Tuesday's Tip: New World War II Database Available

Typical card from the New York State 1940 database. The yellow tab at the top signifies that this person was wounded in action.
The red tab at the top signifies that this person was killed in action. (Courtesy DMNA)

The Army Times reports that volunteers at the New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center have indexed and digitized 28,969 index cards for New York State soldiers called to active duty in the fall of 1940.

This collection was created when President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8551 on 26 Sep 1940, ordering members of the National Guard into active military duty. The men of the New York Division reported for duty less than three weeks later when they assembled at their various armories around the state on 15 Oct 1940.

The collection, organized alphabetically by last name, is available at this URL:

http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/wwii/infantry/27thInfDiv/27thInfDivFed/27thInfDiv_Fed.htm

Data can also be accessed by downloading entire spreadsheet in an Micrsoft Excel format. For a digital copy of the actual card, which can be sent by email or regular mail, send a check made payable to DMNA for $3.00 per name to: 

NYS Military Museum

Attn: Research Center

61 Lake Ave.

Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Please be sure to include the name and serial number of the person you are interested in and your email address if applicable.

Volunteers around the country have spent many hours indexing these cards to make this information accessible online. Genealogists are grateful to:

     Joseph Anniello, Albany, NY
     Rick Bennett, Stokesdale, North Carolina
     Greg Cusack, Scituate, Mass.
     June Green, Tampa, Florida
     Greta Hamilton, Webster Groves, Missouri
     Jeff Henrikson, Delmar, NY
     Karen Horn Jansen, Saratoga Springs, NY
     Col. Jack Kennedy (USA Ret.), Elfers, FLorida
     Mike Mansir, Ballston Spa, NY
     Brian Parsons, Malta, NY
     Shelby Patterson, Albany, NY
     Bruce Scott, Albany, NY
     Lisa Jelly Smith, Broadalbin, NY
     Lynette Stilley, Hickory, North Carolina
     Tammi Stock, Rensselaer, NY