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US Military Basic Search Strategies: Difference between revisions
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== 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 [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/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, [[Portal:United States Census|census records]], naturalization records, biographies, cemetery records, or records of | Begin your research with family and [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/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, [[Portal:United States Census|census records]], [[Portal:United States Naturalization|naturalization records]], [[United States Biography|biographies]], [[United_States_Cemeteries|cemetery records]], or records of [[US_Military_Veterans_or_Soldiers_Home_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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*[[United States Military in the Korean War 1950 to 1953 and Vietnam War 1964 to 1972|Vietnam War, 1965 to 1973]] | *[[United States Military in the Korean War 1950 to 1953 and Vietnam War 1964 to 1972|Vietnam War, 1965 to 1973]] | ||
People who did not serve during a war may have served during peacetime. During the colonial period, most able-bodied men between the ages of 16 and 60 were expected to participate in a local militia unit. These units were organized either by town, county, or province. The militia’s main role was local defense. | People who did not serve during a war may have served during peacetime. During the colonial period, most able-bodied men between the ages of 16 and 60 were expected to participate in a local [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militia#United_States militia] unit. These units were organized either by town, county, or province. The militia’s main role was local defense. | ||
After the Revolutionary War, each state retained some form of militia, though in the years before the Civil War, many of these organizations fell into disuse. These volunteer units were the forerunners of today’s National Guard. | After the Revolutionary War, each state retained some form of militia, though in the years before the Civil War, many of these organizations fell into disuse. These volunteer units were the forerunners of today’s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Guard_(United_States) National Guard]. | ||
Write down what you already know, including the following: | Write down what you already know, including the following: | ||
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*'''''War.''''' It is important to know when an ancestor served in the military. First determine the war or time period in which he may have served. Remember that during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, Americans served on opposite sides of the conflicts. | *'''''War.''''' It is important to know when an ancestor served in the military. First determine the war or time period in which he may have served. Remember that during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, Americans served on opposite sides of the conflicts. | ||
*'''''State.''''' Your ancestor may have served in a local, state, or federal unit. You can best search military records if you know at least the state where he was living when he was of age to serve in the military. | *'''''State.''''' Your ancestor may have served in a local, state, or federal unit. You can best search military records if you know at least the state where he was living when he was of age to serve in the military. | ||
*'''''Branch of service and rank.''''' It is helpful to know the branch of service ([[U.S. Army|Army]], [[U.S. Navy|Navy]], [[U.S. Marine Corps|Marines]], Air Force, Coast Guard) he may have served in and whether he was an officer or an enlisted man. | *'''''Branch of service and rank.''''' It is helpful to know the branch of service ([[U.S. Army|Army]], [[U.S. Navy|Navy]], [[U.S. Marine Corps|Marines]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force Air Force], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Coast_Guard Coast Guard]) he may have served in and whether he was an officer or an enlisted man. | ||
*'''''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. | ||