US Military Basic Search Strategies: Difference between revisions

*[[World War I United States Military Records, 1917 to 1918|World War I, 1917 to 1918]]  

*[[World War II United States Military Records, 1941 to 1945|World War II, 1941 to 1945]]  

*[[United States Military in the Korean War 1950 to 1953 and Vietnam War 1964 to 1972|Vietnam War, 1965 to 1973]]

The [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives]] does not perform research for patrons. When exact identifying information is given, the Archives can furnish photocopies of records for a fee. You can obtain photocopies of compiled service records, pension application files, and bounty land warrant application files by using NATF form 80, “[http://www.archives.gov/forms/ National Archives Order for Copies of Veteran Records],” available from the National Archives. The address is:  

:Internet: http://www.nara.gov

'''''Army Military History Institute.''''' The institute is the central repository of Army historical source material. It has 240,000 books (including unit histories), 780,000 photographs, five million manuscripts, and other personal items such as letters and diaries. The archivists provide reference help concerning military units (not individual soldiers), and they have published a number of bibliographies of holdings. The address is:  

:Internet: http://carlisle-www.army.mil/usamhi <br>

'''''National Personnel Records Center.''''' Federal military records for twentieth century service that are not available at the National Archives may be located at the National Personnel Records Center. The address is:  

:St. Louis, MO 63132

:Telephone: 314-538-4261 <br>Air Force Reference Branch <br>Telephone: 314-538-4243

:Telephone: 314-538-4141

In 1973, a fire destroyed about 80 percent of the records for Army officers and enlisted men discharged from 1912 to 1959. About 75 percent of the records of the Air Force from 1947 to 1963 (surnames Hubbard through Z) were destroyed. For more information on the available records contact:  

:Telephone: 314-538-4261

Eventually it is important to share your findings with others. Certainly share what you find with your family at family reunions and on other occasions.&nbsp;Online databases like Pedigree Resource File, and One World Tree are relatively easy ways to share. You could put up a genealogy Internet site as well. You could also publish a family history book showing what you found. With military records some researchers enjoy participating in re-enactment groups that re-live what life was like for an ancestor or someone in a similar military unit.