Follow Milton's World War II service through the surviving records.
Each entry includes its source. The map shows documented stations, and the
attached records preserve the Army's original account.
Map of Service
Documented service locations. Connecting lines are schematic; they do not show an exact travel route.
Service stops
Chicago, Illinoisentered Army service 27 May 1942
Camp Beale, Californiadocumented by September 1943
Aberdeen Proving Ground, Marylandtransferred 11 May 1944
Camp Beale, Californiaarrived 10 September 1944
Camp Stoneman, Californiadeparture report 27 September 1944
Oro Bay, New Guineajoined 270th Repl Co 29 October 1944
Route notes
1 → 2At Camp Beale by September 1943; intervening route not documented
2 → 3Transferred 11 May 1944
3 → 4Shipment RJ-033(d), August-September 1944
4 → 5Shipment RJ-033(d) staged at Camp Stoneman, September 1944
5 → 6Departure report 27 Sep 1944; joined at Oro Bay 29 Oct 1944; sailing date, ship and travel route unconfirmed
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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 summarizes service but is not a day-by-day history.
Morning Report
An Army unit’s daily administrative report. It usually lists people whose status changed, not every person in the unit.
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. Many Army and Air Force files were damaged or destroyed in the 1973 National Personnel Records Center fire.
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. It does not, by itself, describe a service member’s individual actions.
Station or location
The place from which a unit filed a report. It does not automatically prove that every member was physically present there.
Source citation
The note beneath a timeline entry identifying the record or records that support it.
Service Timeline
10 min
Confirmed — Record
May 30, 1917
Born in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Milton Joseph Zitny was born in Chicago on May 30, 1917. His signed draft registration card gives both his birth date and birthplace.
Source: Selective Service Registration Card, D.S.S. Form 1, serial 1526, Local Board 111, Chicago, 16 October 1940 (shown in the 1940 entry)
Confirmed — Record
October 16, 1940
Registered for the draft in Chicago
At age 23, Milton registered for the draft with Chicago Local Board 111. He lived at 2505 South St. Louis Avenue and worked for Crane Company at 4100 Kedzie Avenue. He named his mother, Mary Zitny, as the person who would always know his address. The reverse of the card describes him as six feet one inch tall and about 170 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair.
The signed front of Milton's registration card, including his address, birth information, mother and employer.The registrar's reverse, with Milton's physical description and Local Board 111 stamp.
Source: Selective Service Registration Card, D.S.S. Form 1, serial 1526, Local Board 111, Chicago, 16 October 1940
Confirmed — Service record
May 27, 1942
Entered Army service in Chicago
The Army recorded Milton's enlistment at Chicago on May 27, 1942. His Army serial number was 36342529.View the enlistment record
The National Archives keeps a typed list of World War II Army enlistments. Milton's entry reads:
A September 1943 roster from Camp Beale, California, lists Technician Fourth Grade Milton J. Zitny, Army service number 36342529. He served in the Ordnance Section of Service Command Unit 1918. Ordnance personnel supported the Army's military equipment and supplies.
Milton's name, rank and Army serial number appear near the foot of this roster. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Milton began a fourteen-day furlough, or approved time away from duty, on October 2. The Camp Beale report recorded his return on October 16. On his return, he was attached to the base's Detached Enlisted Men's List section for food, lodging and administration. Both reports identify him by Army service number 36342529.
October 2: the report's abbreviated furlough entry. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.October 16: the corresponding return entry. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Report; DEML Section, SCU 1918; NARA NAID 453126457, Roll 0343, images 00344 and 00372 (2 and 16 October 1943)
Confirmed — Unit record
December 5, 1943
Administrative support transferred to the Quartermaster Section
Special Orders 286 assigned the Quartermaster Section at Camp Beale responsibility for Milton's food, lodging and administration, effective December 5. The order continued to list him with the Ordnance Section of Service Command Unit 1918. It recorded a change in administrative support.
Special Orders 286; Milton is listed by full name and Army serial number. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Additional copy of Camp Beale Special Orders 286, dated November 30, effective December 5, 1943; Milton appears in the Ordnance list. Morning Report microfilm; NARA NAID 458872735, Roll 0395, image 02326. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Additional copy of Special Orders 286 naming Milton in the Ordnance list. Morning Report microfilm; NARA NAID 458872735, Roll 0395, image 02394. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Report microfilm, Camp Beale Special Orders 286, dated 30 November 1943, effective 5 December 1943; NARA NAID 458872735, Roll 0395, image 02462
Confirmed — Unit record
February 3, 1944
Became a sergeant
The Camp Beale unit report recorded Milton's appointment to sergeant under Special Orders 27, effective February 3. Both surviving copies identify him by Army service number 36342529.
The first surviving copy of the promotion entry. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.A second surviving copy of the same unit report records the appointment. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Report; Ordnance Section, SCU 1918; NARA NAID 463401926, Roll 0267, images 00046 and 00108 (3 February 1944)
Confirmed — Unit record
March 1944
Administrative status recorded at Camp Beale
Camp Beale reports recorded further changes to Milton's administrative attachment within Service Command Unit 1918. They list him as a sergeant and concern support arrangements involving the Ordnance and Quartermaster sections.
March 9: Sgt. Zitny appears by name and Army serial number in an attachment-status entry. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.The companion report records the corresponding administrative attachment change. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Reports, Ordnance Section, SCU 1918; NARA NAID 465444090, Roll 0208, images 00368 and 00467 (March 1944)
Confirmed — Unit record
May 11, 1944
Transferred from California to Maryland
The May 11 Camp Beale report recorded Milton's transfer to the Ordnance Rotational Pool at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. A rotational pool received personnel awaiting their next assignment.
The transfer line names Aberdeen Proving Ground and identifies Milton by rank and serial number. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Report; Quartermaster Section, SCU 1918; NARA NAID 473127442, Roll 0107, image 01733 (11 May 1944)
Confirmed — Unit record
May 17, 1944
Arrived at Aberdeen Proving Ground
The May 17 report at Aberdeen Proving Ground lists Milton among the men who arrived from Camp Beale. He joined Company H of the 3rd Ordnance Training Regiment as an attached, unassigned soldier, a temporary placement while awaiting assignment.
The May 17 report names Sergeant Milton J. Zitny among the men joining Company H from Camp Beale. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Report; Company H, 3rd OTR; NARA NAID 472996107, Roll 0061, image 02709 (17 May 1944)
Confirmed — Unit record
May 25–June 3, 1944
Spent several days in the hospital
Milton left duty for the hospital at Aberdeen on May 25 and returned to duty on June 3. The Army marked the episode as occurring in the line of duty, but the reports do not say why he was treated.
May 25: duty to sick hospital, line of duty. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.June 3: sick hospital to duty. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Reports; Company H, 3rd OTR; NARA NAID 472996107, Roll 0061, image 02756 (25 May 1944); NARA NAID 477390224, Roll 0342, image 02645 (3 June 1944)
Confirmed — Unit record
June 19, 1944
Assigned to supplementary military training at Aberdeen
Aberdeen Assignment Memorandum 146 moved Milton's temporary attachment from Company H of the 3rd Ordnance Training Regiment to Company K of the 1st Ordnance Training Regiment, effective June 19. The order specified three weeks of supplementary military training. The continuation page names Sergeant Milton J. Zitny, 36342529.
Paragraph 5 gives the destination, Company K, and the training instructions.The continuation of paragraph 5 names Sergeant Milton J. Zitny and his Army serial number. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.A second surviving continuation copy also names Milton. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Report microfilm, Aberdeen Assignment Memorandum 146, paragraph 5, 19 June 1944; NARA NAID 477390224, Roll 0342, images 02756 and 02757; duplicate continuation, NARA NAID 477388222, Roll 0342, image 00603
Confirmed — Unit record
June 30–July 1, 1944
Assigned as a supply clerk at Aberdeen
Assignment Memorandum 156 assigned Sergeant Milton J. Zitny to Company M of the 2nd Ordnance Training Regiment as a supply clerk, Army specialty code 835. Sergeant was his rank, and supply clerk was the job he filled. The company's July 1 report also names him.
The assignment order lists Milton as a supply clerk, specialty code 835, under Company M. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.The July 1 report lists Milton with Company M of the 2nd Ordnance Training Regiment. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Company K, 1st Ordnance Training Regiment, July 1, 1944: the report names Milton. Morning Report microfilm; NARA NAID 479371147, Roll 0145, image 03445. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Additional copy of Assignment Memorandum 156, June 30, 1944, listing Milton as supply clerk under Company M. Morning Report microfilm; NARA NAID 479371147, Roll 0145, image 03453. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Additional copy of Assignment Memorandum 156, June 30, 1944, listing Milton as supply clerk under Company M. Morning Report microfilm; NARA NAID 479371832, Roll 0146, image 00907. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Aberdeen Assignment Memorandum 156, 30 June 1944, and Company M morning report, 1 July 1944; NARA NAID 479371832, Roll 0146, images 00842 and 00905
Confirmed — Unit record
August 16–18, 1944
Moved into a group preparing for reassignment
An Aberdeen order moved Milton from Company M of the 2nd Ordnance Training Regiment to the trainee pool in Company F of the 1st Ordnance Training Regiment, effective August 18. Company F's report recorded him joining that day. The trainee pool held soldiers preparing for their next assignment.
Milton appears among the men assigned to Company F's trainee pool. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Company F, 1st Ordnance Training Regiment, August 18, 1944: Milton joins the trainee pool from Company M. Morning Report microfilm; NARA NAID 565042285, Roll 0207, image 00625. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Additional copy of Assignment Memorandum 196, dated August 16, effective August 18, 1944, naming Milton. Morning Report microfilm; NARA NAID 565042285, Roll 0207, image 01127. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Company M record naming Milton and recording the change of attachment to Company F under Assignment Memorandum 196. Morning Report microfilm; NARA NAID 565042285, Roll 0207, image 02476. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Reports and Aberdeen Assignment Memorandum 196, dated 16 August, effective 18 August 1944; Company F report, 18 August; NARA NAID 565042285, Roll 0207, images 00625, 00628 and 01127; companion Company M report, image 02476
Confirmed — Unit record
August 24–September 10, 1944
Ordered back to Camp Beale before overseas processing
Aberdeen Special Orders 198 placed Milton in an overseas replacement group designated RJ-033(d). The men were ordered to leave Aberdeen on August 24 and report to Camp Beale during daylight hours on September 10. The order allowed thirteen days of delay en route and described the transfer as preparation for eventual overseas service.
The order lists Milton, the group number RJ-033(d), his travel instructions and his Chicago home address. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Additional copy of Special Orders 198, August 18, 1944, with Milton in overseas replacement group RJ-033(d). Morning Report microfilm; NARA NAID 565042285, Roll 0207, image 00664. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Additional copy of Special Orders 198, August 18, 1944, naming Milton and giving the group travel instructions. Morning Report microfilm; NARA NAID 565045052, Roll 0208, image 00882. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Additional copy of Special Orders 198, August 18, 1944, naming Milton and giving the group travel instructions. Morning Report microfilm; NARA NAID 565045052, Roll 0208, image 00910. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Copy of the August 18 Special Orders 198 filed on September microfilm; Milton appears with group RJ-033(d). Morning Report microfilm; NARA NAID 568251996, Roll 0149, image 00252. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Another copy of the August 18 Special Orders 198 filed on September microfilm; Milton appears with group RJ-033(d). Morning Report microfilm; NARA NAID 568251996, Roll 0149, image 00263. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Report microfilm, Aberdeen Special Orders 198, 18 August 1944; NARA NAID 565042285, Roll 0207, image 00724
Confirmed — Unit record
September 10, 1944
Arrived back at Camp Beale
The September 10 Camp Beale arrival report names Milton among the men received from Aberdeen. The group's transfer list places him in the 4th Platoon of Casual Company 58, a temporary company for soldiers between assignments. He remained part of overseas replacement group RJ-033(d).
The RJ-033(d) transfer list shows Milton on line 599. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.The Camp Beale arrival list includes Milton by name, rank and serial number. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Additional Camp Beale arrival-list copy for September 10, 1944, naming Milton. Morning Report microfilm; NARA NAID 568251996, Roll 0149, image 00388. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Additional Camp Beale arrival-list copy for September 10, 1944, naming Milton. Morning Report microfilm; NARA NAID 568251996, Roll 0149, image 00402. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Additional Camp Beale arrival-list copy for September 10, 1944, naming Milton. Morning Report microfilm; NARA NAID 568251996, Roll 0149, image 00410. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Additional Camp Beale arrival-list copy for September 10, 1944, naming Milton. Morning Report microfilm; NARA NAID 568251996, Roll 0149, image 00424. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Additional Camp Beale arrival-list copy for September 10, 1944, naming Milton. Morning Report microfilm; NARA NAID 568251996, Roll 0149, image 00436. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.Additional RJ-033(d) transfer-list copy, 4th Platoon, Casual Company 58; Milton appears on line 599. Morning Report microfilm; NARA NAID 568251996, Roll 0149, image 00523. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.RJ-033(d) Transfer List 387, Part B, page 12, another copy filed at Camp Stoneman; Milton appears on line 599. Morning Report microfilm; NARA NAID 569144307, Roll 0427, image 01057. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Report microfilm, RJ-033(d) transfer list and Camp Beale arrival report, 10 September 1944; NARA NAID 568251996, Roll 0149, images 00305 and 00370
Confirmed — Unit record
September 27, 1944
Listed for overseas departure at Camp Stoneman
The September 27 report at Camp Stoneman, California, recorded the departure of overseas replacement group RJ-033(d). Its attached Company 58 passenger list names Sergeant Milton J. Zitny, 36342529, as passenger 42. These records connect him to the departing group; they give neither a ship's name nor an ocean sailing date.
Camp Stoneman's September 27 report: "575 EM Dy to Departure (See atchd P/L)" under Shipment RJ 033 (d).The attached Company 58 passenger list names Milton as passenger 42. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Report, SFPE Casual Detachment #3, Camp Stoneman, California, 27 September 1944, with attached RJ-033(d) passenger lists; NARA NAID 569144307, Roll 0427, images 01184 and 01189
Confirmed — Unit record
October 29, 1944
Joined the 270th Replacement Company in New Guinea
The October 29 report of the 270th Replacement Company at Oro Bay, New Guinea, recorded men joining from the United States. Its attached roster names Sergeant Milton J. Zitney, 36342529, Ordnance. The service number identifies Milton despite the extra letter in his surname. A replacement company received soldiers awaiting assignment to other units.
The 270th Replacement Company's October 29 report: "574 E/M atchd & jd unasgd fr USA (Roster atchd)."The first page of the attached roster: "The following named E/M atchd and jd from USA."The roster's last page lists Milton under the spelling "Zitney." The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Report and attached roster #77, 270th Replacement Company, Oro Bay, New Guinea, 29 October 1944; NARA NAID 573067987, Roll 0617, images 02244, 02245 and 02253
Confirmed — Unit record
November 27, 1944
Admitted to the 5th Station Hospital
The 270th Replacement Company at Oro Bay, New Guinea, recorded Milton's admission to the 5th Station Hospital. The hospital's own report also identifies him by name, Army service number and unit.
The 270th Replacement Company report says Milton left duty for the 5th Station Hospital. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.The hospital sheet independently identifies Milton and the 270th Replacement Company. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Reports; 270th Replacement Company, NARA NAID 576402338, Roll 0571, image 02256; 5th Station Hospital, NARA NAID 576387394, Roll 0567, image 00162 (27 November 1944)
Confirmed — Unit record
December 27, 1944
Transferred on paper to the 282nd Replacement Company
The December 27 transfer roster names Milton among the men whose attachment changed from the 270th to the 282nd Replacement Company. Beside his name is a note that he was in the 5th Station Hospital. The 282nd company's December 28 report recorded the arrival of personnel from the 270th. For Milton, the roster establishes an administrative transfer while he was listed in the hospital; it does not establish a physical move or a hospital discharge.
The 270th Replacement Company's December 27 report: "520 EM dy to trfd atchd unasgd 282nd Repl Co, Atchd Roster."The first page of the transfer roster: "The following named EM fr dy to trfd 282 Repl Co."Page 12 of the roster lists Milton ("Zitney") with a 5th Station Hospital note. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.The 282nd Replacement Company's December 28 report: "519 EM atchd unasgd & jd fr 270th Repl Co."Additional copy of transfer roster 88, December 27, 1944; Milton appears with a 5th Station Hospital note. Morning Report microfilm; NARA NAID 579049582, Roll 0572, image 00160. The yellow is ours — it marks his name and service number on the sheet.
Source: Morning Reports and transfer roster 88, 270th and 282nd Replacement Companies, 27–28 December 1944; NARA NAID 579049582, Roll 0572, images 00146, 00715, 00719 and 00730
Confirmed — Service record
December 24, 1945
The VA record marks the end of his Army service
The Department of Veterans Affairs database lists Milton's Army service as May 27, 1942, through December 24, 1945. Army reports document his rank as sergeant from February through December 1944. The available records do not establish his assignments during 1945 or his rank at separation.View the VA database entry
Transcribed fields from the VA Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS), released file birls_full_2022.csv, local index record 8775563: name MILTON J ZITNY; born May 30, 1917; died June 9, 2000; branch ARMY; entered May 27, 1942; released December 24, 1945. This database entry lists the service dates; it is not a separation document.
