When one is KIA is there usually a record of where

[daryl]

When one is KIA is it usual to have records that state exactly where this occurred? When I particular date is known, is there a record of all hostilities or attacks that took place on that day?

[connie]

Daryl,

Things were utter chaos during the Bulge. People who were wounded and taken away for medical treatment were sometimes listed as MIA -- their wounding and whereabouts unknown to any of the men of their unit. Death occurred sometimes in solo events unwitnessed by others. People went missing and comrades wondered for years what had happened. Germans surrounded small groups and action occurred in small pockets as well as in larger recorded event.

As far as the recording of death dates, I know that some of those dates were recorded at the time the body was recovered and identity confirmed instead of when the person probably was killed. Dates listed as death dates are not always dates of death. I have already had this confirmed several times. I know of one man whose death most certainly occurred on the 18th of December. But the official papers list it several days later. This may not be error. It may be a real attempt to confirm a death before declaring it. It was probably several days before anyone could "safely" return to the spot and find the body. I have had similar experiences with dates of death noted by others.

So ferreting out the details of a single man's story is not usually as easy as checking the records. It takes tenacity and luck to stumble onto the story.

That's my experience. I'm sure others have thoughts, suggestions, or experiences to add.

Connie

[gemcmeg]

Connie's right. My uncle who was killed crossing the Siegfried Line in March of 1945 is an example. My grandmother then, ran an ad in a military magazine asking for information. After my dad died (2008) I discovered letters from the late 1940's from several men that served with my uncle, one also wounded the same day this uncle was killed. My uncle's KIA date was a day later then the actual occurrence & verified from several sources, one a medic that attended his wounds. You just never know where you might find info - even decades later.

[connie]

Daryl,

Just re-read this old thread and realized there is another link that speaks of the endless search that some have for answers.

Jim West was first contacted about the government's ongoing search for men who are still listed as MIA. Carl Wouters now has a list on his 106th site of the men who from the 106th and related units who are still listed as missing. If you look under the announcement section of this discussion board you will find one thread with links to announcements from other sites. You will find the link to Carl's MIA list there: 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/4683/thread