What sort of information do you have of his service? Do you have his War Department discharge papers (WD-AGO form) or if he stayed in until after 1950, his DD-Form-214? How about any awards he may have received? Many citations are online and can help to identify both unit and location.
Do you know any unit in which he may have served? Anything from battalion to Army would help narrow your search (Battalion, Brigade, Division, Corps, Army). How about years of service, theaters, locations, etc.
A lot of information can be gleaned from even the smallest detail.
I must tell you that many veteran's paper service records were lost in a tragic fire at the Army's facility in St. Louis in the 1970s. If veterans didn't have any records, there is very little that the Army can do to recreate them.
I just helped a lady find records about her father whom she had not known for 40 years due to a divorce. All she knew was that he said he was chasing after Mussolini over mountains in Italy and he was in a ski patrol and was wounded in the leg.
Of course, that lead directly to the 10th Mountain Division, the only mountain unit trained to use skiis. I contacted a 10 Mtn Div Vet who had a detailed account history and records. We identified his company and regiment. The post-war history broke it down to Platoons and mentioned his platoon and the date he was wounded by an artillery round.
It was really quick and fun. First Recommendation: go ask your family members for any records, letters, V-mail or anything that might have his name rank and serial number and possible Unit referenced.
Steve
PS: Oh, her info about chasing Mussolini was accurate, too. His regiment crossed Lake Garda and captured Mussolini's residence on the last 2 days of the war.
