Welcome to #ArchivesVeterans! Today, our curator has a lot to share about researching military records. So let's dive on in!
#ArchivesHashtagParty #Genealogy #FamilyHistory #ancestry

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A lot of veterans didn’t talk about their wartime experiences, so even immediate family may not have known. Here are the museum, we have many artifacts that have become disconnected from their history. Like this trunk… 2/
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Donated to us in the 1990s, all we knew were sailor’s rank/rating &“K.M. Salmon.” Using that, we were able to discover that Kenneth Merle Salmon was a Pearl Harbor survivor from USS Oklahoma. Would never have known w/o archival records @ #NationalArchives!
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Military records provide more than just info on service. You might also find birth and death dates, the place they lived when they enlisted in the military, names of close family members, and more!
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How do you start your research? Begin by determining which ancestor(s) served, which branch & era. A family story, photo of someone in uniform, an obituary, or scraps of paperwork might lead you to a place to begin your records search.
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Most military records are held by the #NationalArchives (aka NARA or @NationalArchives). NARA is where all records created by the Federal Government go for permanent storage. Since the military is part of the federal government, military records go to NARA.
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A good starting point is the SF180 Request Pertaining to Military Records. It's for military service that ENDED during or after #WWI, except if your relative served in the @USNavy (then it’s for service in 1885 or later)

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If your relative left the military at least 62yrs ago (AKA 1958 or earlier), records are archival & anyone can request them. If more recent, you must be next-of-kin to request them, because of privacy laws.

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Where you send this request depends on the era & branch – but there’s a handy chart on the back of the form to help you figure it out! #ArchivesGenealogy #ArchivesVeterans #ArchivesHashtagParty

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To submit the SF180 records request, you'll at least need the veteran’s name. Service number & exact dates of service are also important details to help #NationalArchives staff locate the right records.

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What about older military records? For @USArmy pre- #WWI, that's called a Compiled Military Service Record. You can request online @ https://eservices.archives.gov/  or using NATF86 form ( https://www.archives.gov/files/forms/pdf/natf-86.pdf). Don't need to be next-of-kin to request.

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Compiled Military Service Records were assembled after-the-fact from muster rolls, pay vouchers, & other records -- the military did not keep individual personnel records before the Civil War!

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Older military records are a challenge! For @USNavy service aft. 1885, file SF180 referenced earlier. Before 1885, there's no Navy equivalent to @USArmy Compiled Service Record. Instead, look @ alternate sources like pension & land bounty warrants.

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One caveat on @USArmy personnel files – there was a fire @ the personnel records center in 1973. It destroyed most Army personnel records for vets who left the military btwn 1912-1960, & Air Force 1947-1964. @USNavy & @USMC records unaffected.

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Since the fire, files have been reconstructed using VA claims, state records, pay vouchers, medical records, etc. Personnel files are still worth requesting even if you think your relative’s files were affected by the fire!

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In addition to these basic military personnel files, there are additional records that might shed light on your ancestor’s service, depending on the era/war in which they served.

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For colonial/revolutionary records - not many personnel records kept in the first place! Major fires in 1800/1814 destroyed much of what did exist. Still, there are some muster rolls & compiled service records. Can be requested from #NationalArchives.

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US census can also shed light on military service! Questions abt veterans in 1840 & 1890 censuses. Mostly vets of War of 1812(1840) & Civil War (1890). 1840 veterans schedule has been published - "Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services”
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1890 veterans’ schedule still mostly intact, despite loss of the rest of that year's census. Available on microfilm from NARA. Records contain name, rank, company, regiment or vessel, dates of enlistment & discharge, length of service, residence, disability.
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Another important record = Pension Files, for service 1775-1916. Applications often contain supporting docs:service history, marriage certs, death certs, discharge papers, etc. Order from National Archives online or w/NATF Form 85 https://www.archives.gov/files/forms/pdf/natf-85.pdf
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Bounty Land Warrants - for service 1775-1855. An award of land in exchange for wartime service. Many have been combined with pension files (see prev. tweet). Can be ordered from NARA online or w/NATF form 85 https://www.archives.gov/files/forms/pdf/natf-85.pdf.
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For #WWI, there are draft registration cards. Men born 9/11/1872 – 9/12/1900. Contain name/address/birthdate/ race/citizenship/occupation/employer/nearest relative/ physical desc. Held by National Archives & found online. This example is Babe Ruth's!
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#WWII veteran info source: enlistment records. All who enlisted, in any branch, 1938-1946. Available online via NARA AAD - https://aad.archives.gov/aad/fielded-search.jsp?dt=893
Contains name, residence, date of enlistment, rank, branch, race, citizenship, education, civilian occupation.
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Post-WWII military records: Most are not yet publicly available (privacy laws) but can be requested by veteran or next-of-kin. File this request using SF180 (see start of thread) or online through eVetRecs ( https://vetrecs.archives.gov/VeteranRequest/home.html).
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Once you have the soldier’s personal record, other records can help you tell the full story of the veteran's experiences while in service. Military keeps plenty of records to help you do that! Battle reports, muster rolls, regiment/company histories, etc.
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@USNavy deck logs - kept by Navy ships & shore stations. Day-by-day account of major activities/events/weather. National Archives has them for 1801-1983. Some are digitized & online. Post-1983 deck logs are kept by @USNHistory.
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Muster Rolls - AKA payrolls, rosters. Cover all eras & all military branches. Contain: Name of ship/station; names of those present; periods of service; transfers and discharges. They're kept by National Archives & many have been microfilmed.
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Other records at @NationalArchives -- This is just the tip of the iceberg! There are also field hospital reports, veterans' headstone applications, officers' correspondence files, and much more!

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What if my ancestor worked for US Military as a civilian, like employees @ Puget Sound Navy Yard? Official Personnel Folders (OPF) from 1850-1951 are publicly accessible via written request to NARA. Newer records are non-archival, not available to public.
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Most federal military records are @ National Archives in DC or St. Louis. Locally, National Archives in Seattle (Sand Point) has local records (Puget Sound Navy Yard, Coast Guard, other local military sites). Also provides access to microfilm records.
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Our parent command, @USNHistory, has other Navy records! War diaries, manuscripts, photos, cruise books (like a yearbook from a ship's deployment!). Other military branches have similar services, for example U.S. Army Center of Military History.
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Other local resources for military records: WA State Archives (records for National Guard & state veterans' homes). American Legion, VFW. Check w/County Clerk, especially for WWII discharge papers (vets told to file there in case they lost their copy)
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We hope this thread has helped shed some light on how to find records to uncover your relative’s military history!
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Where can you go for further #Genealogy assistance? For help w/National Archives records, get in touch with archivists directly, via History Hub: https://historyhub.history.gov/  Feel free to contact our curator ([email protected]) for further help!
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