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  • Military records in the United States
    • Main contributor: Gena Philibert-Ortega
    US 64th regiment celebrate the Armistice, Wikimedia Commons

    Military Records are a generic description for records created as a result of military service. The type of record created, its availability, and where it is housed differ depending on the time period and whether a war or military conflict was imminent or in progress.

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    Types of military recordsTypes of military records

    Arlington National Cemetery, 2023.

    When accessing military records specifically in the United States, researchers think of military service records (also called Compiled Service Records). But these and other records created by the military exist. The following is not a comprehensive list, but other military records include:

    Other records may lead to military records, such as draft registrations. However, an ancestor’s draft registration does not mean that person served in the military. Draft registrations are more of a census of men. They may have later been drafted (if there was an active draft), enlisted, or not served at all.

    Other non-military records exist that may provide clues to military service. For example, US Census Records may also provide information about military service.

    • In 1890, a Veterans schedule was completed. Some of that enumeration was destroyed, but some pages still exists. "Nearly all of the schedules for the states of Alabama through Kansas and approximately half of those for Kentucky appear to have been destroyed before the transfer of the remaining schedules to the National Archives in 1943. Fragments for some of these states were accessioned by the National Archives as bundle 198.”[1]
    • The 1910 US Census recorded whether the individual “was a survivor of the Union or Confederate Army or Navy.”
    • The 1930 US Census asked whether the person was a veteran, and if so, what war.
    • The 1940 US Census Supplementary questions asked: Is this person a veteran of the United States military forces or the wife, widow, or under-18-year-old child of a veteran?; If a child is veteran-father dead? (Yes or No); War or military service. This question was not asked of everyone.
    • The 1950 US Census supplementary questions asked males if they served during World War II, World War I, or any other time, including the present.

    MyHeritage’s Census and Voter Lists collectionincludes the 1910, 1930, 1940 and 1950 US Census.


    Military records and genealogyMilitary records and genealogy

    Genealogists often use military records for two reasons. One is to gather biographical information about the veteran’s life. This may include:

    • Birth and/or Death Date
    • Home residence before military service
    • Death Place (if died while in service)
    • Next of Kin (could be a parent or spouse)
    • Marriage information (if the spouse is receiving benefits)

    In addition, military records also provide information about the person’s military service that can be used to tell their story. This might include:

    • Unit in which they served
    • Training received
    • Promotions
    • Positions and Rank they held
    • Awards and honors received
    • Information about what locations they served in
    • Dates when they entered military service and were discharged

    Researchers can enhance this information by seeking out unit, military, and war histories (if applicable) and photographs of the places the soldier or sailor served.

    Availability of military recordsAvailability of military records

    Online recordsOnline records

    Some military records will be found online. For example, MyHeritage’s Military collection includes indexes and images for service records, pensions, and drafts.

    US Civil War recordsUS Civil War records

    My Heritage’s US Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 can be used to find military personnel in the Union and Confederate armies. The National Park Service's Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database includes an index of Union and Confederate soldiers and sailors that can help you verify service. It also includes histories of various units. Once you know, your ancestor served, you can order the appropriate records including the Compiled Service Records.

    Civil War Pensions for Union veterans and their dependents were paid by the federal government. For confederate soldiers and their dependents they were paid by the state that the veteran served. Unlike Union pensions, those pensions were not paid out by the US government and will not be found at the National Archives. To find pension records, check with the state archives for the state the soldier served. An index of Tennessee Confederate Pension Applications can be found on MyHeritage.

    National Archive holdingsNational Archive holdings

    To better understand what records the National Archives has available, visit their web page titled Military Records. Here, you can discover how to access records by military branch or conflict. Military records are available online, depending on the era. Some early military records are available online, but others are only available by ordering through the National Archives website and paying a fee. Pre- and post-World War I records require a different form.

    Some military records have been destroyed. In 1973, the National Personnel Records Center had a catastrophic fire that resulted in an estimated loss of 80% of Army records (for those discharged between November 1, 1912, and January 1, 1960) and 75% of Air Force records (for those discharged between September 24, 1947, to January 1, 1964, with names alphabetically after Hubbard, James E).[2] Some effort is being made to reconstruct files. Still, this catastrophic fire significantly impacted the available records. However, remember that other documents may be available that can help provide insight into your veterans military career.

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    See alsoSee also

    Explore more about military records in the United StatesExplore more about military records in the United States

    References

    1. ↑ “1890 Veterans Census,” Census Bureau https://www.census.gov/history/www/genealogy/decennial_census_records/1890_veterans_census.html
    2. ↑ "The 1973 Fire, National Personnel Records Center," National Archives (https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/fire-1973)
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