 17, 2016 That's really strange. Scott is it possible that he may have served in WWII or perhaps Vietnam? It might be possible that the person that sold my friend the purple heart had a mix up? With the Korea facts not adding up I really hope someone didn't defile a medal with a false name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted August 17, 2016 Share #8 Posted August 17, 2016 Too young for WWII ! I'm not sure ? I will keep checking ! I checked vn found nothing ! So not sure records lost burned in the 73 fire ? Not sure if NARA Korean records are 100% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleScoutMilitaria Posted August 17, 2016 Author Share #9 Posted August 17, 2016 I'm not sure myself I know a large amount of Navy records from WWII were lost in the fire, but as for Korea I'm unsure. I really appreciate the help Scott. \ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pchepurko Posted August 17, 2016 Share #10 Posted August 17, 2016 I'm not sure myself I know a large amount of Navy records from WWII were lost in the fire, but as for Korea I'm unsure. I really appreciate the help Scott. \ I do not believe that is correct. I was told Navy and USMC records were not at the NPRC at the time of the fire in 1973. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captainofthe7th Posted August 17, 2016 Share #11 Posted August 17, 2016 The NARA WIA/KIA lists for Korea are not complete. I've found at least a dozen men who were wounded (not sure about KIA) who's information appears on their records, in newspapers, in the hospital admission cards, etc., and just aren't in the NARA database online. So it's generally good, but once in awhile you get one who's not there. I haven't found anything on your guy, unfortunately. Write to St. Louis, be patient, and see what turns up. You should have enough info to get a response, and if they don't have anything ask someone like Mark, Geoff, or Lori. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleScoutMilitaria Posted August 17, 2016 Author Share #12 Posted August 17, 2016 @pchpurko I may have been mistaken I remember in the 70s that a building containing federal military records burned down and many WWII navy records were lost in the fire, however it may have been a different one than the one mentioned. I will admit I am not an expert on that. @Captainofthe7th this gentleman was supposedly WIA not KIA from what I was told. Please excuse my ignorance on this but when you say to write St. Louis what exactly are you referring to? Is that a record depository or something? I have never had to research grouping beyond using online databases before so I am a little out of my element here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captainofthe7th Posted August 17, 2016 Share #13 Posted August 17, 2016 St. Louis is just the city where the National Personnel Records center is. This is the place you're thinking of that burned in the 70s and many of the records were destroyed. Find the form SF 180 online and fill it out to the best of your ability. Type a short letter to them indicating that you're writing under the Freedom of Information act and requesting all material related to your guy here. Mail to: National Personnel Records Center Military Personnel Records 1 Archives Dr St Louis, MO 63138 And between one month and one year you'll get a reply depending on who handles the request and how lucky you are! It's a bit fun anticipating the records, but very disappointing when they don't find anything. There are a few topics on here about it, I'm a bit short on time, but do a few searches around here and you should find what you need. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted August 17, 2016 Share #14 Posted August 17, 2016 See if you can come up with service number and write his name service number and writeunder freedom of information act please release all information on Thomas V Bellere us army # Including campaigns you might get lucky ? Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Linz Posted August 18, 2016 Share #15 Posted August 18, 2016 Hello, Just to be sure everyone has the correct information about what records were lost in the 12 July 1973 fire at the NPRC in St. Louis. Army - Personnel discharged November 1, 1912 to January 1, 1960: 80% lost Air Force - Personnel discharged September 25, 1947 to January 1, 1964 (with names alphabetically after Hubbard, James E.): 75% lost Less than a few dozen Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps records were lost in the fire since the majority of those records were stored in a different section of the building. You can read more about the fire at NPRC by using this link. http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/fire-1973.html Hope this helps. Semper Fi, Bruce Linz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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