M.R. Kulp/Culp - Montgomery Co. PA

Looking for birth and/or death dates for Maurice Raymond Culp or Kulp.He lived in the Norristown, Pennsylvania area around the time of the second World War and was a soldier in the Merchant Marines - probably would have been in his early 20's or late teens at that time.Actually, does anyone know if it's possible to get information from the government on WWII soldiers, or is that too recent a war? :-)

Diana Lynn