Overview of Military Records - Revision history

Wesexon at 06:54, 12 April 2013

Wesexon — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 06:54:00 GMT

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	Military endeavors span the history of America. From King Phillip’s War in 1675–76 to the Gulf Wars of the twenty-first century, every generation of our ancestors who have lived in this country have been involved in or affected by conflict. Participation ranged from 125,000 in the Philippine Insurrection to an estimated five million in the Civil War. Many others who did not serve created draft registration records. Involvement was not limited to white native-born males but included the newly-arrived foreign born of all ethnic groups as well as minorities, American Indians, blacks, and in certain instances, women. The abundance and variety of records generated by military service, the distribution of veterans’ benefits, and the interaction with civilians provide a template of rich personal detail about service personnel, their families, and often, the general citizenry.		Military endeavors span the history of America. From King Phillip’s War in 1675–76 to the Gulf Wars of the twenty-first century, every generation of our ancestors who have lived in this country have been involved in or affected by conflict. Participation ranged from 125,000 in the Philippine Insurrection to an estimated five million in the Civil War. Many others who did not serve created draft registration records. Involvement was not limited to white native-born males but included the newly-arrived foreign born of all ethnic groups as well as minorities, American Indians, blacks, and in certain instances, women. The abundance and variety of records generated by military service, the distribution of veterans’ benefits, and the interaction with civilians provide a template of rich personal detail about service personnel, their families, and often, the general citizenry.

-	The first indication of an ancestor’s involvement with the military may come from family stories or from personal papers that have been retained. If there is no information of this type, or if the reference is so general that it lacks the specifics needed for further research, there are still avenues to explore to determine if there was a history of military service. Particularly for the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, records associated with an individual’s death (death certificates, obituaries, funeral or memorial programs, and cemetery records and grave markers) will provide the evidence needed to conduct a search of military records. This chapter also presents ways to locate service, pension, and other types of military records when details such as rank or regiment are yet to be determined.	+	The first indication of an ancestor’s involvement with the military may come from family stories or from personal papers that have been retained. If there is no information of this type, or if the reference is so general that it lacks the specifics needed for further research, there are still avenues to explore to determine if there was a history of military service. Particularly for the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, records associated with an individual’s death ([http://search.ancestry.com/search/category.aspx?cat=34 death certificates], [http://search.ancestry.com/oldsearch/obit obituaries], funeral or memorial programs, and cemetery records and grave markers) will provide the evidence needed to conduct a search of military records. This chapter also presents ways to locate service, pension, and other [http://search.ancestry.com/search/category.aspx?cat=39 types of military records] when details such as rank or regiment are yet to be determined.

	The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to researchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. Collateral relatives of an ancestor, such as siblings or cousins, may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could assist in finding information on the family of the primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design. The wars considered in this chapter are grouped as follows:		The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to researchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. Collateral relatives of an ancestor, such as siblings or cousins, may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could assist in finding information on the family of the primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design. The wars considered in this chapter are grouped as follows:

Wesexon at 07:00, 9 April 2013

Wesexon — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 07:00:15 GMT

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	* [http://www.americanwars101.com/ American Wars 101]		* [http://www.americanwars101.com/ American Wars 101]
	* [http://www.militaryindexes.com/ Directory of Online Military Indexes, Records and Rosters of Soldiers]		* [http://www.militaryindexes.com/ Directory of Online Military Indexes, Records and Rosters of Soldiers]
		+	* [http://search.ancestry.com/search/category.aspx?cat=39 Military Records]

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Murphynw1 — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 17:23:58 GMT

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-	~~Coming soon...~~	+	<references/>

	=External Links=		=External Links=

Murphynw1: /* Early (Pre–World War I) United States Military Records in General */ ref

Murphynw1 — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 17:23:41 GMT

Early (Pre–World War I) United States Military Records in General: ref

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	The greatest volume of original military records is held by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Many pre–World War I records can be searched in person at the National Archives. Microfilm copies of significant pre–World War 1 collections and indexes have been microfilmed and many libraries have copies. The library with the largest collection of microfilmed U.S. military records is the Family History Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Genealogists who have access to the microfilmed records can search them more efficiently by following the tables presented in this chapter. To effectively use the collection of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City or one of its Family History Centers, check the current “U.S. Military Records Research Outline” which may be ordered or printed from [http://www.familysearch.org FamilySearch.org]. This provides a cross-reference from the NARA microfilm number to the call number assigned by the Family History Library.		The greatest volume of original military records is held by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Many pre–World War I records can be searched in person at the National Archives. Microfilm copies of significant pre–World War 1 collections and indexes have been microfilmed and many libraries have copies. The library with the largest collection of microfilmed U.S. military records is the Family History Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Genealogists who have access to the microfilmed records can search them more efficiently by following the tables presented in this chapter. To effectively use the collection of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City or one of its Family History Centers, check the current “U.S. Military Records Research Outline” which may be ordered or printed from [http://www.familysearch.org FamilySearch.org]. This provides a cross-reference from the NARA microfilm number to the call number assigned by the Family History Library.

-	The scope of content and the complexity of arrangement of the military records most often consulted by researchers is fully explained in Anne Bruner Eales and Robert M. Kvasnicka, ''Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives of the United States''. Six chapters of this essential Guide are devoted to military records.	+	The scope of content and the complexity of arrangement of the military records most often consulted by researchers is fully explained in Anne Bruner Eales and Robert M. Kvasnicka, ''Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives of the United States''.<ref>Anne Bruner Eales and Robert M. Kvasnicka, ''Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives of the United States'' (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2000).</ref> Six chapters of this essential Guide are devoted to military records.

	Genealogists most often seek information from three general types of records that are available from NARA: (1) military service records; (2) pension claims files; and (3) bounty-land warrant applications (granted only for service in the Mexican and earlier wars). Once a pre–World War I record (or records) is identified in an index, a photocopy request should be sent to the National Archives and Records Administration. Requests may be made online at the National Archives website, <www.archives.gov>, or by mail using NATF Form 86 for service records and NATF Form 85 for pension or bounty-land files. A search of these records cannot be completed without the full name of the veteran, his branch of service, the state from which he served, and the war in which he served. Expect an eight-week processing time before you receive the records. Details for ordering and printable forms are on the [http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/pre-ww-1-records.htm website].		Genealogists most often seek information from three general types of records that are available from NARA: (1) military service records; (2) pension claims files; and (3) bounty-land warrant applications (granted only for service in the Mexican and earlier wars). Once a pre–World War I record (or records) is identified in an index, a photocopy request should be sent to the National Archives and Records Administration. Requests may be made online at the National Archives website, <www.archives.gov>, or by mail using NATF Form 86 for service records and NATF Form 85 for pension or bounty-land files. A search of these records cannot be completed without the full name of the veteran, his branch of service, the state from which he served, and the war in which he served. Expect an eight-week processing time before you receive the records. Details for ordering and printable forms are on the [http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/pre-ww-1-records.htm website].

Affiliate141: /* External Links */

Affiliate141 — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:51:28 GMT

External Links

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	=External Links=		=External Links=
	* [http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/military/ U.S. National Archives - Military Records]		* [http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/military/ U.S. National Archives - Military Records]
		+	* [http://www.americanwars101.com/ American Wars 101]
	* [http://www.militaryindexes.com/ Directory of Online Military Indexes, Records and Rosters of Soldiers]		* [http://www.militaryindexes.com/ Directory of Online Military Indexes, Records and Rosters of Soldiers]

Paperangels: /* External Links */ unrelated external links removed

Paperangels — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 19:58:41 GMT

External Links: unrelated external links removed

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	* [http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/military/ U.S. National Archives - Military Records]		* [http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/military/ U.S. National Archives - Military Records]
	* [http://www.militaryindexes.com/ Directory of Online Military Indexes, Records and Rosters of Soldiers]		* [http://www.militaryindexes.com/ Directory of Online Military Indexes, Records and Rosters of Soldiers]
-	* [http://www.designerevaluation.com/logo-design/ logo design]
-	* [http://www.designerevaluation.com/ website design]

Alicethomas222: /* External Links */

Alicethomas222 — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 11:23:02 GMT

External Links

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	=External Links=		=External Links=
-		+	* [http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/military/ U.S. National Archives - Military Records]
-	[http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/military/ U.S. National Archives - Military Records]	+	* [http://www.militaryindexes.com/ Directory of Online Military Indexes, Records and Rosters of Soldiers]
-		+	* [http://www.designerevaluation.com/logo-design/ logo design]
-	[http://www.militaryindexes.com/ Directory of Online Military Indexes, Records and Rosters of Soldiers]	+	* [http://www.designerevaluation.com/ website design]

Paperangels: /* External Links */ added online military records link

Paperangels — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 01:16:59 GMT

External Links: added online military records link

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	[http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/military/ U.S. National Archives - Military Records]		[http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/military/ U.S. National Archives - Military Records]
		+
		+	[http://www.militaryindexes.com/ Directory of Online Military Indexes, Records and Rosters of Soldiers]

Erinfaythebrave at 17:56, 17 June 2010

Erinfaythebrave — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:56:31 GMT

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	[[Category:The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy]]		[[Category:The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy]]
	{{Template:Military series (The Source)}}		{{Template:Military series (The Source)}}
		+	[[Category: U.S. Military Records]]
	'''This article originally appeared in "Military Records" by [[Lloyd deWitt Bockstruck]], MA, MS, and [[Sandra Hargreaves Luebking]], FUGA in ''[[The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy]]'''''		'''This article originally appeared in "Military Records" by [[Lloyd deWitt Bockstruck]], MA, MS, and [[Sandra Hargreaves Luebking]], FUGA in ''[[The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy]]'''''

66.43.20.168: /* America's Wars and Conflicts */

66.43.20.168 — Thu, 06 May 2010 16:10:44 GMT

America's Wars and Conflicts

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	\|Desert Shield-Desert Storm		\|Desert Shield-Desert Storm
	\|1991		\|1991
		+	\|-
		+	\|Somalia (Operation Restore Hope)
		+	\|1992-93
	\|-		\|-
	\|Kosovo Conflict		\|Kosovo Conflict