National Personal Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Ave
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
Current policy will allow them to copy 2 months’ records, or 100 pages, for free. After that you will be charged
$.15 per page and $25 per hour for labor. As a minimum you will need to include the name of the unit, the months involved, and a statement of agreement to pay the above mentioned fees. Requested documents are usually completed within 1 week, at which time you will be billed, if required. When payment is received, documents are shipped.
2. Obtaining Information in Person. If you plan to go to the center in person they are open, without appointment, Monday thru Friday, from 8am to 4pm. There is a self-service copier available at $.15 per page, payable by cash or check. Korean and Vietnam war records are readily available and Gulf War documents, while still being processed (as of the time of this writing), may be seen if prior arrangements are made.
Authors note: Also see Appendix J, section VIII, for an address used by USASCRUR to obtain Marine Corps
“Unit Records”.
09-06. National Archives. The National Archives is the single largest depository of retired military records. The archive consists of more than a hundred thousand cubic feet of documents. Although these records are stored in several locations we will mainly be concerned with those records (World War II and later) housed at the College Park, Archives II branch, location. In addition to printed records the national archives house a vast collection of Electronic records (electronic being defined as only available via some form of software; not printed on paper) as well as the “NARA” Archival Information Locator (NAIL) system, explained in the Internet section below.
b. Obtaining Information in Person. The Center’s research room, #6050 in the Steny Hoyer Research Complex, is open upon demand. You will need to call ahead between 8;45 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday to arrange for use and to allow service staff time to pull the records you require, in advance of your arrival. You may purchase copies of records on open reel 9-track magnetic tape, 3480 - class tape cartridge, CD-Riteables, or when appropriate, 3 ½” diskette (DOS compatible).
a. Obtaining Information Other Than In Person. You can take a long shot and write to College Park, providing as much unit information (Company, Battalion, Regiment, Brigade and Division) as possible along with the region (I, II , III Corps, etc.) and dates of actions you are interested in and hope for the best (see chapter 10, application procedures). Mail your request to:
National Personnel Records Center Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Avenue St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
If they locate anything, based on the data you provide, they will mail you a NABT Form 72, National Archives Order for Reproduction Services, in duplicate, along with a cover letter and reproduction fee chart. As of this writing you can get from 1-20 copies for $10.00, 21-40 for $15.00, all the way up to 1000 copies for
$255.00.
If you wish to order the document/s listed on the Form 72 return the “Order” copy along with Credit Card information, check or money order for the amount requested.
b. Obtaining Information in Person. The best way to know if you are getting the exact information you need is by visiting the College Park Textual Reference Branch and looking at any documents before copying them. As of the writing of this manual the Research Room hours (except legal holidays) are 8:45
a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday and Wednesday; 8:45 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday; and 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 on Saturday. You can call (301) 713-7250 to confirm these times, particularly if you will be coming in from a long distance. Records are “retrieved” at certain times during the day and if you wish to narrow your research time down even further call (301)713-6775 to see what time your specific records will be available. Here are a few more useful items to know:
a. Researchers must be at least 16 years of age.
b. Report to room 1000 and see a consultant archivist to arrange for an orientation and for registration.
c. Pencil and paper is provided and you may bring approved loose paper, research notes, hand-held wallets and/or coin purses into research rooms, but these items are subject to inspection upon entering or leaving the research center.
d. You may NOT take briefcases, boxes, valises, purses or other large containers into the research rooms, however lockers are available for use at the cost of $.25, which is refunded when the key is returned.
e. You will be under electronic surveillance at all times while in the research room.
f. Paper to paper copies are available from self-service copies for $.10 per page. Microfilm, etc., copies will cost you $.25 each. They even have self-service Polaroid cameras available at $8.50 a print.
g. Special equipment such as personal computers and even scanners may be used if an approval tag is obtained from a staff member. I would recommend you call (301)713-7250 and ask ahead of time about special equipment you wish to bring with you.
h. There is also a local and toll free 800 connection jack available in room 1000 along with public use fax machines.
i. Free parking was available at the time of this writing.
09-07. National Personnel Records Centers (NPRC). There are fourteen (14) different custodian locations where you can obtain a part or all of your military personnel records. You must mail a SF 180 (Request Pertaining to Military Records) to the custodian responsible for your type of records. See the later part of appendix E for a list of all addresses. (see Appendix H for sample of SF 180, and chapter 10, Section IV, for Application procedures).
The VA will routinely request and review your 201 file as part of their determination process, as they do with your military medical records.
09-08. Navy. The Navy forwarded my request to the “U.S. Armed Services Center for Research of Unit Records”.
09-09. VA (Department of Veterans Affairs). Starting in 1992 the VA began taking control of all retired medical records (If you left the military before that date see chapter 10, Section III, for the correct address). If you can remember the location and name of the last medical facility you received treatment at, you can write to that location for assistance. You will find a sample request for medical records in Chapter 10, Section III, under
“Medical and Clinical Treatment Records”.
Section III. OBTAINING INFORMATION ON OTHER SOLDIERS
09-10. General. At some point in the writing of your stress letter you may need to obtain different types of information (names, units served with, collaboration, etc. ) about a fellow veteran who was present or killed during the traumatic event(s). These individuals may be deceased, still on active duty, or retired.
09-11. Deceased Soldiers. Besides a few Internet pages and history books the only way I could find to obtain data on WW II personnel was through scattered records located in the different archives (good luck). Korea and Vietnam both have an extensive database available and a Gulf War causality list is available several places on the Internet. You may attempt to obtain personnel records on any veteran from the NPRC by means of the FOIA sample letter provided in chapter 10, section II. There are a few reasons the government may not wish to release records on deceased soldiers but requesting such records under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cuts through most of these.
1. World War II -
a. The Internet - Try “Phil’s World War II” page (http://www.secondworldwar.co.uk/) for some excellent information.
2. The Korean War -
a. The Internet -The “Korean War Project Page” (www.koreanwar.org/) has a fairly complete causality data base searchable by 21 different fields to include name, rank, date of birth of home state.
b. National Archives - The Center for Electronic Records has custody of casualty records as part of RG 330 (known as the Combat Area Casualties Current File (CACCF). They have been compiled by state and can be ordered alphabetically by last name. You receive name, rank or grade, branch of service, home of record, and date of casualty for each person. Make certain you identify your request as part of the Korean War holdings. Each state list is $4.50, with a minimum charge of $10.00. Make check out to “National Archives Trust Fund” and send it to:
References Services
Center for Electronic Records
The National Archives at College Park 8601 Adelphi Road.
College Park, MD 20740-6001
You can call (301) 713-6645 for additional information.
3. Vietnam -
a. The Internet - The “A Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Wall” page maintained by “The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund” (thewall-usa.com/index.html) has a great search engine that you can enter either first name, last name, home town, hone State, branch, age, birthday, service/ssn, or rank and look through a list of matches for that item. There are a lot of other interesting things available at this site. Another page (www.no-quarter.org), maintained by an organization called “no-quarter” offers a quick search by last name, branch of service, hometown, or state.
b. National Archives (GR 330) - You can order the same type of list available explained in the Korean War GR 330 section above (by State) plus:
1) Full Print Outs - You can order a printout sorted by up to three of the following variables: Military service, country of casualty, type of casualty, reference number, name, date record processed, social security or service number, military grade, pay grade, date of death (MM/DD/YY), home of record, state, service, occupational code, date of birth, reason, aircraft or not aircraft, race, religion, length of service in years, marital status, sex, citizen code, posthumous promotion, date tour in South East Asia began (YY/MM/DD), body recovered or not recovered, age at time of casualty, component, province, and a comments field. Mail $48 to the Center for Electronic Records address listed above.
2) Electronic Data File - You can order the complete casualty file on the following media: 9-track magnetic tape at 1600 or 6250 bpi, on 3480-class tape cartridge (37,871 bpi), EBCDIC-OS labeled or EBCDIC-unlabeled or ASCII-unlabeled, and at any block size up to 32, 760 characters, and possibly on CD-R, with ASCII coding and DOS files names. Mail $90 for the 9-track magnetic or CD-R or $80.75 for 3480-class tape cartridge to the Center for Electronic Records address listed above.
3) Specific Identifiable Person - Upon request the Center for Electronic Records will provide information on up to 3 individuals at no charge. I believe all variable fields are included. Call (301) 713-6645 for additional information.
c. National Archives (GR 407) - Known as the “The [Army] Adjutant General’s Office Causality Information System (TAGCEN), these records are maintained by The Center for Electronic Records.
This database was intended to incorporate information on casualties (deaths and wounds) suffered by U. S. Army personnel and their dependents, worldwide, during the period 1961-81. The printouts are sorted alphabetically by last name, home of record, major organization, and date of casualty. Also included on the printout will be:
Country of casualty, category of casualty, social security or service number (the SSN and SN will probably be blanked out), grade, military classification, major attributing cause, vehicle type involved, vehicle ownership, sex, date of birth and some dozen other categories. Mail $90 for a 9-track magnetic tape or CD-R or $80.75 for 3480-class tape cartridge and documentation to The Center for Electronic Records listed above. Information on a single individual may be provided free of charge, upon request.
Granada (Oct 83 – Dec 83) KIA 19
Panama(Operation Just Cause (Dec 89 – Dec 99) 23 KIA Beirut (Apr 93 – Oct 93) KIA 265
Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) Oct 2001 –
Irac (Opereation Desert Shield) Mar 2003 (KIA 4210 so far)
Gulf War (Persian Gulf War, Desert Storm, and Operation Desert Shield) (Aug 90 – Feb 91) KIA 269
The Internet - several sites offer useful information. The first is entitled the “Gulf War Debriefing Book” page (www.leyden.com/gulfwar/). The site provides general information but has no direct casualty information. Next we come to Scott O’hara “Desert Storm Homepage
(www.desert-storm.com/Services/) which give direct access to casualty information. Another page belonging to Mr. O’hara is
“The Gulf War veteran Memorial” (www.desert-storm.com/soldiers/memorial.html) which gives you access to Gulf War casualties by name, rank, age, city/state, and cause of death. Also use:
National Personnel Records Center Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Avenue St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
09-12. Active duty soldiers. Active duty soldier locators will not directly provide you information on
individuals. They will however forward correctly and completely filled out requests for assistance to any active duty soldier. See chapter 10 for a sample letter and mailing instructions. Enclose a check or money order for
$3.50 made out to “Finance Officer” for each request. Below you will find the address and charges for each service (the locator can forward your letter to located individuals but there is no guarantee the individual will answer your inquiry).
1. U. S. Air Force - They will forward one letter per request:
Air Force Worldwide Locator AFPC/MSIMDL
550 C. Street West, Suite 50 Randolph AFB, TX 78150-4752
2. U. S Army - You can also get a verbal address by calling (703) 325-3732, Monday through Friday 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, at no charge IF you can provide the full name and social security number or date of birth of the individual in question:
World-Wide Locator
U.S. Army Enlisted Records and Evaluation Center 8899 East 56th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46249-5301
3. U.S. Coast Guard - They will provide ship or station of assignment and telephone numbers at no charge by calling (202) 267-1340, or:
Commandant (CGPC - ADM - 3) U.S. Coast Guard 2100 Second Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20593-0001 Internet Address - NA
4. Marine Corps - Write to the following:
U.S. Marine Corps -CMC
Code MMSB-10
Quanatico, VA 22134-5030
Internet Address - NA 5. U. S. Navy - Write to:
Chief of Naval Personnel
Bureau of Naval Personnel (PERS-0216)
2 Navy Annex
Washington, DC 20370-3240
09-13. POW/MIA. I was unable to locate information on WW II POW/MIA’s. The Korean War is not much better but you might try the “Korean War Project” at “www.koreanwar.org/html/pow_mia.html.”
The Vietnam Era POW/MIA data base maintained by the Library Of Congress “Federal Research Division” is located at “lcweb2.loc.gov/pow/powhome.html”.
09-14. Retired Soldiers. See chapter 10 for a sample letter and mailing instructions. Enclose a check or money order for $3.50 made out to “Finance Officer” if required, for each request.
1. U.S. Air force (Active duty, Reserve, or National Guard) - All information same as for Active duty above.
2. U. S. Army (Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard) - During the first quarter of 1998 the Army Reserve Personnel Command (formerly the U.S. Army Reserve Personnel Center) discontinued the practice of forwarding requests for contact to retirees. They offer the following alternatives:
a. Military associations or reunion groups (see appendix D) b. Ads in publications such as Army Times
c. The Internet such as:
Authors note: See Index for other possible locator alternatives.
3. U.S. Coast Guard (Active Duty or Reserve) - No fee Required to:
Commanding Officer (RAS)
U.S. Coast Guard Pay and Personnel Center 444 S.E. Quincy Street
Topeka, KS 66683-3591 Internet Address - NA
4. Marine Corps (Active Duty or Reserve) - No processing fee to:
CMC (MMSR - 6) HQ U. S. Marine Corps 2 Navy Annex
Washington, DC 20380-1775 Internet Address - NA
5. U.S. Navy (Active Duty or Reserve) - Do not put a return address on the letter to be forwarded. Fee of $3.50 is required to:
Commanding Officer
Naval Reserve Personnel Center 4400 Dauphine Street
New Orleans, LA 70149-7800
Last ditch - If all else fails in trying to reach a retired person you can ask the Retired Pay section to forward a letter for you. I have done this and it works. They do not charge a fee. Try calling (800) 321-1080.
Sometimes they can give you an address over the phone if you provide the name and SSN. If not, ask for instructions for forwarding.
I would also like to recommend the book How to Locate Anyone Who is or Has been in The Military by Lt. Col. Richard S. Johnson. The book offers help on gathering information for Reunions, locating women veterans, and locator services. Cool.
Section IV. CIVILIAN ARCHIVES
09-15. General. Private and public libraries house literally tons of material about every war the U. S. has been involved in, and particularly the Vietnam War. My guess is that you can locate some information in ANY local library. Start by giving them a call.
1. California - University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA.
143 History of the Vietnam War (MFR 4342). One of the largest existing collections of non-classified documentary materials on the Vietnam War. Collection includes materials from all of the governments and organizations directly involved in the war including respective military forces. On microfiche.
2. New York - New York Public Library, New York City, NY.
144 The NYPL has copies of the History of the Vietnam War from the University of California on microfiche, the John M. Echols Collection from Corness University on microfiche and the Oral Histories of the Johnson Administration, 1963-1969 from the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library on microfiche.
3. Tennessee - Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN.
145 Armed Forces in Vietnam, 1954-1975 (MFM 1167). This collection is divided into four parts. Part one - Indochina Studies (4 Reels) - contains studies from the U.S. Army center of Military History written by Indochinese. Part Two - vietnam: Lessons Learned (8 reels) - contains detailed Department of the Army studies on individual aspects of the war as well as an eight-volume work on strategic lessons learned. Part Three - Vietnam: Reports of U.S. army Operations (95 reels) - is a chronologically arranged set of reports on certain individual operations. Part Four - Vietnam: U.S. Army Senior Officer Debriefing Reports (4 reels) - contains reports of debriefings from 1968-1973. Microfilm - (21 reels). The Vietnam War - Microtext Collections. (Middle Tennessee State University Microtext Collections Internet Page)
4. Texas - The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library, Austin, TX.
146 Oral Histories of the Johnson Administration, 1963-1969 (MFM 1171). Oral histories gathered from interviews with more than 1000 people. Microfilm - (39 reels).
Authors note: There are copies of many of the microfiche/microfilm items listed above in libraries around the country and some can be transferred between libraries. Check with your local area library and ask if there are in charges for this service.
Section V. ADDITIONAL SOURCES 09-16. General and Internet Resources. See Appendix E.
09-17. Books. See Appendix F.
Section VI. PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
09-18. General. Always figure it will take longer than you think to receive the requested material . Be as specific as you can in with every agency and for all types of information. I have had to request several items more than one time because I did not no what to call the information or how to ask for it. I hope this manual will help eliminate most of those problems for you.
I can say, without exception, that every letter I received in answer to my requests for information was polite, helpful, and offered more than I asked for. Patience, politeness, and persistence are the key words here.
SITREP - Vietnam Era (1971):
Roles-Royce, Ltd., declares bankruptcy; the “Pentagon Papers” are excerpted in the New York Times; the nonfiction book Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown released; the book Winds of War by Herman Wouk released; Woody Allens movie Bananas released; the movie The Last Picture Show with Timothy Bottoms is released; Baltimore beats Dallas 16 to 3 in Super Bowl V; the Pittsburgh Pirates win the World Series by defeating the Baltimore Orioles 4 games to 3.
Vietnam Era (1972):
The Watergate affair has it beginnings; Federal Express is founded in Memphis, TN; Ms magazine begins publication; the nonfiction book The Foxfire Book by Eliot Wigginston is released; the book The Needle’s Eye by Margaret Drabble is released; the book Watership Down by George Adams is released; the Polaroid SX-70 is unveiled; the television show MASH begins; the movie Deliverance with Burt Reynolds is released; the song “American Pie” by Don McLean is released; the song “Operator” by Jim Croce is released; Dallas beats Miami 24 to 3 in Super Bowl VI; the Oakland Athletics win the World Series by defeating the Cincinnati Reds 4 games to 2.
Chapter 10
Letters, Forms, Notices, and Statements
Section I. GENERAL
10-01. General. As with anything you do that concerns the government there will always be a pile of forms to fill out. A quick reference list is followed by sample letters, forms, notices, and simplified instructions for all of the forms (the forms themselves can be found in appendix H) that may be required when filing for initial disability, claims, records, appeals, etc.
You should ALWAYS make copies of any letters or forms you send to the VA. To be safe I would
You should ALWAYS make copies of any letters or forms you send to the VA. To be safe I would