ARMY RECORDS

Researching an individual or event during any war can be complex due to the type of records kept and where they are current stored. This overview is designed to help with the most common type of records normally needed and where to get them.

1- Personnel Records: The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) is the repository of all Personnel Records for all Services – whether the individual served in a combat zone (all wars) or any other location. Anyone that served in the Army has a file there, and consists of two parts:

- General. This includes enlistment papers, duty stations with Orders, training assignments and locations, promotions (and reviews in some cases), awards with Citations, disciplinary actions, overseas duties with Unit assignments, etc. All of this information is available to the general public (deleting some specific family info, SSN’s, etc).

- Medical. Shots, immunizations, physicals, sickbay results, any WIA treatments (with detailed records at the hospital), death certificates, autopsy reports, etc. These are only releasable to a living serviceman or direct NOK (identified as unmarried widow, child, sibling, or parent).

Request for any of these records requires downloading and filling out an SF-180 Form and mailing or faxing the request to NPRC – St. Louis. The form can be found at: http://www.archives.gov/research_room/vetrecs/ (or follow the directions if NOK or yourself).

**** These requests will go to a third-party Company to locate the file and fill the request, who will normally take the ‘quickest’ route possible to fill it. You must identify the specific documents you’re looking for and it’s usually best to use wording such as “Any and All” records, documents, Citations, etc that are located within the Personnel File – otherwise they will send you 1-2 pages of generic overviews. If you’re researching a KIA, they will not send you any MED reports unless you get authorization from NOK.

2 - IDPF (293 Files): The Individual Personnel File (also called the 293 File) contains information directly related to the circumstances of someone’s death. It includes a copy of the DD1300, the official casualty report and is probably the best single source of official information about the actual circumstances of the person’s death. It normally will include information of the unit the soldier was attached to and some information on next-of-kin. NOTE: This file also will include things such as autopsy and dental records, and sometimes photographs. These were prepared for Military use and may be too graphic for family members or other loved ones to review. Please use discretion. This file also includes information about funeral arrangements, personal effects, where remains were sent, etc.

FOIA OFFICER, Department of the Army

ADMIN Section, ATTN: TAP-ALP-A (FOIA)

DCS Personnel & Logistics

200 Stovall St.

Alexandria, VA 22332-0405

You will need to start the letter off with: This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C, Sec. 552 for the Individual Deceased Personnel File of: and include the name of the deceased, Service number, DOB, Date of Casualty, and where you want the information sent to. Under FOIA, you do not need to prove next-of-kin relationship. However, if you are next-of-kin, prove the relationship and they will not delete certain information.

2A. Daily Staff Journals

Every Unit maintained transcripts of all radio transmissions made by the Battalion to each of the Companies in the field. These include coordinates of where each Co was at, what they were doing, a record of any US or enemy WIA or KIA incident, and various Air and Artillery support that was being used. Each day normally consists of 15-20 pages, and the Archives will send 3-5 days (normally) without a charge. They may charge you for requests more than this. You will need to include the Division, Battalion, and Inf Regiment in your request (e.g. Co. B, 326^th Eng Bn., 101^st Abn Div). Always include a request for any “After-Action Reports” as these are kept in a different location. Many times (not always), a Unit would do a detailed report after a major firefight or when there were numerous US KIA’s, and this would include key information. This is not a FOIA request, but be sure to send the necessary info where to send it to you. It’s always best to request at least the day before and after an incident.

Request the Daily Staff Journals (S-3 Reports) of (Div/Bn/Reg) for dates (x-y-z)

National Archives at College Park

Modern Military Records

8601 Adelphi Road

College Park, MD 20740-6001

2004: You can now send a request in by email by filling out the form at: http://www.archives.gov/global_pages/contact_us.html http://www.archives.gov/global_pages/contact_us.html#em

They will normally send you the cost of the documents within a few days.

3 - Medals and Awards: The Army will replace, free-of-charge, a one-time replacement of all medals and awards made to a soldier either directly or to next-of-kin.

National Personnel Records Center

Medals Section (NRPMA-M)

9700 Page Blvd.

St. Louis, MO 63132-5100

You will need to state that you are requesting all medals and awards that you are entitled to (they will do the research), and include you name, address, DOB, Social Security Number, Service Number, and Telephone Number. If you are next-of-kin, you will also need to state your relationship (preferably with some kind of proof). It is also best to send a copy of the soldier’s DD214 form to expedite the process.

Once you receive the awards and feel there is a problem and/or an appeal needs to be made:

Commander

PERSCOM

ATTN: TAPC-PDO-PA

200 Stovall Street

Alexandria, VA 22332-0471

4 - Morning Reports and Unit Rosters: These are created by Army organizations as part of their personnel and payroll functions. These records are used by the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) to verify events or assignments that may not be documented in an individual’s Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). Morning reports are created each morning, as the name implies. They are an “exception-based” system, which only consists of information on those individuals who are not ‘Present and Accounted For’. This may include Promotions, Demotions, being Killed, Wounded, or Missing in Action, being either assigned to or leaving a unit, going to a hospital for treatment, or going to another unit for training.

Chief, Army Reference Branch NCPMA-O

Military Personnel Records

National Personnel Records Center

9700 Page Boulevard

St. Louis, MO 63132-5100

Searching morning reports and rosters can be quite consuming. Try to limit the request to a specific event for a short period of time. NPRC may charge for this research if it appears that it will take too much of their resources. You will need to list as much information as possible: unit name and number, complete organizational designation (Division, Brigade, Battalion, Company, etc), geographical location (camp, base, country, etc), and names and dates.

An overview of the Rosters can be found at: http://www.archives.gov/facilities/mo/st_louis/military_personnel_records/morning_reports_and_unit_rosters_content.html

5 - Veteran Administration: This record will have the veteran’s service number in it and may also have a social security number. It will also show the designated next-of-kin and usually has a social security number. It will also contain any marriage records and birth certificates. To get these records, call (800) 827-1000 and they will be able to tell you where your veteran’s records are and where to write to get them.

You are only eligible for these records if you are the veteran or next-of-kin, and the veteran was killed or missing in action.

6. Military Burials Overseas: The American Battle Monuments Commission is in charge of burials in American cemeteries overseas. There were over 134,00 American servicemen that were buried in these cemeteries. They also maintain a list of over 78,000 whose remains were not recovered in a “Tablet of the Missing” – both from overseas and East/West Coast of the US.

The Commission will send a family the exact location of the veteran’s grave or the listing on the Table of Missing. If you request it, they will also send you a photograph of the cemetery and the marker; or a photo of his name on the Tablet of Missing, superimposed. They will also put flowers on the grave, or near a name on the Tablet of Missing, at any time for a small fee.

If you are going to travel overseas, primarily to visit the place of a burial or a memorial, immediate family members (widows, parents, children, sisters, brothers) are eligible for a “Non-Fee” passport. You need to apply to the address below for eligibility.

American Battle Monuments Commission Operations

Court House Plaza 2, Suite 500

Arlington, VA 22201

(703) 696-6897

7. Military Burials – US: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can provide burial information assistance to family members and close friends of decedents if buried in a VA National Cemetery. There are 119 National Cemeteries within the US.

No specific form is required and no fee is charged. When requesting a burial location search, provide full name, DOB and location, date of death, and Military Service Branch.

US Department of Veterans Affairs

National Cemetery Administration (402B)

Burial Location Request

810 Vermont Ave, NW

Washington, DC 20420