This timeline reconstructs Michael's World War II service from
his enlistment record and the Morning Reports, orders and unit records held by the National Archives, searched
by service number. Each entry cites its source; items marked
Newly discovered were recovered from the records.
Map of Service
Route reconstructed from confirmed locations.
Service stops
New Orleans, Louisianaentered service 23 Feb 1943
Laredo Army Air Field, TexasFlexible Gunnery School, June 1943
Ellington Field, Texascompleted preflight school, 4 Aug 1943
Childress Army Air Field, Texastransferred 4 Aug 1943
Borden General Hospital, Oklahomahospitalized Aug–Oct 1943
Childress Army Air Field — returnreturned 14 Oct 1943; flexible gunner by Jan 1944
Lemoore Army Air Field, Californiacrew training, June 1944
March Field, CaliforniaCrew B-4 and Squadron B, June–July 1944
Geiger Field, Washingtontransferred to the 1903rd, Aug 1944
Fort George Wright, Washingtonhospital record, 6–15 Nov 1944
Route notes
1 → 2Service entry to gunnery school, Feb–Jun 1943
2 → 3At Ellington Field by 4 Aug 1943
3 → 4Transferred 4 Aug 1943
4 → 5Hospital record, 30 Aug 1943
5 → 6Released to Childress, 14 Oct 1943
6 → 7Transferred 4 Feb 1944
7 → 8Assigned from Keesler; at Lemoore by June 1944
8 → 9Crew assignment at March Field, 25 Jun 1944
9 → 10Transferred effective 31 Jul 1944
10 → 11Hospital record, 6–15 Nov 1944
First time here?
How to read this service timeline
This page brings together records created for different purposes. The labels below tell you what kind of evidence supports each entry; open either guide when a record or military term is unfamiliar.
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Confirmed — Service record
A personal military record supports the entry.
Confirmed — Unit record
A record created by his unit names him or documents the unit’s activity.
Context
Helpful background, clearly separated from personal evidence.
Newly discovered
Information recovered during this research, rather than supplied at the start.
How to read a Morning Report
Morning Reports were daily administrative records prepared by individual Army and Army Air Forces units. They generally recorded changes—such as arrivals, transfers, promotions, illness, or return to duty—not a complete list of everyone present.
MORNING REPORT · SAMPLE
1Organization Company A, 123rd Infantry
2Station or location Camp Example, Virginia
3Date 14 September 1944
4Section Personnel changes
5Pvt Smith, John A., 35123456 6asgd fr Hq Co per SO 187, Hq 123d Inf
In plain English
Private John A. Smith, identified by Army Serial Number 35123456, was assigned to Company A from Headquarters Company under Special Orders No. 187.
1Organization: the company, hospital, squadron, or other unit filing the report.
2Station or location: where that unit reported from on that date.
3Report date: the date of the report, which may differ from the effective date of a change.
4Section: the part of the form containing personnel changes or the unit’s record of events.
5Soldier entry: usually rank, name, and Army Serial Number.
6Change and authority: what happened and the order authorizing it.
asgd
assigned
atchd
attached
trfd
transferred
fr
from
aptd
appointed
EM
enlisted men
SO
Special Orders
GO
General Orders
orgn
organization
sta
station
Common military and research terms
Army Serial Number (ASN)
The unique service number used to distinguish one soldier from others with similar names.
Discharge or separation paper
The document issued when a service member left active service. For many WWII Army enlisted soldiers, this is WD AGO Form 53-55. It provides a summary of service.
Morning Report
An Army unit’s daily administrative report, usually listing the people whose status changed.
Unit record
A document created by a military organization. It may name the soldier directly or provide context about his unit; the timeline states which applies.
OMPF or “201 file”
The service member’s Official Military Personnel File, containing documents created throughout military service.
Unit and final unit
A unit is the organization in which someone served. The final unit is the organization shown at separation; it may not be the only unit in the service history.
Rank or grade
The service member’s level in the military hierarchy. A timeline may show changes in rank over time.
MOS
Military Occupational Specialty—the Army’s classification for a soldier’s primary military job.
Assigned and attached
Assigned means formally placed in a unit. Attached usually means serving with a unit temporarily while belonging administratively elsewhere.
Special Orders and General Orders
Official directives used to authorize personnel actions, awards, organizational changes, and other decisions.
Campaign credit
Official recognition for service connected with a named campaign, distinct from the record of an individual’s actions.
Station or location
The place from which a unit filed a report. The timeline identifies when a location comes from unit context or an individual record.
Source citation
The note beneath a timeline entry identifying the record or records that support it.
Service Timeline
9 min
Confirmed — Record
August 23, 1923
Born in Donaldsonville, Ascension Parish, Louisiana
Michael John Marcello is born in Donaldsonville, Ascension Parish, Louisiana.
Entered service at New Orleans, Louisiana. The enlistment index records Branch Immaterial at entry; the first record placing him in the Army Air Forces is dated June 1943.
Source: National Archives enlistment index; VA BIRLS index
Confirmed — Unit record
June 9, 1943
First record in the Army Air Forces
A Laredo Army Air Field record places Marcello at the Flexible Gunnery School and opens this timeline's record of his Army Air Forces service.
Roll 469, image 1607. Special Order 136, AAF Flexible Gunnery School, Laredo, 9 June 1943. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 469, image 1666. Special Order 153, Laredo Army Air Field, 29 June 1943. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Report — Laredo Army Air Field — NARA Roll 469, image 1607 (June 1943)
Confirmed — Unit record
August 4, 1943
From Ellington Field to Childress
An Ellington Field order records his completion of the AAF Preflight School (Bombardier-Navigator) course and his transfer to Childress Army Air Field. The order documents the preflight phase of his training.
Roll 441, image 410. He is entry 72 on the Ellington Field roster, having completed the preflight course. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Report — Ellington Field — NARA Roll 441, image 410 (August 1943)
Confirmed — Unit record
August 30 – October 14, 1943
Hospitalized at Borden General Hospital
Personnel records place him at Borden General Hospital during this period and record his release to Childress. These administrative pages track his status and return to duty.
Roll 221, image 852. Patients' Detachment, Borden General Hospital, Chickasha, Oklahoma, August 1943. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 191, image 2644. His line at Borden General Hospital, released to Childress, October 1943. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Reports — Borden General Hospital — NARA Roll 221, image 852; NARA Roll 191, image 2644 (August–October 1943)
Confirmed — Unit record
October 26, 1943
Placed with Class 43-15 at Childress
Special Order 255 lists Marcello in Class 43-15 among the aviation cadets and aviation students moved administratively from the 457th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, 81st Bombardier Training Group, for duty with the Department of Training. A separate October 15 morning report identifies him specifically as an aviation cadet.
Roll 485, image 1912. Special Order 255, Childress Army Air Field, 26 October 1943. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 485, image 1906. The same order, page 3, with his name in the left-hand column. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 485, image 2045. A 15 October report from the 457th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron records Marcello as an aviation cadet returning from Borden General Hospital to duty. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 485, image 2078. A second copy of that page 3 roster. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 485, image 2084. Marcello is the final name in the main Class 43-15 roster; the separate pending-elimination subsection begins below him. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Special Order 255, Childress Army Air Field — NARA Roll 485, images 1904, 1906 and 1912 (26 October 1943); Morning Report — NARA Roll 485, image 2045 (15 October 1943)
Confirmed — Unit record
November 1–10, 1943
Hospitalized at Childress
A November 1 morning report records Marcello going from duty to the hospital in line of duty. A November 10 report records his return to duty.
Roll 426, image 3152. His line: duty to hospital, in line of duty, 1 November 1943. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 426, image 3164. His line: hospital, in line of duty, to duty, 10 November 1943. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Reports — Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, 81st Bombardier Training Group — NARA Roll 426, images 3152 and 3164 (November 1943)
Confirmed — Unit record
December 4–19, 1943
Emergency furlough
A December 4 morning report records Marcello beginning a 15-day emergency furlough. He returned to duty on December 19.
Roll 304, image 10. His line: duty to emergency furlough, 4 December 1943. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 304, image 32. His line: emergency furlough (15 days) to duty, 19 December 1943. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Reports — Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, 81st Bombardier Training Group — NARA Roll 304, images 10 and 32 (December 1943)
Confirmed — Unit record
January 29, 1944
Completed flexible-gunnery training
An AAF record says he completed the prescribed course and qualified as a flexible gunner.
Roll 285, image 858. Special Order 24, Childress, 29 January 1944: enlisted men who completed flexible gunnery training. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 285, image 1730. A second copy of the same order. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
A three-page morning report names Marcello among two aviation cadets relieved from their appointments and transferred to the AAF Technical School at Keesler Field, Mississippi.
Roll 241, image 450. Page 2 names Marcello and begins the action relieving the two cadets from appointment. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 241, image 451. Page 3 completes the entry: transferred to the AAF Technical School at Keesler Field, Mississippi.
Source: Morning Report — Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, 81st Bombardier Training Group — NARA Roll 241, images 450–451 (February 1944)
Confirmed — Unit record
April–May 1944
Technical student at Keesler Field
Personnel records identify him as a technical student at Keesler Field during April and May 1944.
Roll 162, image 855. Special Order 121, Keesler Field, 30 April 1944, page 13. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 329, image 1606. Technical students, 3704th AAF Base Unit, Keesler Field, May 1944. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 328, image 364. A second copy of that Keesler roster. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Reports — Keesler Field — NARA Roll 162, image 855; NARA Roll 329, image 1606 (April–May 1944)
Context
June 1, 1944
Training unit moved to Lemoore Army Air Field
The unit record documents the organization's motor-convoy move from Hammer Field to Lemoore Army Air Field.
Roll 334, image 101. The unit's record of events: it left Hammer Field by motor convoy at 0815 and reached Lemoore at 1030.
A crew-status record lists Private Michael J. Marcello, service number 38 381 403, in the upper-gunner position.
Roll 334, image 1003. Special Order 21, Lemoore, 21 June 1944: the crew listed by gun position. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 334, image 978. A copy of the same order, listing him again as an upper gunner. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 334, image 110. Eight enlisted men assigned from Keesler Field, June 1944. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 334, image 145. Squadron roster, Lemoore, June 1944. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 334, image 199. Squadron roster, Lemoore, June 1944. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 334, image 288. Squadron T-43, Lemoore, 6 June 1944. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Report — Lemoore Army Air Field — NARA Roll 334, image 1003 (June 1944)
Confirmed — Unit record
June 25, 1944
Assigned to Crew B-4
Two copies of the crew record place him with Crew B-4. One OCR rendering reads D-4, but the clearer duplicate pages read B-4.
Roll 335, image 734. Crew assignments, March Field, 25 June 1944: he goes to Crew B-4. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 335, image 739. A duplicate of the crew page. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 335, image 741. A third copy, the clearest of the three. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Reports — Lemoore Army Air Field — NARA Roll 335, images 734, 739 and 741 (June 1944)
Confirmed — Unit record
July 26–28, 1944
Removed from flying status and transferred to Squadron B
A July 26 order removed Marcello from flying status and transferred him from Squadron T-2 to Squadron B, 420th AAF Base Unit. The order cites a headquarters letter titled “Disposition of Combat Crew Personnel who Refuse to Fly” and records the administrative action without assigning a personal explanation.
Roll 195, image 1651. Special Order 208, paragraphs 28–29: removal from flying status and transfer to Squadron B. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 195, image 1626. Squadron B records that he was assigned and joined from Squadron T-2 under paragraph 29 of Special Order 208. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 195, image 1641. Squadron T-2 records Marcello and Robert Geisler released from attachment and transferred to Squadron B. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Reports and Special Order 208 — 420th AAF Base Unit — NARA Roll 195, images 1626, 1641 and 1651 (July 1944)
Confirmed — Unit record
July 28–31, 1944
Transferred to the Corps of Engineers
An order dated July 28 transferred him to the Corps of Engineers effective July 31 and sent him to Geiger Field for later reassignment.
Roll 195, image 1722. Special Order 210: he transfers in grade to the Corps of Engineers. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Transferred to the 1903rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
A Geiger Field special order transferred him in grade to the 1903rd Engineer Aviation Battalion, establishing his assignment to that unit.
Roll 117, image 2015. Special Order 223, Geiger Field, 10 August 1944. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 117, image 1889. Geiger Field, attached unassigned from March Field, 31 July 1944. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 114, image 621. His last line at March Field, 1 August 1944. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 117, image 526. Flight A, Squadron D, 463rd AAF Base Unit, with his branch shown as CE. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 117, image 999. A duplicate of the same order. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 117, image 1902. Special Order 219, Geiger Field, 6 August 1944, page 3. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 117, image 1299. Geiger Field roster with his grade and MOS, August 1944. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 117, image 1300. A correction dated 22 August 1944. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 117, image 1301. The corrected list, page 2. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 117, image 1378. Geiger Field roster, August 1944. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Report — Geiger Field — NARA Roll 117, image 2015 (August 1944)
Confirmed — Unit record
August 22, 1944
Assigned to Headquarters and Service Company
A morning report records Marcello's reassignment from Company B to Headquarters and Service Company, 1903rd Engineer Aviation Battalion.
Roll 117, image 1392. Company B records his reassignment to Headquarters and Service Company on 22 August 1944. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Report — Company B, 1903rd Engineer Aviation Battalion — NARA Roll 117, image 1392 (August 1944)
Confirmed — Unit record
November 6–15, 1944
Hospitalized from Headquarters and Service Company
Headquarters and Service Company sent him to the hospital on November 6. While hospitalized he was attached to the Detachment of Patients, and he returned to duty on November 15.
Roll 309, image 550. Special Order 316, Geiger Field, 11 November 1944: hospital patients attached to the Detachment of Patients. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 309, image 1963. His line: sick, hospital, Fort George Wright, in line of duty. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 328, image 3425. Detachment of Patients, Fort George Wright, 13 November 1944. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 328, image 3438. He returns to his company, 15 November 1944. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Reports — Headquarters and Service Company, 1903rd Engineer Aviation Battalion — NARA Roll 309, images 550 and 1963; Detachment of Patients, NARA Roll 328, images 3425 and 3438 (November 1944)
Context
November 16, 1944
Company bivouacked near Yakima
The Headquarters and Service Company record reports the troops bivouacked near Yakima, Washington. Presented as unit history, this entry follows the company rather than an individual soldier.
Roll 309, image 1975. The company's record of events, November 1944. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Report — Headquarters and Service Company — NARA Roll 309, image 1975 (November 1944)
Confirmed — Unit record
December 16, 1944
Returned from furlough
His individual entry records his return from a 23-day furlough and a one-day extension.
Roll 83, image 60. His line: back from furlough, 23 days absent, December 1944. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Report — Headquarters and Service Company — NARA Roll 83, image 60 (December 1944)
Confirmed — Unit record
December 18–29, 1944
Hospitalized again
Company records show a hospital transfer on December 18 and return to duty on December 29.
Roll 83, image 63. His line: duty to hospital, 18 December 1944. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Roll 83, image 79. His line: hospital to duty, 29 December 1944. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Reports — Headquarters and Service Company — NARA Roll 83, images 63 and 79 (December 1944)
Context
December 28, 1944
Unit completed initial movement preparation
The company record says packing and initial preparation for overseas movement were complete. Marcello's individual entries place him in the hospital on December 18 and back on duty December 29.
Roll 83, image 78. The company's record of events, 28 December 1944.
Source: Morning Report — Headquarters and Service Company — NARA Roll 83, image 78 (December 1944)
Context
December 31, 1944
Headquarters and Service Company at year's end
The December 31 company report closes the year. Marcello's December 29 entry records his return from the hospital to duty.
Roll 83, image 81. Headquarters and Service Company report for December 31, 1944.
Source: Morning Reports — Headquarters and Service Company — NARA Roll 83, images 79 and 81 (December 1944)
Context
April 19, 1945
The 1903rd landed on Ie Shima
An official Tenth Army engineer report says the 1903rd Engineer Aviation Battalion came ashore on Ie Shima and worked on the airfield. Presented as unit history, this establishes the battalion's work rather than Marcello's individual location.
Official records follow the 1903rd's overseas operations in 1945, while VA BIRLS carries Marcello's Army service through March 15, 1946. The unit-history cards are presented separately from his named records.
Source: Morning Reports — Headquarters and Service Company, 1903rd Engineer Aviation Battalion — NARA Roll 83, images 79 and 81 (December 1944); VA BIRLS beneficiary index, local birls_full_2022.csv row 12578539 (service end March 15, 1946)
Confirmed — Service record
March 15, 1946
Released from service
A VA BIRLS entry indexed as “MICHEL J MARCELLO,” matching his birth date, death date, Army entry date and branch, records March 15, 1946 as the end of his Army service.
Source: VA BIRLS beneficiary index, local birls_full_2022.csv row 12578539
Confirmed — Record
October 12, 2008
Michael John Marcello passes away
The Advocate reported that he died in Baton Rouge on October 12, 2008, and was interred at Greenoaks Memorial Park. This timeline is offered in the service member's memory.
