1945 us army wwii graves registration manual 62p. fm 10-63

8/14/2019 1945 US Army WWII Graves Registration Manual 62p. FM 10-63

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WAR DEPARTMENT FIELD MANUAL

GRAVESREGISTRATION

W A R DEPARTMENT J ANUARY 1945


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WABSDE P A R T MENT FIELD MANUALFM JO-63

This manual supersedes TM 10-630, 23 September 1941, including Cl,9 June 1942, and C2, lG**October 1942; Section IV, War DepartmentCircular No. 79, 1943 ; paragraph 15, War Department Circular No. 373 ,1944; TB 10-630-1, 15 February 1944; and TB 10-630-2, 27 March, 1944.

GRAVESREGISTRATION

WAR DEPARTMENT JANUARY 1945

For 5z/e by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington 25, D. C.United States Government Printing Office

Washington : 1945


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WAR DEPARTMENTW ASH ING TON 25 , D . C ., 1 5 January 1945FM 10-63, Graves Registration, is published for theinformation and guidance of all concerned.[AG 300.7 (1 5 Sep 44) ]

BY ORD ER OF THE SECRETARY OFWAR:

OFFICIAL: G. C. MARSHALLJ. A. ULIO Chief of StaffMajor GeneralTheAdjutant General

D ISTR IBU T IO N :A A F (10); A GF (10); A S F (10); D ep t (10);Arm & S v B d (2); CTechS v (2); except QMG(100); SvC (10); PC& S (1); Gen & S p SvS ch (10); US M A (2); ROTC (1); ROTCLib (1); A (10); CHQ (10 ) ; D (10); R (2);AF (10); G (2); T/O & E 10-297 , 10-298.For explanation of sym bols, see FM 21-6.


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CONTENTSParagraphs Page

SECTION I. ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONSOF GRAVES REGISTRATIONSERVICE ....................... 1-6 . 1

II. CEMETER IES ..................... 7-16 1 1III. BURIALS ........................ 17-28 1 6IV . REPORT OF BURIALS ............. 29-39 32V. GRAVE MARKERS ................ 40 39VI. EFFECTS .........................41^4 42VII. GENERAL ....................... 45-50 5 1

APPENDIX . PERSONAL EFFECTS BAGAND POUCH ........................... 53INDEX............................................ 56

i l l


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This manual supersedes TM 10-630, 23 September 1941, including C 1, 9 June 1942, and C 2, 10 October 1942; SectionIV, War Department Circular No. 79, 1943; paragraph 15 , WatDepartment Circular No, 373, 1944; TB 10-630-1, 15 February1944; and TB 10-630-2, 27 March 1944.

SECTION IORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS OF

GRAVES REGISTRATION SERVICE

1. WHEN ORGANIZED, a. In time of war there will beorganized a Graves Registration Service for the purposeof caring for deceased military personnel interred outsidethe continental limits of the United States. The GravesRegistration Service personnel will also care for civilian,allied, and enemy dead when circumstances of war makethis necessary.

b. The Quartermaster General, in addition to his otherduties, is designated Chief, American Graves RegistrationService and is charged with the formulation of policiesfor the operation of Graves Registration Services outsidethe continental limits of the United States, and is authorized to correspond direct with the chief of such GravesRegistration Services on matters pertaining thereto.

c. The commanding general of each theater of operations or defense command outside the continental limitsof the United States will organize a Graves RegistrationService which will function as a part of the office of thequartermaster of the theater or defense command. Hewill issue the necessary instructions for his theater ofoperations or defense command. These instructions willconform to those included herein and in Section II, AR30-1805.

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2. CHIEF, G R A V ES REGISTRATION S E R V IC E OFTHEA TER OF OPER A T IONS OR DEFENSE C OMMA N D.This officer will exercise general te chnical directio n ofth e Graves Registration Service there in. He is responsibleto th e chief quartermaster o r such other staff officer as i sdesignated by the co mm anding ge neral o f th e theater ofo perations, w ho, in turn, is responsible to the co mmandingge neral thereo f, for:a. The preparatio n o f a co mplete plan or o rganizatio no f the Grave s Re gistratio n Service units within the theaterand its expansion in co nform ity with the general plan ofo peratio n and approved priorities.b. Efficient o peratio n o f the GravesRegistration Service.c. E stab lishm e nt and m aintenance o fsimplified and uniform methods of adm inistratio n, o peratio n, and procedurefor all graves re gistratio n activities in the theatero f operatio ns o r defense command.d. Co o peration of graves registration unit officers insubo rdinate commands with co m m anding officers of combat units, the M e dic al Department, and chaplains.e . D evelo pm ent o f ne w , improved, or special techniquesand methods in co nnection with the executio n o f his technical duties, to m eet the particular re quire m e nts of the theaterof o perations o r defense c omm and.

3. FUN C T ION S OF G R A VES R EG IS TR A T ION SERV ICE .a. The selection of a site fo r a te m po rary cemete ry is aGraves Registratio n functio n and the acquisitio n of thesite and the plotting of the cem ete ry w o uld ordinarily beperformed by the Co rps o f Engineers, w hen such perso nne l is available . If personnel o f the Corps o f Engineersis not available, such functions w ill be pe rfo rm e d by theGraves Registratio n Service.

b. The lo catio n, and co ntrol fo r prese rvatio n, of te mporary cemeteries, and th e pro pe r marking and officia lrecording of graves the re in until permanent burial i s accomplished or the remains are returned to th e next


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of kin. All burials therein, as well as all landscaping,improvements and constructions, should be made with afull realization of their temporary nature. It may beassumed that a ll bodies will be returned eventually tothe nearest of kin in the United States. In order thatthese subsequent removals, involving exhumation andpreparation of the bodies, m ay be accomplished with aminimum of delay, all processes of permanent burial andcemeterial construction should be carefully avoided. Byso doing great economy will result, much needed materialconserved, and critical cargo space released. Furthermore,distinterred remains can be expeditiously prepared forshipment and the cemetery sites can be returned to theowners without greatly altering their original appearance.

c. The proper burial of the dead in accordance withexisting regulations, reducing to a minimum the numberof isolated or single graves.

d. The receipt, collection, and disposition of a ll personal effects found on the dead.e. The registration of all graves so as to enable identification of the dead and the relocation of isolated graves,cemeteries, and graves within cemeteries. This shouldinclude the preparation of sketches and maps with coordinates, and the compilation of sufficient data to showthe location of graves and cemeteries, with particular reference to permanent landmarks which would not be obliterated by heavy shell fire, explosion or action of theelements.

f. The general supervision and control of all personnelassigned to the Graves Registration Service.4. METHOD OF FUNCTIONING. The quartermastergraves registration company will constitute the principalagency through which the Graves Registration Servicewill function.5. QUARTERMASTER GRAVES REGISTRATION COM-PANY. a. Organization a n d f u n c t i o n s . The quar te rmas te r


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graves registration company operates in accordance withT/O& E 10-297 or T/O & E 10-298.

b . Organ izat ion and func t ions und er T/O& E 10-297.(]) Basic functions.The functions of the graves registration com pany are the supervision of the identification andburial of the dead, the collection and disposition of thepersonal effects of all those deceased in the theater ofoperations as well as those killed in action, and the plo tting of location and the registration of battlefield gravesand cemeteries. The term "Killed in Action" and itsabbreviation KIA, used on WD,, MD Form 52b (seefig. 1) is applied not only to those m eeting sudden death,but to all casualties who as a result of wounds die onthe field before reaching an aid station. The company i s not authorized nor equipped to perform em balming. Laborfor grave digging is normally furnished by the serviceunits of the Quartermaster Corps, or is secured locallyunless burial by organizations is necessary under pertaincircumstances. However, in certain instances there maybe available sufficient personnel to provide Graves Registration Service companies with permanently assignedlaborers.

(2) Subdivision of company, (a) Platoon. Theplatoonis the basic work unit. It is designed to serve a divisionand will be under the direct control of the division quartermaster for specific functions and assignm ents. It iscom manded by a commissioned officer. The attachedMedical Corps noncommissioned officers will be assignedto the sections as directed by the company comm ander, orby the pla toon commander when the authority is delegatedto him. The num ber of Medical Corps noncommissionedofficers permits the normal assignm ent of one to each section, which is expected to be the usual assignment. It maybe, however, that casualties in certain areas, due to thecharacter and extent of the action, willnecessitate a different distribution. The platoon com m ander, will, undergeneral instructions from the company com mander, serveunder the comm anding general of the division in the


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N A M E A N D A R M Y S E R I A L N U M B F -

GRADE

D IV I S I O N

C O M P A N Y

CO RPS A R M Y

REGIM ENT ANDARM O R SERVIC E

AGE R A C E

S T A T I O N W H E R E T A G G E D :

N A T I V I T Y

DATE

SER VIC E.YEARS

HO UR

DIA GNOSIS : IF IN JURY, S TATE HO W . W HEN. W HER E INC U

L INE OF DUTYTREATMENT:

ANTITETAN1C SERUM: DOSI TIMEMORPHINE: DOSE TIMED IS P O S I T I O N : D A T E HOUR

S I G N A T U R E , W I T H R A N K A N D O R G A N I Z A T I O N :

Foimffatt-MEDICALDEPARTMENT, T J . 8. A.(RevisedO ctober 26 ,1 84 0)Figure 1. Emergency medical tag.


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sector to which he is as s igned. His immediate superior,so far as administrative details are concerned, will be thedivis ion quartermaster. His Graves Registration Servicereports, however, will be transmitted to his own companycommander. The divis ion will supply him with the necessary data to enable him to perform his tasks .

( l>) Section. The s ection is an element of the platoon.It consists of a s ection chief, and s uch other necessarypersonnel as are authorized by T/O& E 10-297. Thes ecti on must be taught to function 'under i ts section chiefand to coordinate i ts activities with those of the platoon.One Medical Corps noncommi ss ioned officer will us uallyworkwith the s ection.

(3) Company. The company will be attached to th earmy. Itwill be under the direction of the army quartermaster or such other army or corps staff officer as dele gated by the commanding general of the theater of operations insofar as operational and, tactical requirements demand. Its elements will be as s igned to subordinate unitsas determined by the corps commander.

(a) Administrative reportsand records. In addition toreports and records pertaining to graves registration andthe burial of the dead, the com pany must maintain itsown organizational records and submit reports at requiredintervals.

(b) Technical instructions and reports. Graves registration units will receive their technical instructions from,and render the reports prescribed by regulations throughmilitary channels, to the chief, Graves Registration Service,who in turn will forward them through the chief quartermaster of the theater of operations to The QuartermasterGeneral.

(c) When command moves from one area to another.When a divis ion or other similar command moves fromone area to anotherbefore graves registration work in th earea is completed, the commanding general of such command will be res ponsib le for the assignment o - f adequateGraves Registration Service personnel to complete th e


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burials pertaining to his command and to com pile therequired records. Should tactical requirements or otherconsiderations make it im possible or inexpedient for acommanding general to detach sufficient personnel for theabove purpose, he will make immediate report of thecircumstances to the next higher commander. Only in amost serious emergency will such commander be justifiedin withdrawing from an area without leaving adequateGraves Registration Service personnel to complete theburials pertaining to his command, unless specifically soauthorized by higher authority in each case.c. Organization and functions under T/O & E 10-298.The organization and functions of the quartermaster

graves registration company when it operates in accordancewith T/O & E 10-298 is as follows:(1) Basic functions. The functions of the graves registration company are the physical collection, evacuation,identification, and burial of battlefield dead; the collection

and disposition of personal effects and, subject to theapproval of a higher headquarters, the' selection of sitesfor cemeteries. The term "Killed in Action" and its abbreviation KIA, used on'WD MD Form 52b (see fig. 1)applies not only to those meeting sudden death, but to allcasualties who as a result of wounds die on the field beforereaching an aid station. The company is not authorizednor equipped to perform embalming. Grave digging isdone by laborers organic to the graves registration company. Additional labor required will be provided by theattachments of units from the T/O & E 10-500, Quartermaster Service Organization, or from such other laborunits as are available.(2) Subdivision of Company (a) Platoon. The platoonis the basic work unit. It is designed to serve a division and

will be under the direct control of the division quartermaster for specific functions and assignments. It is commanded by a commissioned officer. The officer, in additionto directing and supervising the activities of the platoon,will maintain constant contact with divisio n in order to


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obtain advance information concerning the movement andrelocation of collecting points, the clearing of burialrecords, and approval of the location of cemeteries whichhe has previously selected. He will also be responsiblefor burial and all matters pertaining thereto. The noncommissioned officer, in addition to his duties as platoonleader, is responsible for the final inspection of identification and burial records and for forwarding them throughthe division to the graves registration company headquarters (located at corps headquarters) ; furnish the draftsman with identification data, such as name, rank andserial number, if available, necessary to complete his buriallocation records and maps; and furnishes section leaderswith information concerning the location of collecting andclearing stations. The medical noncommissioned officerwill make the final and more technical phase of identification, devoting particular attention to cases on whichcomplete information is lacking and in cooperation withthe platoon noncommissioned officer will be responsiblefor the final check of records before they are forwarded.Other personnel provided include clerks, draftsmen andtruck drivers.

(b) Section. To perform efficiently its mission, thegraves registration section must collect, make initial identification of, and evacuate battlefield dead. To accomplishits mission, the section is divided into a collecting squadand an evacuation squad.

1. The collecting squad consists of the squad leaderand laborers whose mission will be the collection of battlefield dead and items bothpersonal and issue, found on or near thebody which may be of a id for identification.The collecting squad will carry them (vialitter) to a central collecting station. Allpersonnel are trained in identification procedure.

2. The evacuation squad consists of squad leader,laborers, and truck drivers. A medical tech-


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nician is attached to this squad. The squadleader is in charge of the collecting station.With the assistance of the medical technician, he initiates identification of bodies;and supervises the loading of litters intovehicles for evacuation to the divisionGraves Registration Service clearing stations.

3. A clerk is provided to assist in identification ofbodies, the segregation, listing and properdisposition of personal effects for shipmentto Graves Registration Service headquartersthrough company headquarters.

(3) Company. The company will normally be attachedto a corps having three divisions. If the number of divisions is increased, it will be necessary to augment thecompany by the addition of appropriate Graves Registration Service cells from T/O & E 10-500, QuartermasterService Organization. It will be under direction of thearmy quartermaster or such other army or corps staffofficer as is delegated by the commanding general of thetheater of operations insofar as operational and tacticalrequirements demand. Its elements will be assigned tosubordinate units as determined by the corps commander.The other functions of the company will be as describedunder T/O& E 10-297.6. OPERATIONAL INFORMATION. It is essential thatthe officer commanding the graves registration unit attached to an organization, receive information from thecommander of such organization concerning all contemplated operations, and -that he be kept informed of theprogre 'ss of events as they occur. This information willpermit graves registration officers to maintain comprehensive maps of the particular areas or sectors to which theyare assigned. Daily posting of organizational reports of"Killed in Action" and "Missing in Action" will be ofgreat value in determining identifications of unknown dead


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located within th ese areas. The graves registration officershould acquain t himself with the medical plan as expressed in those data furnished by the surgeon to G-4 fo rpublication in the administrative order of the division orthe corps. The solu tion of the problem as to the locationand distribx ition of graves registration units is simplifiedby a knowledge of the Medical Department's plans. Thesystem should be so organized thaif death occurs at anypoint along the l ine of removal of the injured, the bodiesmay be transferred from theMedical Corps to the GravesRegistration Service.

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SECTION I ICEMETERIES

7 . RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELECTION. It is th e duty ofthe commanding generals of each army, corps, division, orother command, to supervise the selection and locationof the tem porary cemeteries in the areas and sectors withinwhich his command is operating. This responsibility willinclude the proper interment of the dead, th e determination of identities, when possible, and the preparation andmaintenance of the required burial forms and records.8. PH YSICAL A N D TERRAIN FEATU RES. Cemeteriesand graves should be screened from hostile ground observation and as nearly as possible be located beyond therange of hostile artillery. Local cemeteries may be utilizedwhen suitably located, if no American military cemeteryhas been acquired. If circumstances permit, authorizationof local officials should be secured. C emeteries should belocated in open fields w here the soil is well drained andeasy to dig and with or near good lateral roads leadingfrom the flanks of the command which it is designated toserve. In any event, th e ground should be suitable forthe purpose. It should not be underlaid with rock, requiring blasting, nor should it be swampy, which causes th egraves to fill with water. Sites near the banks of a stream should be avoided not only because of the possibility ofpolution but also because overflow may cause gravemarkers to be washed away, thus removing valuable identification media.

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9. LOCATION. Sites should be in such a position and ofsuch shape as to interfere as little as possib le with theuse of adjoining land; for example, the corner and notthe center of a field should be selected. The site shouldbe selected with a view to economy, bearing in mind thatthe owners of the land must be compensated by the nationwithin whose borders the permanent cemetery is established. For example, as little frontage along the road aspossible should be taken. Where there is any choice ofland, the poorer quality should be cleared rather than th emore fertile. In order that such parcels may not be carelessly divided, attention should be paid to parcel boundaries, which may usually be distinguished by differenceof cultivation.10. RELATIVE LOCATION. Other factors being favorable, cemeteries should be located in places convenient tothe sectors where the heaviest fighting and casualties areexpected.11. DE S C R IPTIONS. A description of the ground recommended or selected for use as a cemetery should be prepared and include such surface conditions as slopes, trees,prominent terrain irregularities and vegetation, availab leroads and other means of access. All m ap coordinatesshould be indicated to establish absolute means of location. The standard maps of the area available and in useat the headquarters of the particular theater of operations, should be referred to and cited in the description.12. P L A NS FOR CE M E TERIES. In laying out temporarycemeteries the standard plan furnished by The Quartermaster General will be strictly followed, both as to plotting and numbering of graves, except when deviation isactually required by terrain conditions, in which caseimmediate report of the modifications and reasons thereforwill be forwarded through military channels to the chief,Graves Registration Service of the theater of operationsor defense command concerned (see fig. 2).12


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13. N U M B E R OF CEM ETERIE S. This generally will bedetermined by the intensity of the action, the rapidityof advance, the location of fietd hospital groups, thelength of haul in transporting bodies for burial, and thecharacter of the terrain. There should be a cemeteryestablished in the vicinity of one or two division hospitalstations, and one or more, in the event of a wide envelopment, in the zone of action of the enveloping force.14. U SE OF ESTA BLISHED LOCAL CEM ETER IES. Whenprovisions must be made for burial in local cemeteries,pending the necessary delay in acquiring land, an unoccupied plot should be selected with the view to providingand planning the maximum space for burials in regularorder. If any graves are already included in the space,the size, spacing, and plotting scheme should be noted,together with necessary measurements.15. IN SPECTION OF CEM ETER Y. A s soon as a cemeteryis closed, a final inspection report and survey will bemade by the local Graves Registration Service unit and

' forwarded to the chief of the Graves Registration Serviceof the theater of operations concerned. This final inspection report and survey will not be based on data or blueprints re ceived from the office of the chief of the GravesRegistration Service, but will reflect the actual positionof each grave, at the time, and the name of the occupantsas shown on the crosses or other markers. Sufficient spaceshould be retained in the cemetery to provide the gravesites for bodies subsequently recovered in the vicinity.16. M APS. The Graves Registration Service unit commander must keep an accurate map of grave locations atall times. Topographic draftsmen and their assistants areincluded within the unit for this purpose. He should beactive, conscientious and constantly alert to eliminate uncertainty as to such locations. C opies of all cemeterymaps or sketches of all isola te d burialsshould be furnishedThe Quartermaster General as soon as practicable, withcomplete information noted thereon as referred to inparagraph 11.

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1 6 0

1 J 4 4 D M

CEMETERY PLANFigure 2 . Cemetery flan.NOTES

(1) Graves to be a minimum of 5 feet in depth.(2) All interments to be made with head in same direction.(3) Marker to be placed a t head of graves.(4) Graves to be numbered consecutively, starting with No, 1at left (standing a t foot of grave and facing head) and followingro w to end, then continuing with first grave at left of secondrow.14


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SKETCH "A"i

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9.14.4. DMPLAN OF TRENCH

TREN CH METHOD O F INTERMENT

SKETCH U B"". 12" IZ "

*

SECTION THRU TRENCHSEE NOTE (6)

(5) Where terrain or other reasons necessitate excavation oftrench for burial purposes, the remains will be interred thereinin same manner and distance apart according to this plan (seesketch "A"). In such cases, extreme care must be taken to insuremarker being placed at the grave to which it pertains.(6) In light or sandy soil where excavation will not stand, itis sometimes necessary to dig trenches to a depth of 4 feet andthen make single excavations 1 foot deeper (see sketch "B").(7) Care should be taken that graves are in line with oneanother both laterally and longitudinally.(8) The meridian (directional arrow) indicating north shouldbe shown on all plans and sketches.(9) Separate layout plans should be prepared for each cemeteryand/or burial plot.

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SECTION II I

BUR IA LS

17 . GENERAL Burials of the dead in a theater of operations may be considered to be of the following generaltype s, the classification being predicated upon the urge ncyof immediate burial, the pre sence or abse nce of grave sregistration personnel with ne cessary burial forms andothersupplies, and the timepermitted to e ffe ct the burials:Battlefield burials In active areas. In active areas,battlefield burials are imperative for sanitary reasons andfor preserving morale where advance lines are practicallystationary. They will be made under most hazardous conditions usually at night and a shallow grave with alight covering of earth must suffice . One or two me n mayconstitute the burial party. There will be no time to search

the body, to remove personal e ffe cts, or to verify anddispose of tags. A stick, or large rock, or a bayonet with,a helmet superimposed will be use d to indicate the graveof a soldier. Therewill be no records of burials and nograve location, but some sufficient marker must be foundor de vised to mark the spot definitely, so that burialparties of grave s registration personnel will subse quentlylocate the body and make proper burial, complying withthe requirements pertaining to tags, personal e ffe cts, reports, records, etc. These burials, however, will in mostinstances be made by order of the unit or higher commander; there may be no graves registration personne lavailable and the burial parties will not be equipped with16


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the prescribed burial report forms, grave markers, safetypins, burial bottles, etc. The task of the burial party willbe one of expeditious accomplishment but the necessityof locating all dead in the particular area,, obtaining andmaintaining individual identifications, grave locations andrecords pertaining thereto and the securing of all personaleffects from the body and placing them in the possessionof the officer or non-commissioned officer in charge of theburial detail will in no way be disregarded or slighted.In order to assure that, in these hasty burials, essentialrequirements are ob served and basic records obtained, it isabsolutely necessary that chaplains, company officers, noncommissio ned officers, and all other personnel who are ormay be engaged in this dangerous, serious, and solemnduty be thoroughly informed of the fundamental burialrequirements, the great importance of accuracy in recordsand identification, the proper disposition of identificationtags, and the placement of well emb edded, substantialgrave markers. In making these burials, shallow trenches,shell craters, and other ground identationswill be utilized.Time may not permit fixed depths, spacings and alignment. It should be understood that graves registration orother units will subsequently rework these hasty burialsand concentrate them into established temporary cemeteries. This fact will account for the physical appearanceof the burial plots but in no waywill permit laxity orcarelessness in observing the fundamental burial requirements.b . Battlefield buria ls during forward movement. Battlefield burials in immediate areas where hostile activitiesare diminishing and forward movement continues wouldin most instances pertain to the dead who have fallen onthe field of battle and, whose remains, due to the forwardmovement of the battle and lack of personnel and timefor burial purposes, have been left on the battlefield. Theymay have been there for one or more days until troop,Graves Registration Service, or other service units can beassigned to bury-these dead. Temporarycemeteries will belocated and the dead brought in by hand litters and motor

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transportation. Searching parties should cover the immediate terrain thoroughly in an effort to locate all bodies.Graves will be dug and requirements for depth, spacingand alignment observed. Graves registration personnelmay be present to supervise the burials and obtain co mplete records of same. If not, a qualified officer will beassigned as burial officer and it will be his responsibilityto collect all required data pertaining to the individualbodies, to assign and record grave locations, to receive allpersonal effects and inventories thereof and to obtain fullcompliance with all burial requirements. Some of thesegraves may contain bodies buried hastily, as described inabove. If time permits, it would be sound policy to co ncentrate at this time all isolated and group burials (lessthan 12) that are accessible to the burial party and itsnewly established cemeteries. However, the burial datafor those reburied ca"ses should be maintained in sequenceso that the history for each individual case will be complete. These newly established temporary cemeteries will,in general, remain until final disposition of oversea deadis determined. Their operation, maintenance and controlwill become a function of the Graves Registration Service.

c. Burials at or near ..ospitals in the theater of operations. Cemeteries are or will be established in the vicinityof hospitals in practical'y all instances and will be readilyacc3ssible by ambulance or other motor transportation. Theburial of deceased prtients, the preparation of requiredburial forms, disposition of personal effects and full co mpliance with all burial requirements should offer nounusual difficulty. There should be a graves registrationrepresentative available tc supervise the burials and theaccomplishment of burial records. If not, a chaplain, medica l administration corps officer, or some other officershould be designated as a burial officer.d. Burials at large installations. Cemeteries will be inlocations accessible to ports, base, convalescent and generalhospitals, depots, and railheads in the theater of operations.The availability of rail and motor facilities will permit18


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the proper records to be made and transmit them to thegraves registration officer of the sector concerned. In addition, the organization commander of the deceased will benotified of the burial. In all cases,where possible, a chaplain of the faith of the deceased will perform the burialrites.c. When it is necessary forpersonnel other thanGravesRegistration Service to accomplish the burial, a noncommissioned officer or well-qualified private of the MedicalDepartment should accompany the burial party on thefield of battle and prepare the WD MD Form 526(Emergency Medical Tag) for each body not previouslyso tagged (see fig. 1).

d. The final and complete systematic search for bodie swill be made as soon as the area is free from hostile fir eaction by Graves Registration Service units assigned tothe area. Up to that time the deadwill have been found,for the most part, at the location of the company, battalion, and regimental aid stations, the collecting stations,and at the clearing stations.e. Carefulsearches will be made ofbattlefields to insurethat burial of the dead and registration of graves*havenot been overlooked. Unburied dead will, if possible , beburied in the nearest established cemetery. Unmarkedgraves will be marked temporarily so that they can be

relocated easily, and will be reported to the graves registration officer concerned, who will take immediate actiontoward identification, and will either remove the bodyto an established cemetery or so mark, register, and fencethe grave that the body therein may be disposed ofproperly at a suitable time.f. Battlefield burials will necessarily be made hastily,

and quite often under fire. As a consequence, the gravemarkings will be temporary and the location of the burialplaces frequently unsuitable. The Graves RegistrationService is responsible for reburials and concentrationsthereafter made to provideproperdisposition of these hasty battlefield burials.20


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g. At best, a humanbody is not particularly conspicuouson a modern battlefield, among trenches, shell craters, andresulting debris, stretching beyond the limits of vision.The clothing which is intended to make a man inconspicuous in life does likewise in death. Moreover, m en areinstructed and instinct prompts them to take advantageof every available means of shelter and concealment. Menconceal themselves behind banks, mounds, hedges, rocks,trees, fallen logs, arbors, in ruined buildings, or in anyplace offering the slightest degree of protection. Self-preservation is the first law of nature, and these actionsspring from no lack of bravery rather they are the resultof the calm courage of good judgment and training.

h. In the search for bodies great care should be usedto avoid booby traps, and anti-personnel mines which mayhave been placed under bodies by enemy forces.19. DISPOSITION OF ORIGINAL E M E R G E NCY MED ICAL T A G S , WD M D FORM 52b. The emergencymedical tag attached to the bodies of the sick or of thosekilled in action, including those prepared by any medicaldepartment personnel accompanying the burial party, willbe removed at the time of interment either by the medicaldepartment representative or by a responsible member ofthe burial party and will be forwarded in either case directto the Chief Surgeon, who will transmit them, after theyhave been used for any necessary purpose in his office, toThe Surgeon General. The wire will be removed from themedical tag before forwarding. Carbon copies of theemergency tag will be assembled and utilized by the seniormedical officer of each unit to compile for the organizationcommander such daily list of casualties as may be requiredin preparing or checking his reports. (See AR 40-1025for additional use of carbon copies of emergency medicaltags WD MD Form 52b.)20. A T T A C H E D M EDICAL PERSONNE L . The medicalpersonnel attached to the graves registration company are

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not intended for use in treating the wounded or in performing other functions of the Medical Department in thecombat zone. Their function is to assist graves registrationpersonnel in the establishment of cause and certainty ofdeath and in the identification of the dead by means oftechnical inspections and notations. Their basic traininghas fitted them for the rapid and accurate execution of thistask. They are familiar with medical terminology and tosome extent with anatomical details. Inasmuch as thedisposition of graves registration personnel for operationsis somewhat similar .to that of the Medical Departmentin the collection of the wounded, the medical personnelattached to graves registration units will serve as technicalcontact men with medical personnel performing theirusual duties. Close coordination at this point will facilitatethe separation of the dead from the wounded and therapid burial of the former.21. DISPOSITION OF IDENTIFICATION TAGS. One o fthe two identification tags worn as prescribed in ArmyRegulations will be attached to the remains when interred.This includes any and all interments in the theater ofoperations the first battlefield interment, as well as theinterment into a temporary cemetery for subsequent, finaldisposition. The duplicate tag will be removed at time ofinterment and attached securely to the grave marker about2 inches from the top.22. UNKNOWN INTERM EN TS, complete set offingerprints (all 10 fingers) should be made on the reportof interment, if possible, tooth charts, notation of anatomical characteristics and results of inspection of thebody for other identifying media should be properlymadeor noted. No remains should be interred as Unknownsuntil every available means of identification has been exhausted. In battlefield burials, when identification tagsare missing, identification should be made by members" ofthe organization of the deceased. Positive identification22


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obtained by these or other means should be made of recordand a copy of same placed in a canteen, bottle or othercontainer and buried with the body. When the absenceof identification tags prevents positive identification bythis means, members of the units, engaged in the areawhere th e casualties have occurred, m ay take personalidentification. The name, rank, and serial number of theofficers or soldiers making the personal identification, andthe date, should be noted on all burial records pertainingthereto.

.b 1. Identification of unknown. Where bodies cannot beidentified immediately, in order to obtain uniformity inth e method and procedures to be followed in the burialof such unknowns so that every possible m eans may betaken toward determining their identity, the followingprocedures will govern:

(1) In cases of group casualties,either in airplane cra shes or burned tanks, where individual identities were completely lost and only groupidentities could be determined by organizational listsshowing the crew complement of the airplane or tank atthe take-off or commencement of action, it has been possible occasionally to separate and preserve the individualremains of one or more and, in some instances, ail them embers of the crew. When identification tags or otherpositive means of identification are found the individual remains, the particular case offers no complicationor doubt as to identity and this case will be buried in theprescribed manner. When individual cases have all evidence of identification completely destroyed by fire orotherwise, these bodies should be definitely marked Unknown x-6, x-7 etc., the numeral assigned, to the firstbody being the next serial number to the last UnknownX-( Number) remains already buried in the temporarycemetery where these remains are to be interred. Thegrave likewise will be so marked that the remains willhave a definite grave location. The importance of obtainin g fingerprints and definitely affixing the proper X-

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(Number) to the remains, with nam e of cemetery andpertaining grave location noted on the report of burialwill permit further identification research by the Officeof The Quartermaster General with every possibility ofeventually determining conclusive id entity.In those cases where the remains of a crew or acertain number of its members are so consumed by fire ,torn apart and scattered by explosive action, or mingledtogether so as to prevent segregation of individual remains, skulls with such anatomical parts which m ay beadhering to them or can positively be established as per

taining to them should be regarded as individual casesand buried in separate graves. These graves will be markedand recorded as Unknowns X-(Number), the numberassigned being in accordance with the m ethod prescribedin Subsequent exhumation for identification purposeswill permit in m any cases preparation of complete toothcharts which, because of the sm all number of bodies inwhich possible identification is confined, should give m uchassurance of conclusive identifications.

In those instances where it is absolutely impossibleto segregate bodies in whole, or in part, offering poss ibility of subsequent identification, all recoverable remainswill be gathered and buried in a single grave."The burialrecord will show the action taken and the names of thecrew complem ent, if available. All identifying numberson the airplane or ta nk, if available, should also be recorded thereon. The same informationwill be recorded onthe grave m arked by em bossed plates and will also beplaced on the burial bottle record.

(2) Unknowns, such aswater casualties eventually washed ashore, where all positive evidence of id entification, have been lost due to prolonged immersion, decomposition and other causes , shouldwhen recovered be given an X-(Number) designation inaccordance with instructions contained in (1) above.

In those cases where thecomplete dental chart canbe obtained without mutilation of the jaws, this should24


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be accomplished and a copy of the chartsubmitted to TheQuartermaster General, together with such other information as to organization in action in'this particular areaat poss ible time of death, and other pertinent facts thatmightoffer clues to identity.23. INDENTIFICATION AND INTERM ENT, Identi-fication is an important function of personnel at everypoint down the route of evacuation, beginningwithcollecting identifying media by the graves registration personnel,through the actual identification. If identification is notat once possible, fingerprints of all 10 fingersand completedental chartsshould be taken. Thiswill facilitate identification later. The fingerprint files of TheAdjutant General's Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation arebased on mathematical formulae which require a completeset of thumbprints and fingerprints from both hands ofthe individual. With a complete set of both hands of thedeceased pers on, these agencies are able to localize thesearch to the perusal of less than two hundred individualfiles. If, however, it is im poss ib le to obtain a completes et, imprints should be made of any fingers or thumbswhich will give a legible impression. When the bodieshave been brought to the place of burial, the burial officeror his assistants should search them carefully to makesure that nothing of value or interest to thos e at homeis buried. Careful and renewed search of pockets willoften bringto light letters and cards that have been overlooked. If organization is known itmay be pos s ib le to callsome of the men of the s ame company who may personally identify the body or will have knowledge of effectsfound on the body and attribute s ame to a known memberof the organization. After the bodies have been identifiedor are ready for interment they should be wrapped inblankets, mattress covers, or shelter-halves, which arefastened securely with safety pins (horse blanket size).The number of pins to be used is left to the discretionof the Graves Registration Service burial officer and willvary with individual cases . However, after all has been

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done, if some bodies remain nam eless they should beburied in separate graves. These bodies will be designatedUnknown X-l,- Unknown X-2 and so on in numericalsequence for all unidentified bodies in the burial plot orcemetery. The records pertaining to these bodies will besimilarly marked so that in subsequent disinterment foridentification or concentration, the designation thus established will be preserved and identification research narrowed down.

b. In taking the fingerprints of a deceased person thefirst important matter is to cleanse the fingers either withsoap and water or the cleaning fluid in the kit. Theoperator, standing just at the back of the shoulders, andwith his left hand, lifts the arm of the deceased personas though extending it above the head. This movementautomatically extends the fingers. While holding the armin this position the finger is inked by bringing it in contact with the metal plate which has been prepared (inkedwith a minimum amount of ink). The fingerprint formwhich has previously been folded and inserted in theslots of the fingerprint shovel is then firmly gripped andthe deceased person's thumbprint pressed in the hollowof the shovel. The sam e 'action for all the fingers is repeated. With the fingerprint shovel there is no necessityto roll the fingers as the placing of the finger in thehollow of the shovel gives the rolled impression. Fingerprint equipment must be kept clean, and free from dustand the screwcap kept on the tube of ink when not in use.24. LOST IDENTIFICATION TAGS. The incidents ofcombat may cause identification tags to becom e separatedfrom the person of the soldier. Intermediate officers ofthe Graves Registration Service should im press upon theirsubordinates the necessity of endeavoring to "match up"identification tags found on the battlefield with "Unknowns" or bodies on which are found other evidence ofidentity, in the area in which the identification tags werefound. Inquirymay be made of the unit commanders in26


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the area before proceeding further with the attempt tomatch up. The search may narrow down to a few unknowns in a particular area, and these lost tags, by theprocess of elimination, ultimately may be restored to thesoldiers or the bodies to which they belong. Every meansshould be exhausted to accomplish this in the area inwhich the tags have been found before forwarding thetags to higher authority. If all such efforts have beenunsuccessful, the tags should be forwarded to headquarters, Graves Registration Service of the theater of operations concerned, with a sketch of the location wherefound, and a factual statement of units and organizationsrepresented by known dead recovered and buried in thisparticular area, and such other information which mightconfine the research for identification to a minimum groupof missing in action possibilities. This headquarters willthen endeavor to match up these tags with the burialreports of unknowns.by using the anatomical characteristics of the deceased reported at time of burial as themain foundation of inquiry and the lost identification tagas secondary medium.25. DISPOSITIO N OF IDENTIFICATIO N TAG WHENNO MARKER IS AV AILABLE. In many cases where theerection of a marker is temporarily impracticable, theidentification tag (to be attached to the marker whenavailable) should be placed in a bottle, or if a bottleis not obtainable, in the most practicable container available, and buried six inches below the surface of theground, centered at the head of the grave. A protrudingstake or peg should be driven at least 18" in the groundto indicate the position where the grave marker will besubsequently placed so there will be no question as towhom the grave belongs. If one tag is missing, the remaining tag will be buried with the body and the marker,marked with the name, grade and Army serial numberuntil a substitute tag is made. If additional or substitutetags are made they should be marked as such. If there isno tag (both identification tags being missing), all avail-

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able identifying data should be recorded on two slips ofpaper, each placed in a separate bottle or other containeras described above, on bottle buried with the remainsand the other placed in the ground at the head of thegrave. The information contained in the bottle at thehead of the grave is later reproduced on a metal label bymeans of an embossing machine and attached to themarker by personnel of the Graves Registration Service.Each label has a capacity of five lines of type, and willbe embossed as follows:

First line: Name of wearer (first name, middleinitial, last name).Second line: Army serial number.Third line: Rank and organization.Fourth line: Date of death; faith (P for Protestant; C for Catholic; H forHebrew).Fifth line: Grave location (section, row and graveNo.).

26. ENEMY DEAD. There will be established in thecentral records office, Provost Marshall General's Office,the Prisoner of War Information Bureau prescribed bythe Geneva Convention. While the Graves RegistrationService will maintain the same records on the enemydead as on our troops, information on our people willbe transmitted directly by the Graves Registration Serviceto The Quartermaster General and information concerning enemy dead must be handled through the Prisoner ofWar Information Bureau. To this end, it is brought tothe attention of all concerned that insofar as identificationmeasures are concerned when the identification tags arefound on a dead enemy soldier the following procedureis followed:

(1) One half of the tag remains on the body and isburied with it.(2) The information on the other half is copied (withthe aid of an interpreter or a translation sheet) in English

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characters and either written in plain block letters b y -means of lead pencil, not indelible pencil or fountain penonthe marker, or the information placed in a similar

container as provided for the graves of American dead,and placed in the earth near the head of the grave. If theinformation is written on the marker, the marker is placedin the grave at a forward angle of 45 in order that theinformation will not be subject to obliteration by theelements. The same procedure will be followed in markingthese graves with the metal label by means of an embossingmachine as those of our American dead.

(3) The duplicate or other half of the identificationtag is then forwarded to the Prisoner of War InformationBureau through channels prescribed by the commandinggeneral of the forces in the field .

(4) Documents found on enemy dead, will be usedfor the identification measures prescribed, in the absenceidentification tags on the dead, and will then be disposed of in accordance with regulations dealing with docu

ments found on the enemy. See Field Manual 30-15(Restricted).(5) The procedures above assume that enemy dead

will be wearing either two tags or a tag which can bebroken in half, for example, the German type. Whereonly one tag is worn, graves registration personnel areconfronted with a more difficult task. The requirementsare clear that at least one tag or half of one tag beforwarded to the Prisoner of War Information Bureau.Under these circumstances the tag will be removed fromthe body and forwarded to the Prisoner of War Information Bureau. However, before the tag is removed, thecharacters thereon will be copied on a piece of paper andplaced in a bottle; the bottle is then inserted in theclothing of the soldier. The same information is reproduced, with the aid of an interpreter or a translationsheet, in English characters and written in block letterson the marker. If time permits, the sheet to be placed inthe bottle will likewise be translated into English.

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b. Rules for buria l of enemy dead. Enemy dead willbe buried in separate sections apart from regular burialsites of members of our own or allied armies within thecemetery. Such graves will be properly marked and registered and will remain the custody of and be cared for bythe Quartermaster Corps. A metal tag marked "ED"will be attached to the temporary grave marker.27. ISO LATED B U RIALS, When death occurs duringan action, the remains of individual soldiers will be buriedat or near the place of death, until further disposition becomes practicable.b. Concentration. (1) Efforts will be made on thepart of all concerned to avoid isolated interments. Everyisolated burial renders likely the loss of a soldier's body,and makes registration and maintenance of the gravedifficult.

(2) Groups of less than 12 graves will be consideredas isolated burials. Circumstances and surrounding conditions will determine whether the remains are to be removed at once to an established cemetery or marked,registered, reported and properly safeguarded for thepresent.

(3) Groups of 12 or more graves should be established,marked, registered, and reported as a cemetery. Thesebodies should be removed unless the location is unsuitable, or subsequent concentrations are decided tofacilitate the maintenance of these graves or the exhumation operations for returning thedead to theUnited States.28. BU RIA L A T SEA. When death occurs at sea, thecommanding officer of troops through the commandingofficer of the transport, will make report to The AdjutantGeneral and request instructions for disposing of thebody. (Radio silence will not be broken for this purpose.) Burial will not be made in a foreign port or atsea in advance of receipt of such instructions, except whenpreservations or retention of the body is impossible.30


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Should it be nece ssary to bury the rcrn; ;r,s se a, diene ce ssity, therefore, together with the latitude, and longitude of the place of burial will be included in the notification to The Adjutant General.b. Except in case of death aboard ship and when spe cificinstructions are issue d to return the body to the UnitedSta tes, no bodies will be shippe d to the UnitedStates frompoints outside the continental limits thereof until furtherinstructions are issue d (se e par. 47).

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SECT ION IV REPORT OF BURIA L S

29. IN SPECTION OF GRAVES. No grave will be considered as fully reported until a Graves RegistrationService representa tive has visited the grave and is reasonably satisfied of its identity and m arkings (see par. 15).30. IS OLATED B U RIALS. All reports of isolated burialshould note distances from landmarks, buildings, ruins,conspicuous stum ps of trees, road crossings, etc., and otherterrain features, by means of which graves m ay be locatedeven though the markings thereon may have been destroyed. In all cases Graves Registration Service officerswill mark graves, as soon as they are located, with a temporary name peg or marker, and will noteon their reportsthat such name peg or marker has been m ade official bythe signature of the officer or noncommissioned officer incharge.31. REPORTS O F INTERM ENTS. A report of interm ent(Symbol No. 24-40192 ABCD, GR Form No. 1 (seefig. 3)) should be m ade and forwarded through channels; the original, to The Quartermaster General (seepar. 39). The num ber of copies and to whom they aresent will be established by higher authority. In all casesin reporting the place of burial, the name of the cemeteryand the exact geographical location of the cem eteryshouldbe noted on the interment report, but not the A.P.O.32


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number. The name of the chaplain or other person conducting the burial rites should be added if GR FormNo. 1 is used.32. WEEKLY REPORT. The weekly report, (GR FormNo. 2 (see fig. 4)) should be forwarded through channels,th e same as the reports of interment, at the end of eachweek showing the number of interments that have beenmade in a particular section. This report is used for acheck against the records to see if a report of intermenthas been received for all burials during that particularperiod.33. HANDLING OFGRAVES REGISTRATION SERVIC EBU RIAL REPORTS. Burial reports received by any intermediate officer, such as a Graves Registration Service officer of a com pany or a division, will be promptly subjectedto a critical examination, and such memoranda takentherefrom as m ay be needed. Theofficer will then forwardthem to the chief, Graves Registration Service, as quicklyas possible after receipt, by informal indorsement on thereport itself, that is, by office stamp showing dates ofreceipt and transmittal. Should he find errors or omissionsin the report, he will, by letter to the responsible officer,call attention to same and direct that the necessary actionbe taken toward proper execution of the reports. He willnot, however, detail the papers in his office awaiting correction, but will forward them to the chief, Graves Registration Service of the theater of operations or base command concerned, as soon as practicable, with a copy ofhis letter to th e responsible officer. The officer responsiblefor the preparation of the report will reply to the letterfrom his superior officer by indorsement. After reply hasbeen noted by the intermediate officer, the latter will forward the reply without delay to the chief, Graves R egistration Service.34. OBLIGATIONS OF INTERMEDIATE OFFICER, a.All officers of the Graves Registration Service through

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whom reports are forwarded will maintain in properform complete records or burials and grave locations together with all necessary details in connection therewithcompiled from reports received by them.b. The stress of combat often results in failure to supply information concerning the burial of the dead and thedetermination of the location of their graves. This mustbe guarded against as the headquarters of the GravesRegistration Service, theater of operations, or base command will insist upon complete data being furnished.35. R EC O R D S OF BURIAL OF ENEM Y DEAD. Suchrecords will be marked to show enemyor prisoner ofwardead, so as to eliminate any possible confusion of th eseclasses with our own burials, and to facilitate observationof international agreements relatingto supplying information through neutral or International Red_Cross agencies,and reports of such burials to be reported on (Symbol No.24-40192 ABCD GR Form No. 1 (see fig . 3)) throughchannels to Prisoner of War Information Bureau, ProvostMarshal General's Office.36. R EC O R DS OF BURIAL OF DESERTERS AND D ISH O N O R A B L Y DISCHARGED M EN . Deserters or dis-honorably discharged men will be buried in a separatesection designated for this purpose, and the graves markedand registered and burial reported in the regular waythrough channels to TheQuartermaster General.37. REPORTS OF ALLIED DEA D. Should there be alliedor associated troops operating with our forces, burial oftheir dead by our burial officers will be reported and forwarded as above, except that the officer in charge of theGraves Registration Service will, in addition to transmitting a copy of the report to The Quartermaster General,forward a copy to the Graves Registration Service of theappropriate allied government or associated organizationconcerned.

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38. BURIALS AT SEA .Reports of burial at sea will bemade on regular GR Form No. 1, (see fig. 3) giving inaddition to the informationcalled for thereon, thelatitudeand longitudeof the placeof burial.39. REPORTS. GR Form No. 1 (Symbol No. 24-40192ABCD) is required and will be-distributed as follows:

a. Central records office (Casualty Section), AdjutantGeneral's Department, Theater of Operations or BaseCommand.

b. The Quartermaster General.c. Chief Surgeon, Field Forces.d. Reports of Enemy Dead-Prisoner of War Informa

tion Bureau, Central Records Office, Provost MarshalGeneral's Office.

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S E C T I O N VGRAVE M A R K E R S

40. TEMPORARY GRAVE MARKERS, a . At the time ofburial each grave must be marked in such a way as toinsure identification. Name pegs and labels may ordinarilybe obtained for this purpose from the local Graves Registration Service unit, but chaplains and others are expectedto keep themselves supplied by means of prescribed requisitions on the Graves Registration Service of the theaterof operations. These name pegs a re V-shaped woodenboards 1 inch in thickness, 6 inches wide at top, and 38inches in length as measured from center of top line totapering points at bottom of peg. Chaplains attached toorganizations operating in the forward areas, when accompanying burial parties near the front after heavycasualties, should be supplied with an adequate numberof pegs, with labels, if available. In the absence of namepegs, any ordinary stake may be used. In a ll cases theduplicate identification tag must be securely affixed to thispeg, the original tag having been buried with the body(see fig. 5).

b. In the larger cemeteries in which isolated burials andothers have been concentrated awaiting return of bodiesto the homeland the graves may be marked with temporary crosses and Star of David as indicated by figure 6.The identification that was attached to the name pegshould be removed and attached to the cross or Star ofDavid.

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SCALE I)

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SECT ION V IEFFECTS

41. PERSONAL EFFECTS, a. Effects foundonly will be regarded as personal effects. Only these willbe disposed of and listed on report of interment.

b. Standard procedure for disposition of personaleffects. (1) The following is the established procedurein the shipment of personal effects in order to minimizethe possibilities of pilfering of personal effects , and toprovide an accurate check on the effects shipped. It is thepolicy of The Quartermaster General to place the responsibility for the proper shipment of personal effectsupon theproperpersonnel, namely the Graves RegistrationService officers in the theaters of operation as are designated by theater commandinggenerals to handle personaleffects in transit. The proper handling and channeling ofpersonal effects by the officers responsib le will reducetheft and pilfering to an absolute minimum and providefor the proper check on theshipments.

(2) Each article of personal effects removed from thebodyof adeceased memberof the military fo rces or civilianpersonnel under the jurisdiction of'the War Departmentwill be listed on Graves Registration Form No. 1 (BurialReport) and on an inventory list, WD AGO Form 54,made out in quadruplicate. The original of WD AGOForm 54 will be placed in the effects bag or other container with the articles of personal effects of the deceased,one copy will bemailed to The Adjutant General, Wash-42


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ington, D. C., one copy will be mailed to the EffectsQuartermaster, KansasCity Quartermaster Depot, KansasCity, Missouri. The fourth copy will be retained byGraves Registration S e rv ice unit records. The identification card attached to the outside of the personal effectsbag will be filled out so far as p ossible to identify properly the owner of the contents of the bag, and the bagse aled . Each p ackage , box or cratewill be plainlymarkedwith the words "Effects of", followed by the full nam e ,grade, Army se rial number, and organization of the person to whom the effects be longe d, and by the word"deceased". When no personal effects are found on abod y, a notation to this e ffect will be made on the GRForm No. 1 (Burial Report) and such burial report willbe signed by the pe rson in charge of the burial detail andforwarded through channels in the usual way.

(3) After sealing, all personal effects bags will bep laced in a personal e ffe cts p ouch, with p ouch list showingthe identity of de ce ased personnel whose effects are included in thep ouch. Thepouchwill be lo cked and sealed for forwarding to the graves registration company commander. All p ouches will be checked on arrival at theGraves Registration S ervice com p any headquarters. If thepouch or lock shows signs of having been tampered with,the p ouch will be op e ne d and the contents checked againstthe duplicate cop y of the inventory. If this check p rov esthat all items are not as indicated on the inventory list,the grav e s registration company commander will notifythe headquarters to which his unit is attached and requestd isp osition. If all contents are in order, the p ouches willbe relocke d , re se ale d and conv oyed by hand to the nexthigher e chelon or base command, where final check willbe made prior to shipment to the Effects Quartermaster,Kansas City, Missouri. Shipments will be made by ex p ressfrom the United States Portsof Embarkation. A sufficientnumber of these p ouche s, with their equipment (lo cks,seals , lists and dispatch cards) were forwarded to theChief Quartermaster of each theater and base command

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to cover the initial supply for the lower echelons of thetheater and com m and concerned; additional supply ofsuch articles as cannot be supplied locallywillbe furnishedupon requis ition to The QuartermasterGeneral. All concerned should be cautio ned that the keys to these pouchesare not special keys, hut will open any personal effectspouch lock . It is , th erefore, directe d that keys be issuedonly to those officers concerned with the disposition ofpersonal effects.42. PROCEDU RESTHROUGHECHELO NS OF RAVESREGISTRATION SERV ICE , a. Burial Party. The noncommissioned officer in charge of theburial or searching party is responsib le for accurate check ing of personal effects,the inventorying in duplicate of these effects, packing ofthe articles in personal effects bag, fillin g out identif ication card on the personal effects bag id entifying theowner, and the safe hand deliv ery, with the in vento ry induplicate, to the nearest G ravesRegistrationService officer(com pany or plato on headquarters). The personal effectspouch will be used as a container for the personal effectsbags during delivery. The orig inal copy of the in vento rywill be packed in the personal effects bag; the duplicate copy ofthe inventorywill be carried by theperson makingdeliv ery to the G raves Registration Service officer, whichwill be receip ted by the G raves Registration Service officerand returned with the personal effects pouch to the originating noncommissioned officer.

b . Platoon or com pany headquarters. (1) The procedure at company or plato on headquarters (GravesRegistration Service) will be identical. The officer receivingthe effects from the b urial partywill check same againstthe inventory list, and note and investigate any discrepancies. After checking the contents of the personal effectsbags, he will receipt the duplicate inventory and retu rnthe pouch and the inventory to the originating noncommissioned officer.

(2) From theorig in al inventory in the personal effects44


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bag, the Graves Registration Service officer will maketwo additional copies to be disposed of as follows:One copy mailed to the E ffects Quartermaster,

Army Effects Bureau, Kansas City, Missouri.One copy retained for file.(3) The original inventory is packed in the personaleffects bag, the bag is then securely tied and sealed (seemethod of sealing in appendix). The Graves Registration

Service officer is held strictly responsible for the storingof all personal effects in a safe place to prevent loss ortheft.(4) When sufficient personal effects bags have beenreceived by platoon or company Graves RegistrationService headquarters to fill a personal effects pouch, or, onthe first of each month, the personal effects bags will bepacked in the personal effects pouch together with a pouchlist containing the names, rank and Army serial number

of the deceased personnel from whom these effects havebeen taken. The pouch will then be securely locked andsealed. The Graves Registration Service officer will makea list of the pouches to be shipped by pouch serial number, which will be carried by the person making safehand delivery to the base section, Graves RegistrationService officer. Transportation will be as directed by thetheater commander. At the time personal effects pouch isdispatched, the dispatching Graves Registration Serviceofficer will fill out the dispatch card in the transparentpocket on the outside of the pouch, showing the date andtime of dispatch and identify the Graves RegistrationService organization originating shipment.

c. Base section. (1) The base section Graves Registration Service officer is the receiving officer for personaleffects pouches at base section headquarters, and, afterchecking the pouches received against the list carried bythe convoyer, receipts the list and mails or returns it bysafe hand delivery to the officer originating the shipment,He then notes date and time of receipt on pouch dispatchcard and signs each.

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(2) The base section Graves Registration Service o fficer will not open the personal effects pouches in transitexcept in the following instances:(a) When pouches show evidence of pilfering and onlyf o r . the purpose of checking and making an investigation.

If in the judgment of the Graves Registra tionService officer it is expedient to consolida te the shipmentsof several partially filled pouches into one pouch. Inth is case pouch lists- be included in the transfer ofthe effects to another pouch. The dispatch card of theemptied pouches, the contents of w hich have been transferred to another pouch, will be signed by the base sectionGraves Registration Service officer and so noted as toshow the serial numberof the pouch to w hich the originalsh ipment w as transferred, giving time and date o f suchtransfer. The emptied pouch the dispatch card w illthen be returned to the Graves Registration Service unitoriginating the shipment.(3) Base section Graves Registration Service o f f icerspermitted to open pouches for the purpose ofconsolidating shipments enroute as describ ed above. Lockseals will not be broken nor pouches opened by any otherintermediate o f f icer except for the purpose of checkin gpouches w hich definitely show evidence of having beenpilfered or seals broken, and to initiate such investigation as necessary.d. Port quartermaster. (1) Theport quartermaster, orport transportation officer or any other o f f ice r designateda s effects officer by the port commandin g officer, i s there ceiving o f f icer for personal effects at the port of debarkation. Upon the receipt of the effects , he will receipt thepouch list carried by the convoyer and return the listeitherby mail or safe hand delivery to the Graves Regis

tration Service o f f icer effecting shipment to him. Pouchdispatch cards will be signed, noting the time and dateof receipt. The port effects o f f icer is personally responsiblefor the safe storage of pouches w hile under his jurisdiction. Only pouches show ing broken seals or signs of46


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having been pilfered, will be opened for inspection andinitiation of investigation regarding the loss.(2) Shipment of perso nal effects by th e responsible

officer, port of debarkation, if by water, will be on anAm erican vessel, o r by Am erican air transport if available . Ifshipment is m ade by water, the ship quartermasterwill be responsible for th e safe pilfer-p ro o f storage enro ute to the United State s. If by air transport, the cargoofficer will be responsible . A copy of the list of pouches,by serial num ber, will be given to the person respo nsible for safe delive ry to the port quartermaster, port of embarkatio n in the United State s. The list o f pouches willbe rece ipte d by th e receiving port quartermaster, or otherofficer designate d by port co m manding officer, in the United States, and returned as soon as possible to theresponsible officer, porto f debarkation, who effecte d shipm ent to United States.

e. Po rt of em barkatio n (United States). The po rtquartermaster, o r any other officer designate d as personaleffects officer by th e port co m manding officer is the re ceiving officer fo r personal effects at the port of embarkation, and upo n rece ipt of effects he will sign the copyof the list of pouches c arried by th e ship quartermasterand inspect pouches for evidence of tampering or bro kenseals. Hewill mail the list of pouches w hich he has re ceipted to the officer w ho last handled the effects, notingany discrepancies or evidences of loss the reon. Onlypouches sho w ing evidence o f having been pilfe red o r havingbroken seals will be opened for checking. Hewill initiate investigation regarding lo ss o f article s in any pouchesso fo und. The port effects officer will be responsiblefor the shipm ent by Railway Express within 24 hoursafter rece ipt to the Effects Quartermaster, A rm y Effects Bureau, K ansas City, Missouri. He will note and signthe pouch dispatc h card and show date and time o frece ipt, and date and time of dispatch. The Railw ayExpress receip t will show the serial num ber of each pouchshipped.

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f. Effects quartermaster. (1) The effects quartermaster at Kansas City, M issouri receives the personaleffects pouches and inspects sam e for evidence of pilferingof broken seals, and initia tes investigation on any pouchesso discovered. The personal effects are then disposed ofby the effects quartermaster, according to current rulesand regulations.(2) The effects quartermaster will submit a report toThe Quartermaster General in the case of any pouchshowin g evidence of having been pilfered. This report wil linclude information as to action taken, articles missing,identity of the owner of the articles, Graves Regis trationService unit originating ship ment and any other information pertinent thereto. The Quartermaster General willtake such action as is necessary based on this report ,(3) Personal effects found on deceased unknown,should be handled as in above and marked as indicatedin par. (1) regarding burial of unknown.

43. DISPOSITION OF O THER EFFECTS AN D PER-SO N A L PROPERTY . Regarding th e disposition of othereffects and personal property of th e deceased personnel thefollowing procedure governs:The provisions of paragraph 25, AR 600-550, 14May 1 943, have been suspended for the duration of th epresent war so far as they apply to military and civilianpersonnel, subject to military law, dying outside the continental limits of the United States when the widow orlegal re presentativ e of such deceased person is not present.The effects of all such persons will be disposed of asindicated in these in structions.

b. In those commands where the situation will permit,all government issue property other than clothing necessary for burial willbe withdrawn from the personal effectsand will be im mediately delivered to the summary courtofficer designated under Article of War 112 by the commanding officer.48


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C H A N G E S 1 WAK DEPARTMENTN o. 1 j . W A S HI N G T O N 25 , D. C ., 1 1 May 1 9 4 5

FM 10-63, 1 5 January1 9 45, ischanged as follows:Paragraph 4 3 is rescinded. The provisions of AR

600-550 will prevail in the zone of the interior only.Current War Department directives governing effectswill prevail intheaters of operation.

[A G 300.7 (1 0 Apr 45)]BYORDEROF THE SECRETARY OF WAR I

O F F ICI A L : G. 0. MARSHALLJ. A. ULIO


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c. If any monies remain, the sum mary court officer willexchange such sums with his local disbursing officer for aTreasury check drawn in United States dollars, to beissued by the local disbursing officer for cash and indorsedby him as follows: "Pay only to the Effects Quarterm aster, Kansas City Quartermaster Depot, Trustee."Upon delivery of the check by the disbursing officer, tohim the summary court will forward such check by airm ail (or other expeditious means of transmission) to theEffects Quartermaster, Army Effects Bureau, Kansas CityQuartermaster Depot, 601 Hardesty A venue, KansasCity, M issouri. All further actio n under Article of War112 will be taken by the Commanding O fficer, ArmyEffects Bureau. A brief description of the check (number, date, amount, and symbol number) will be enteredon the original and all copies of the inventory of effects.

d. In those commands where the situation will not permit the prescribed action to be taken by the summarycourt, the com manding officer of the command where thedeath occurred, or an officer designated by him, will securethe personal property and have it carefully packed withthe name of the deceased person clearly printed on theoutside of the container, together with the Army serialnumber and grade, and sent to the Effects Quartermaster,A rm y Effects Bureau, Kansas City Quartermaster Depot,601 Hardesty Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri, throughthe appropriate portor ports of embarkation. It is highlydesirable that all monies be converted into a check asprescribed in (3) above. L ists of effects will be preparedand forwarded as provided in (2) above.

e. Where death occurs on board a transport, the provisions of paragraph 26, AR 600-550, will apply exceptthat no action under Article of War 112 will be takenby the port transportation officer at the port of arrivalin the United States. The effects will be sent to theEffects Quartermaster, Army Effects B ureau, KansasCity Quartermaster Depot, 601 Hardesty Avenue, KansasCity, Missouri.

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SECTION V II

GENERAL

45. SOURCES OF INFORM ATION. The principal sourcesof information upon which the headquarters, Graves Registration Service, theater of operations, performs its functions involving the recording of the location of graves are:Graves Registration Service forms submitted byGraves Registration Service personnel.

b. Grave location reports submitted by personnel otherthan those of the Graves Registration Service.c. Lists received in The Adjutant General's Office,theater of operations. (These incl-ide the names of thosedyin g in hospitals.)

46. SALVAGE SERVICE COOPERATIONS. Those incharge of burial parties will cooperate with salvage unitsto the extent of collecting all equipment of i ssue of thedead and turning them in for salvage; or, if unable tomake the collection will cover them for protection againstthe elements and report same to a salvage officer.

47. MORTUARY SUPPLIES. In accordance with The Adjutant General's Letter, dated 31 December 1941, to conserve cargo space, shipment of caskets and other mortuarysupplies from the United States to oversea stations andbase commands is discontinued.5 1


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48. RETURN OF REM AINS, a. During the period thatthe United States is at war, the shipment of remains fromAlaska, foreign possessions, and other stations outside thecontinental limits of the United States is suspended, ex cept as provided herein.

b. Remains may be returned to the continental UnitedStates from points on the North American continent,except Alaska, by commercial carrier transportation otherthan air, or ocean or coastwise vessels, provided sanitaryand shipping requirements of the several countries areobserved and that such transportation is available thereforand not required for the movement of troops or supplies.c. Prior to shipment, a request for instructions will besubmitted to The Quartermaster General, and shipmentwill not be made until receipt of instructions from TheQuartermaster General.49. EQUIPM ENT. If supplies such as personal effects bags,safety pins, and embossing machines, are not furnished atthe time the organization is transferred overseas, requisition should be made to the Office of The QuartermasterGeneral for such equipment.50r~PHOTOGRAPHS. Photographing of any graves outside the continental limits of the United States is absolutely prohibited.

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APPEND IXPERSONAL E FFECTS BAG AND POUCH

51. DEFIN ITIONS.Standard Bag, Personal Effects, issued for personal effects.

Registered shipping container forpersonal effects bags from the originator of the shipmentto the Army Effects Bureau, Kansas City, Missouri.

List of personal effects compiled at the time personal effects are removed from thedeceased. A personal effects inventory, signed by theNCO or responsible person removing effects, will beincluded in every personal effects bag.

List compiled by the originator of the shipment which contains the name and organization of deceased whose personal effects are included in the pouch ;not a list of the personal effects. A pouch list will heIncluded in each pouch at time of shipment signed byfhe originating officer, and subsequently signed by every pfficer receiving and who opens and checks the contents

* > f the pouch while in transit.Card contained in the transparent pocket

on the outside of each personal effects pouch, whichshows the signature of, and time of dispatch by, theoriginating officer, and in the case of each intermediateofficer it will show date and time of receipt and dateand time of dispatch, and signature of the intermediateofficer and any discrepancies noted.

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52 . METHOD OF SEAL INGPERSONAL EFFECTS BASS.Personal effects bags should no t be sealed until the bagcontains all the article s necessary to comple te the inventoryas m ade out by the burial party or notations showingartic le s missing, if any. Sealing procedures are as fo llow s:Thedrawstrings at the neckof the bagwill bepulled up enough to tightly close the neck of the bag. A doublehard knot will then be tied in the drawstrings to hold theneck of the bag securely in the clo sed position. The endsof the drawstrings will then be passed through the holesin the le ad seal, one string through each hold .

b . The le ad seal should be snugly pulled up against thehard knot in the drawstrings at the neck of the bag. Theseal should then be tapped hard enough to flatten it causing it toclam p tightlyon the drawstrings passing throughit. Another hard double kno t will be then tied in thedrawstrings pulled snugly against the le ad seal. Thus,the bag w hen ready for shipm entwill be securely tied w ith2 hard double knots interspersed with the clam ped lead seal.53. DESCRIPTION OF POUCH, PERSONAL EFFECTS.a. The general design of the Pouch, Personal Effects, i sthe same a s " thestandard bag, canvas, m ail, with the follo w ing exceptions:

(1) Measurements (outside , 2 4 " x 23%").(2) Rust-proof, m ildew -proof , hardware.(3) Material, #6 Duck, water-repellent OD-#7 incolo r.(4) Bottom , double -thickness, Duck extending 6" upthe sides.(5) Identifying lettering on side of pouch:

U. S. WAR DEPARTMENTREGISTEREDPERSONAL EFFECTSPOUCHNo...

b.The m ethod of lo cking the pouch is identical to thatof the bag, canvas, mail, with flap cover withhasp lockingstrap around the top of the pouch.54


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54. USE OF POUCH. The personal effects pouch is beused as a container of personal effects bags for shipmentfrom the theater of operations to the ArmyEffects B ureau.To lock and .seal the pouch, properly, it is necessaryto be sure that the slotted over flap has been pushed down

so the lock rings on the outside of the pouch comethrough the slots of the cover flap far enough to allo wthe lock strap to slip through the lock rings, thus sealingthe pouch. The slot in the end of the lock strap slips overthe lock ring on the back of the cover flap and acts as ahasp fastener to which the padlock is locked. Care shouldbe taken to be sure the lock strap has been slipped through .the lock rings after the cover flap has been presseddown over the rings to avoid the loss of any of thecontents.

b. When the padlock has been secured to the haspfastener, the wire seal is passed through the holes in thelock hasp and pulled up tightly. The lead seal is thentapped and clinched securely around both ends of thewire. Thus, it will be impossible to remove the lock without breaking the seal.

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IN D E X

Acquisition of land........................... 3 2Burials on battlefield:Concentration of burials.................. 27 30Emerg ency medical tags................... 1 9 21Enemy dead ............................ 26 28Identification tags ........................ 2 1 22Isolated interments, guarding against...... 30 32Responsibility for selecting location........ 7 11Search of battlefield....................... 1 8 1 9Cemeteries, plans for. ..........