When conducting genealogically research, there are a variety of records that hold valuable information. One of these record types is military records. There are a myriad of custodians of military records. For example, soldier and sailors discharge papers may be found in the local county courthouse. Military service records also may be found in state archives, libraries, and genealogical and local historical societies. They may be found abstracted in books, genealogy journals, newsletters, and quarterlies, as well as among family documents, and entities such as the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Brief Overview of U.S. Wars
The American wars timeline dates back from the 1600s beginning with the colonies up to modern times. Major United States military wars include the American Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, Mexican-American War, the U.S. Civil War, the Spanish-American War, WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf Coast War, etc. Evidence resulting from these campaigns includes military rolls & rosters, service records, pension files, land bounty warrants, draft registrations, and others. With these records, we may document our ancestors and family member’s military service.
Where May I Request My Ancestor’s Military Service Records?
As mentioned earlier, evidence of our ancestor’s military service may be found in a variety of locations. However, many records of military service may be found in the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Veterans may request copies of their service records. Immediate family members or next-of-kin may request copies of their deceased family member’s service records. Limited access to these records is available to the public.
A. National Archives at St. Louis:
The combined collections of the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) and the National Archives at St. Louis house military and civilian records from WWI to present time, including Naval & U.S. Coast Guards records dating back to 1884.
B. National Archives in Washington DC:
The National Archives in Washington DC houses military and civilian records dating back to the Revolutionary War. The time period covers 1775 to 1919, and the dates vary depending upon the type of military unit.
For more information about these collections and instructions on how to order these records, see http://www.archives.gov/research/military/
Also for military records on the county/state levels, such as service in a state militias and volunteer groups, check with the state archives for that location as well as local historical societies, libraries, and state projects such as the Florida Memory Project.
