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''[[United States|United States ]] > [[United States Military Records|Military Records ]] > [[ | ''[[United States|United States ]] > [[United States Military Records|Military Records ]] > [[US Military Basic Search Strategies|Basic Search Strategies]]'' | ||
== Step 1. Identify an Ancestor You Wish to Find in Military Records == | == Step 1. Identify an Ancestor You Wish to Find in Military Records == | ||
Begin your research with family and [[ | Begin your research with family and [[Identify What You Know#Gather_Family_Information|home sources]]. You may already know of ancestors who were in the military. You may find evidence that an ancestor served in the military from family traditions, [[US Military Types of Military Records#Census_Records|census records]], [[Portal:United States Naturalization|naturalization records]], [[US Military Types of Military Records#Biographies|biographies]], [[US Military Types of Military Records#Cemetery_Records|cemetery records]], or records of [[US Military Types of Military Records#Veterans_and_Lineage_Society_Records|veterans organizations]]. | ||
You may find an ancestor in a federal military record if he: | You may find an ancestor in a federal military record if he: | ||
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*'''''Regiment.''''' Many service records are arranged by the military unit, such as regiment. Regiments and companies were often composed of people from the same community or county. Knowing the regiment can sometimes help you determine where an individual was from. | *'''''Regiment.''''' Many service records are arranged by the military unit, such as regiment. Regiments and companies were often composed of people from the same community or county. Knowing the regiment can sometimes help you determine where an individual was from. | ||
In most cases, you can learn the unit from sources at the Family History Library, such as [[US Military Types of Military Records#Service_Records|service]] and [[US Military Types of Military Records#Pension_Records|pension]] indexes, regimental or unit histories, county histories, or tombstone inscriptions. Home sources, such as photographs, discharge papers, pension records, or records of membership in a veteran organization, may also provide clues. | In most cases, you can learn the unit from sources at the Family History Library, such as [[US Military Types of Military Records#Service_Records|service]] and [[US Military Types of Military Records#Pension_Records|pension]] indexes, [[US Military Types of Military Records#Unit_Histories|regimental or unit histories]], [[United States History#Local Histories|county histories]], or tombstone inscriptions. Home sources, such as photographs, discharge papers, pension records, or records of membership in a veteran organization, may also provide clues. | ||
== Step 2. Decide What You Want to Learn == | == Step 2. Decide What You Want to Learn == | ||