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The [[United States Military Records|United States Military Records]] Wiki article provides more information on federal military records and search strategies.  
The [[United States Military Records|United States Military Records]] Wiki article provides more information on federal military records and search strategies.  


Many military records are found at the Family History Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The [[United States|United States]] Wiki article provides more information about federal records. For information on records from the colonial period to 1863, see the [[Virginia|Virginia]] Wiki article.  
Many military records are found at the FamilySearch Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The United States Wiki article provides more information about federal records. For information on records from the colonial period to 1863, see the [[Virginia, United States Genealogy|Virginia]] Wiki article.  


The Archives and History Library has the original adjutant general's records for the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Indian Wars, Civil War (Union and Confederate), and Spanish-American War. These include muster and descriptive rolls, enlistment records, and correspondence.  
The Archives and History Library has the original adjutant general's records for the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Indian Wars, Civil War (Union and Confederate), and Spanish-American War. These include muster and descriptive rolls, enlistment records, and correspondence.  


=== Forts  ===
<div id="fsButtons"><span class="online_records_button">[[United States Military Online Genealogy Records]]</span></div>
 
<br>
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=== Online Resources ===
The US Military Records Wiki article provides more information on Federal military records amd search strategies.
 
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=48445 West Virginians in the American Revolution] ($)
*'''1800-1900''' {{RecordSearch|1417475|United States Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Applications, 1800-1900}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Applications - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; Index (free) and images ($)
*'''1861-1865''' {{RecordSearch|1932429|West Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865}} at FamilySearch - [[West Virginia Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; Index and images.
*[http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/military.html West Virginia Volunteer Infantry].
*'''1917-1919''' {{RecordSearch|2996059|United States, World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919 - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index
*'''1917-1940''' {{RecordSearch|2968245|United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, Veterans Administration Master Index - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]];index
*'''1940-1945''' {{RecordSearch|2659405|West Virginia, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945}} at FamilySearch - [[West Virginia, World War II Draft Registration Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index and images.
*'''1898''' {{RecordSearch|1919583|U.S. Index to Service Records, War with Spain, 1898}} at FamilySearch - [[United States Index to Service Records, War with Spain - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]
*[http://www.archives.gov/research/military/korean-war/casualty-lists/wv-alpha.pdf U.S. Military Fatal Casualties of the Korean War for Home-State-of-Record: West Virginia]
*[http://www.archives.gov/research/military/vietnam-war/casualty-lists/wv-alpha.pdf U.S. Military Fatal Casualties of the Vietnam War for Home-State-of-Record: West Virginia]
*[http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvmemory/vet.aspx West Virginia Veterans Memorial Database Search - West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History]
 
== Forts  ==


Fort Fincastle, Fort Henry, Fort Vanmetre  
*[http://www.wvculture.org/history/journal_wvh/wvh1-2.html Fort Fincastle]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Henry_(West_Virginia) Fort Henry]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Randolph_(West_Virginia) Fort Randolph]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Van_Meter Fort Vanmetre]


=== Revolutionary War (1775-1783)  ===
== Revolutionary War (1775-1783)  ==


Two particularly helpful sources for West Virginia ancestors who participated in the Revolutionary War are:  
Two particularly helpful sources for West Virginia ancestors who participated in the Revolutionary War are:  


Johnston, Ross B. ''West Virginians in the American Revolution''. 1959. Reprint. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1977. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=49792&disp=West+Virginians+in+the+American+Revoluti%20%20&columns=*,0,0 book 975.4 M2j; the 1959 edition is on fiche 6087736]). This includes sketches of over 1,300 soldiers who lived in West Virginia at some time in their life.  
Johnston, Ross B. ''West Virginians in the American Revolution''. 1959. Reprint. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1977. {{FSC|49792|item|disp=FS Library fiche 6087736 (1959 edition); FS Library book 975.4 M2j}}. Online at [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/48445/ Ancestry] ($). This includes sketches of over 1,300 soldiers who lived in West Virginia at some time in their life.
 
Reddy, Anne Waller. ''West Virginia Revolutionary Ancestors Whose Services were Non-military''. 1930. Reprint. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1963. {{FSC|49221|item|disp=FS Library 1321057 item 6; book 975.4 N2r}}. Online at: [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/48447/ Ancestry] ($); {{WorldCat|988151206|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}. This book lists persons in the Revolutionary Public Claims records who gave aid and support, “provisions and other necessaries”, to the revolutionary forces. Most of these patriots do not appear in other Revolutionary War sources.
 
== Mexican War (1846-1848)  ==
 
The Mexican War was caused by the annexation of Texas by the United States in 1845. Most volunteer regiments were from southern states. Records of Mexican War veterans might exist in a state where the veteran later resided. <br>
 
*''Mexican War Index to Pension Files, 1887–1926''. (NARA T317). {{FSC|0537000|item|disp=FS Library films 0537000–13}} Alphabetically arranged and includes the veteran’s name, rank, and unit; names of dependents; date of filing and application; certificate numbers; act filed under; and state from which application was made. Also available at:<br>
 
:*'''1887-1926''' {{RecordSearch|1979390|United States, Mexican War Pension Index, 1887-1926}}  at FamilySearch - [[United States, Index to Mexican War Pension Files - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; Free digital copy. <br>
 
*Robarts, William Hugh. ''Mexican War Veterans&nbsp;: A Complete Roster of the Regular and Volunteer Troops in the War Between the United States and Mexico, from 1846-1848…'' Washington, D.C.&nbsp;: Brentano’s, 1887. {{FSC|1854496|item|disp=FS Catalog book 973 M2rwh}} Digital version available at [http://archive.org/details/mexicanwarvetera00roba Internet Archive].<br>
 
Click on these links to learn more about the [[Mexican War, 1846 to 1848|Mexican War]] and about [[US Mexican War Pension Records|Mexican War pension records]].
 
== Civil War (1861-1865) ==
 
[[Image:{{Harpers Ferry 1865}}]] See [[West Virginia in the Civil War|West Virginia in the Civil War]] for information about West Virginia Civil War records, websites, etc. with links to articles about the West Virginia regiments involved in the Civil War. The regimental pages often include lists of the companies with links to the counties where the companies started. Men in the companies often lived in the counties where the companies were raised. Knowing a county can help when researching more about the soldiers and their families.
 
The [https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/soldiers-and-sailors-database.htm Civil War Soldiers and Sailors&nbsp;System] allows name searching for soldiers. The result set gives the regiments for the soldiers. Then you can check the Wiki regiment pages to determine counties. Often knowing the counties that had men in a regiment will help you determine if a soldier was your ancestor.
 
*'''1861-1865''' {{RecordSearch|1932429|West Virginia Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865}} at FamilySearch - [[West Virginia Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index
 
A wiki article describing an online collection is found at:<br>[[West Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers - FamilySearch Historical Records|West Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 - FamilySearch Historical Records]]
 
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4148 West Virginia 5th Cavalry Roster] at Ancestry ($)
*U.S. Southern Claims Commission Master Index, 1871-1880 [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1216 Index only $]
 
== Spanish-American War (1898)<br>  ==
 
The Spanish-American War was largely fought in Cuba and the Philippines. Spanish-American War records might exist in the state from which the soldier served or in a state where the veteran later resided.
 
'''Indexes'''
 
*'''1861-1934''' {{RecordSearch|1919699|United States, General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, General Index to Pension Files - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; (NARA T288) Free digital copy. The index covers veterans of the Civil War, '''Spanish‑American War,''' Philippine Insurrection, Boxer Rebellion (1900 to 1901), and the regular Army, Navy, and Marine forces.
*'''1898''' {{RecordSearch|1919583|United States, Index to Service Records, War with Spain, 1898}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, Index to Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers in the War with Spain - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; Free digital copy.
 
Click on the link to learn more about the [[Spanish-American War, 1898|Spanish American War]].
 
== World War I (1917-1918)  ==
 
World War I was a global war fought on multiple continents with several nations involved. Over four million men and women served from the United States.
 
*United States. Selective Service System. West Virginia, ''World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918''. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M1509. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1987-1988. {{FSC|378717|item|disp=FS Library film 1992327 (first film).}} Also available at:
 
*'''1917-1918''' {{RecordSearch|1968530|United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index and images — free
 
*'''1917-1919''' {{RecordSearch|2513098|United States, YMCA World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, YMCA World War I Service Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index and images
 
*'''1917-1919''' {{RecordSearch|2996059|United States, World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919 - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index


Reddy, Anne Waller. ''West Virginia Revolutionary Ancestors Whose Services were Non-military''. 1930. Reprint. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1963. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=49221&disp=West+Virginia+Revolutionary+ancestors%20%20&columns=*,0,0 book 975.4 N2r; film 1321057 item 6].) This book lists persons in the Revolutionary Public Claims records who gave aid and support, “provisions and other necessaries”, to the revolutionary forces. Most of these patriots do not appear in other Revolutionary War sources.  
See [[United States World War I Draft Records|WWI Draft Records]] for more information.


=== Civil War (1861-1865)  ===
*[https://archive.org/details/revisedlistofdec00west West Virginia Revised List of Deceased Soldiers World War]
*[http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvmemory/vet.aspx West Virginia Veterans Memorial Database Search]


For an excellent discussion of West Virginia's part in the Civil War see Boyd B. Stutler, ''West Virginia in the Civil War.'' Charleston, West Virginia: Educational Foundation, 1963. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=359152&disp=West+Virginia+in+the+Civil+War%20%20&columns=*,0,0 book 975.4 M2s].)
*'''Record of service of officers and enlisted men in the war of 1917'''
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/447251 Fayette County]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/518051 Greenbrier County]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/772462 Hancock County]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/185794 Mineral County]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/772228 Ritchie County]


'''Civil War Pension Index Cards''' - A free Internet index to pension applications of veterans who served in the US Army between 1861-1917 is available on [http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=collectionDetails;t=searchable;c=1471019 FamilySearch Record Search]. Each card gives the soldier’s name, application and certificate numbers, state of enlistment, and might include rank and death information. Other wars, of that time period, may be included.
== World War II (1941-1945)  ==


'''Union.''' Indexes to service and pension records of Union volunteers are available at the Family History Library and the National Archives. The library also has 261 microfilms of the Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of West Virginia. The records are arranged alphabetically by the soldiers' names within each unit. Use the index (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=484391&disp=Compiled+service+records+of+volunteer+Un%20%20&columns=*,0,0 films 881595-607]) to learn which unit your ancestor served in. The pension records are available only at the National Archives, however the Family History Library has the index on microfilms.
''' Draft Registrations '''
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2659405 West Virginia, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945]


'''Confederate.''' West Virginia did not organize any confederate regiments nor did they grant pensions to confederate veterans. The approximately 9,000 West Virginians who chose to fight for the Confederate States of America generally joined the confederate regiments of Virginia. Virginia's 22nd Infantry was composed almost entirely of soldiers from West Virginia. The 31st and 46th Infantry also had large numbers from West Virginia. Some confederate veterans may have received pensions from Virginia (records, with an index, are on 219 Family History Library films beginning with [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=474918&disp=Confederate+pension+applications%2C+Virg%20%20&columns=*,0,0 1439763].)
''' Fourth Registration'''
*On April 27, 1942, the Selective Service conducted the fourth of six draft registrations related to WWII. The "World War II Selective Service Draft Cards: Fourth Registration, 1942" is often referred to as the “Old Man’s Registration” or the “Old Man’s Draft" because it included men with a date of birth from April 28, 1877 to February 16, 1897. Since there is overlap in the WWI and WWII Selective Service registration, men born in the years 1877 to 1900 may have registered twice and have both WWII and WWI draft records.  


The Archives and History Library has a list of Confederate soldiers and an alphabetical card index to Confederate graves.
*'''1942''' {{RecordSearch|1339071|United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 (Image Browse)}} at FamilySearch) - [[United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; free
*'''1942''' {{RecordSearch|1861144|United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; images with partial index - free


http://www.shepherd.edu/gtmcweb/cwlinks.htm
:Also available at:<br>


http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Lair/3680/cw/cw-wv.html
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1002 Ancestry] ($)
*[http://www.fold3.com/title_765/wwii_old_mans_draft_registration_cards Fold3] ($).


http://www.wvculture.org/history/civilwar.html
A series of books entitled "[[United States World War II Biographies#Young_American_Patriots|Young American Patriots]]", published shortly after the war, documented the service of soldiers from different states including West Virginia. The series of books included photos and a short biography of some of the soldiers from the state.  


'''Southern Claims Commission.''' If a Union sympathizer in West Virginia claimed a loss during the Civil War due to Union military confiscation, he could apply to the Southern Claims Commission for reimbursement. Only a few applied per county, but their neighbors were called as witnesses and asked dozens of questions. Hundreds of the residents of all kinds in a county may be mentioned in answers to Commission questions, and their wartime activities described. To learn how to find records mentioning these neighbors in West Virginia counties during the Civil War see the [[Southern Claims Commission|Southern Claims Commission]].  
[[World War II United States Military Records, 1941 to 1945|World War II United States Military Records]] provides additional information.


=== World War I (1917-1918)  ===
== Korean War (1950–1953)  ==


World War I draft registration cards for men age 18 to 45 may list address, birth date, birthplace, race, nationality, citizenship, and next of kin. Not all registrants served in the war. For registration cards for West Virginia, see:
The Korean War was a conflict between North Korea (and its communist allies) and South Korea (with support of the United Nations, primarily the United States). See the [[United States Korean War 1950 to 1953|Korean War ]] wiki article for information on records and their availability.  


United States. Selective Service System. West Virginia, ''World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918''. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M1509. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1987-1988. (On Family History Library films beginning with film 1992327.)  
== Vietnam War (1964–1972) ==


To find an individual's draft card, it helps to know his name and residence at the time of registration. The cards are arranged alphabetically by county, within the county by draft board, and then alphabetically by surname within each draft board. Most counties had only one board; large cities had several.  
The Vietnam War was a conflict between North Vietnam (and its communist allies) and South Vietnam (with support of its anti-communist allies, including the United States). See the [[United States Vietnam War 1964 to 1972|Vietnam War]] wiki article for information on records and their availability.


These are online at a subscription website:  
== Militia - National Guard ==
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/379096 West Virginia. Adjutant General. ''Report of the Adjutant General of West Virginia, 1897-98.'' Charleston, W.Va. : West Virginia Adjutant General, 1898.]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/784949 Militia commission papers,  Virginia Governor's Office, 1784-1856]


[http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=List&dbid=6482&ti=0 http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=List&amp;dbid=6482&amp;ti=0]
== Additional Military Records  ==


=== Additional Military Records  ===
Various rosters of soldiers for the French and Indian War, Indian Wars, Lord Dunmore's War, Revolutionary War, Whiskey Insurrection of 1794, War of 1812, Mexican War, and the Civil War, are in Virgil A. Lewis, ''The Soldiery of West Virginia''. 1911, Reprint (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1978. {{FSC|49215|item|disp=FS Library}}. '''Online at:''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/48631/ Ancestry] ($). A separate index has been published. This book has also been reprinted (and updated through the Vietnam War) as Volume 9 of ''The West Virginia Historical Encyclopedia: Supplemental Series'' (see [[West Virginia History]]).


Various rosters of soldiers for the French and Indian War, Indian Wars, Lord Dunmore's War, Revolutionary War, Whiskey Insurrection of 1794, War of 1812, Mexican War, and the Civil War, are in Virgil A. Lewis, ''The Soldiery of West Virginia''. 1911, Reprint (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1978; Family History Library book 975.4 M2L). A separate index has been published. This book has also been reprinted (and updated through the Vietnam War) as Volume 9 of ''The West Virginia Historical Encyclopedia: Supplemental Series'' (see the “[[West Virginia History|History]]” section of this outline).
== Websites  ==


== Web Sites  ==
The [http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvmemory/wvvetmem.html West Virginia Veterans Memorial Archives Database] contains information on deceased veterans from West Virginia that served in wars from WWI, WWI, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf War.


== References  ==
[http://ldsgenealogy.com/WV/Military-Records.htm West Virginia Military Records] (West Virginia Genealogy)<br>


[[West Virginia|West Virginia]] Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1998, 2001.
{{West Virginia|West Virginia}} {{State Military Records}}


:NOTE: All of the information from the original research outline has been imported into this Wiki site and is being updated here, as time permits.
[[Category:West_Virginia_Military_Records]]
{{West Virginia|West Virginia}}
[[Category:West_Virginia|Military]]

Latest revision as of 10:13, 19 April 2024

West Virginia Wiki Topics
West Virginia flag.png
Beginning Research
Record Types
West Virginia Background
Cultural Groups
Local Research Resources
220px-Fort Randolph.jpg

The United States Military Records Wiki article provides more information on federal military records and search strategies.

Many military records are found at the FamilySearch Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The United States Wiki article provides more information about federal records. For information on records from the colonial period to 1863, see the Virginia Wiki article.

The Archives and History Library has the original adjutant general's records for the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Indian Wars, Civil War (Union and Confederate), and Spanish-American War. These include muster and descriptive rolls, enlistment records, and correspondence.




Online Resources

The US Military Records Wiki article provides more information on Federal military records amd search strategies.

Forts

Revolutionary War (1775-1783)

Two particularly helpful sources for West Virginia ancestors who participated in the Revolutionary War are:

Johnston, Ross B. West Virginians in the American Revolution. 1959. Reprint. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1977. FS Library fiche 6087736 (1959 edition); FS Library book 975.4 M2j. Online at Ancestry ($). This includes sketches of over 1,300 soldiers who lived in West Virginia at some time in their life.

Reddy, Anne Waller. West Virginia Revolutionary Ancestors Whose Services were Non-military. 1930. Reprint. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1963. FS Library 1321057 item 6; book 975.4 N2r. Online at: Ancestry ($); At various libraries (WorldCat). This book lists persons in the Revolutionary Public Claims records who gave aid and support, “provisions and other necessaries”, to the revolutionary forces. Most of these patriots do not appear in other Revolutionary War sources.

Mexican War (1846-1848)

The Mexican War was caused by the annexation of Texas by the United States in 1845. Most volunteer regiments were from southern states. Records of Mexican War veterans might exist in a state where the veteran later resided.

  • Mexican War Index to Pension Files, 1887–1926. (NARA T317). FS Library films 0537000–13 Alphabetically arranged and includes the veteran’s name, rank, and unit; names of dependents; date of filing and application; certificate numbers; act filed under; and state from which application was made. Also available at:
  • Robarts, William Hugh. Mexican War Veterans : A Complete Roster of the Regular and Volunteer Troops in the War Between the United States and Mexico, from 1846-1848… Washington, D.C. : Brentano’s, 1887. FS Catalog book 973 M2rwh Digital version available at Internet Archive.

Click on these links to learn more about the Mexican War and about Mexican War pension records.

Civil War (1861-1865)

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia 1865

See West Virginia in the Civil War for information about West Virginia Civil War records, websites, etc. with links to articles about the West Virginia regiments involved in the Civil War. The regimental pages often include lists of the companies with links to the counties where the companies started. Men in the companies often lived in the counties where the companies were raised. Knowing a county can help when researching more about the soldiers and their families.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System allows name searching for soldiers. The result set gives the regiments for the soldiers. Then you can check the Wiki regiment pages to determine counties. Often knowing the counties that had men in a regiment will help you determine if a soldier was your ancestor.

A wiki article describing an online collection is found at:
West Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 - FamilySearch Historical Records

Spanish-American War (1898)

The Spanish-American War was largely fought in Cuba and the Philippines. Spanish-American War records might exist in the state from which the soldier served or in a state where the veteran later resided.

Indexes

Click on the link to learn more about the Spanish American War.

World War I (1917-1918)

World War I was a global war fought on multiple continents with several nations involved. Over four million men and women served from the United States.

  • United States. Selective Service System. West Virginia, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M1509. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1987-1988. FS Library film 1992327 (first film). Also available at:

See WWI Draft Records for more information.

World War II (1941-1945)

Draft Registrations

Fourth Registration

  • On April 27, 1942, the Selective Service conducted the fourth of six draft registrations related to WWII. The "World War II Selective Service Draft Cards: Fourth Registration, 1942" is often referred to as the “Old Man’s Registration” or the “Old Man’s Draft" because it included men with a date of birth from April 28, 1877 to February 16, 1897. Since there is overlap in the WWI and WWII Selective Service registration, men born in the years 1877 to 1900 may have registered twice and have both WWII and WWI draft records.
Also available at:

A series of books entitled "Young American Patriots", published shortly after the war, documented the service of soldiers from different states including West Virginia. The series of books included photos and a short biography of some of the soldiers from the state.

World War II United States Military Records provides additional information.

Korean War (1950–1953)

The Korean War was a conflict between North Korea (and its communist allies) and South Korea (with support of the United Nations, primarily the United States). See the Korean War wiki article for information on records and their availability.

Vietnam War (1964–1972)

The Vietnam War was a conflict between North Vietnam (and its communist allies) and South Vietnam (with support of its anti-communist allies, including the United States). See the Vietnam War wiki article for information on records and their availability.

Militia - National Guard

Additional Military Records

Various rosters of soldiers for the French and Indian War, Indian Wars, Lord Dunmore's War, Revolutionary War, Whiskey Insurrection of 1794, War of 1812, Mexican War, and the Civil War, are in Virgil A. Lewis, The Soldiery of West Virginia. 1911, Reprint (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1978. FS Library. Online at: Ancestry ($). A separate index has been published. This book has also been reprinted (and updated through the Vietnam War) as Volume 9 of The West Virginia Historical Encyclopedia: Supplemental Series (see West Virginia History).

Websites

The West Virginia Veterans Memorial Archives Database contains information on deceased veterans from West Virginia that served in wars from WWI, WWI, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf War.

West Virginia Military Records (West Virginia Genealogy)

v • d• e
Links to West Virginia-related articles (see also Virginia-related articles)
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Major
Repositories
Boyd County Public Library (Ashland, KY) · Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library · Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh, PA) · Library of Congress (Washington, DC) · Library of Virginia (Richmond, VA) · Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Library · Mary Ball Washington Museum and Library (Lancaster, VA) · Maryland State Archives (Annapolis, MD) · National Archives I (Washington, DC) · National Archives II (College Park, MD) · National Archives at Philadelphia (PA) · New York Public Library (New York City, NY) · Parkersburg and Wood County Public Library · Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston · Santa Cruz Public Library Downtown (Santa Cruz, CA) · University of Chicago Library (Chicago, IL) · Virginia Historical Society (Richmond, VA) · Washington National Records Center (Suitland, MD) · West Virginia Archives and History · West Virginia University Wise Library · West Virginia Vital Registration Office
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v • d• e
State Military Records
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