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US Military Basic Search Strategies (view source)
Revision as of 15:00, 9 October 2018
, 9 October 2018→Step 1. Identify an Ancestor You Wish to Find in Military Records
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*Enlisted in the regular U.S. military forces during wartime or peacetime. | *Enlisted in the regular U.S. military forces during wartime or peacetime. | ||
*Served in a local [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militia#United_States militia] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Guard_(United_States) National Guard] unit that was mustered for federal service during an emergency. | *Served in a local [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militia#United_States militia] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Guard_(United_States) National Guard] unit that was mustered for federal service during an emergency. | ||
*Enrolled for the [[US Military Types of Military Records#Draft_or_Conscription_Records|drafts]] for the Civil War, World War I, or a subsequent war and later enlisted or was drafted. | *Enrolled for the [[US Military Types of Military Records#Draft_or_Conscription_Records|drafts]] for the Civil War, World War I, or a subsequent war and later enlisted or was drafted (inducted). | ||
If you do not know if your ancestor served in the military, the year of birth may indicate the possibility. Most people who were in the military were between 18 and 30 years of age. Use the war chronology below to see if your ancestor could have served during wartime. | If you do not know if your ancestor served in the military, the year of birth may indicate the possibility. Most people who were in the military were between 18 and 30 years of age. Use the war chronology below to see if your ancestor could have served during wartime. | ||
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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, [[US Military Types of Military Records#Unit_Histories|regimental or unit histories]], [[United States History#Local_Histories|county histories]], or [[US Military Types of Military Records#Cemetery_Records|tombstone inscriptions]]. [[Identify What You Know#Gather_Family_Information|Home sources]], such as photographs, [[US Military Types of Military Records#Enlistment_and_Discharge_Records.|discharge papers]], [[US Military Types of Military Records#Pension_Records|pension records]], or records of membership in a [[US Military Types of Military Records#Veterans_and_Lineage_Society_Records|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 [[US Military Types of Military Records#Cemetery_Records|tombstone inscriptions]]. [[Identify What You Know#Gather_Family_Information|Home sources]], such as photographs, [[US Military Types of Military Records#Enlistment_and_Discharge_Records.|discharge papers]], [[US Military Types of Military Records#Pension_Records|pension records]], or records of membership in a [[US Military Types of Military Records#Veterans_and_Lineage_Society_Records|veteran organization]], may also provide clues. | ||
== Step 2. Decide What You Want to Learn == | == Step 2. Decide What You Want to Learn == | ||