An analysis of casualty reporting by the Casualty Branch, Adjutant General's Office, War Department in World War II

Did the Casualty Branch, Adjutant General's Office provide prompt, accurate and considerate notification of Army Casualties to the American public in World War II? Experience gained by the War Department during World War I proved conclusively that the American public would insist on prompt, accurate and considerate reporting of all casualties of its troops during World War II. The fact that an individual was reported a casualty would not be sufficient--all known circumstances in the case would be demanded. Therefore, the system of reporting casualties used by the Army in World War II was designed to accomplish two separate and distinct major objectives: (1) assure expeditions and accurate notification of casualties with all known circumstances in a considerate manner to the emergency addresses; and (2) provide statistical data for use at higher echelons for operational and planning purposes and for post war compilation of statistical data. This study will be concerned only with the first of these two objectives of our casualty reporting systems.