# Is there an online database of deceased servicemen/women?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-database-of-deceased-servicemen-women/496280>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 13, 2009, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-database-of-deceased-servicemen-women/496280 "2009-05-13T13:27:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jelymag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jelymag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jelymag)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-database-of-deceased-servicemen-women/496280/1 "2009-05-13T13:27:27Z")

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I guess it doesn’t necessarily have to be online, just somewhere. I grew up with a guy who entered the Marine Corps shortly after high school graduation. We heard from him intermittently over the next several years, and then no one has heard from him at all in about 2-3 years. Phone numbers disconnected, e-mail returned to sender, myspace account deleted. I tried to contact his parents recently but it seems they have moved from the house he grew up in. the only thing that anyone has heard is there is a rumor that he left the Marines to join up with Army, which I didn’t even know you could do. I know that folks are all wondering if he is still alive, but no one mentions it aloud. Anybody know if there is a place I can find out?

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**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-database-of-deceased-servicemen-women/496280/2 "2009-05-13T13:32:35Z")

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The only thing I can think of is a web site for family tree info. i.e. a place like [genealogy.com](http://genealogy.com).

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**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-database-of-deceased-servicemen-women/496280/3 "2009-05-13T14:17:51Z")

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[social security death index](http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/)

I’ve had results with this link. It is how I found out that my half-brother was dead.

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**Author:** ![Jelymag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jelymag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jelymag)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-database-of-deceased-servicemen-women/496280/4 "2009-05-13T14:33:17Z")

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> [@Cub\_Mistress](#):
>
> [social security death index](http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/)
> 
> I’ve had results with this link. It is how I found out that my half-brother was dead.

Thanks, I did get one hit for his name. The location is right but the date of birth is wrong. I think it must be his father or grandfather; I don’t remember if they had the same name.

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**Author:** ![Jelymag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jelymag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jelymag)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-online-database-of-deceased-servicemen-women/496280/5 "2009-05-13T17:33:01Z")

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> [@Enright3](#):
>
> The only thing I can think of is a web site for family tree info. i.e. a place like [genealogy.com](http://genealogy.com).

His family emigrated from the Philippines in the early or mid-seventies, before he was born, so I am not having any luck there.