United States, World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919 - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains the names of Army personnel who lost their lives (killed in action, died of wounds or died of disease) while serving with the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I. The lists include those who either enlisted in the National Guard or Regular Army or were inducted into the National Army (Selective Service). Original records are housed at The National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 407, Records of the Adjutant Generals Office NAID identifier 1726747.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
Information found in this collection may include:
 * The soldier's name
 * Serial Number
 * Rank
 * Organization they were assigned to at the time of their death
 * Date of death

Coverage Table
The following table show the number of records per state included in this collection as of 30 August 2018.

How Do I Search This Collection?
The casualty sheets are arranged as follows:: Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * State or Territory
 * By Race
 * By Cause of death (killed in action, died of wounds or died of disease)
 * By Name of soldier
 * The Name of the soldier
 * The state of enlistment or induction

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the date of death to find a death certificate or burial record. If buried in Europe Search the American Battle Monuments Commission burials database or national cemetery search the National Cemetery Administration Nationwide Grave site Locator.
 * Use the military unit and rank to search for statement of service cards, unit histories or other military records
 * Additional information may also be located at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis or state archives in the state of enlistment or induction
 * See also the following related World War I Wiki articles:United States World War I Cemetery Records and United States World War I Casualty Records

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Search in a different state
 * Consider spelling variations or aliases

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the United States.
 * US Military Basic Search Strategies
 * Beginning United States World War I Research
 * United States Guided Research
 * United States Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies

Related Digital Books
Soldiers of the Great War Casualties. The volumes are arranged alphabetically by state. Within each state the entries are broken down in the following order. First are photographs of  soldiers averaging twenty per page. Next are the casualties arranged by Killed in Action; Died of Disease; Died of Wounds; Died of Accident; and Wounded in Action. For each soldier the volumes give name, rank and residence.


 * Soldiers of the Great War Volume 1 Alabama-Maryland
 * Soldiers of the Great War Volume 2 Massachusetts-Ohio
 * Soldiers of the Great War Volume 3 Oklahoma-Wyoming


 * Californians Who Have Died in Service.
 * Connecticut
 * Kansas Casualties in the World War
 * New York Roll of Honor
 * Oregon's Honor Roll
 * South Carolina Honor Roll
 * Virginia
 * West Virginia

Related Websites

 * Alabama Department of Archives and History. World War I Gold Star Database
 * New Jersey State Archives. World War I Deaths

Graves Registration Services

 * The Graves Registration Service was established in August 1917 and was responsible for maintaining a burial registration system and the acquiring of land in France for cemeteries.
 * Location of Graves and Disposition of Bodies of American Soldiers Who Died Overseas
 * A Report of the Secretary of War on American Military Dead Overseas. May 1920
 * Knapp, Michael G., and Constance Potter. Here Rests in Honored Glory: World War I Graves Registration Prologue: Quarterly of the National Archives 23. (Summer 1991): 190–4. (Family History Library book 973 B2p.)

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.