Frequently asked questions

Start with a free search here: type the veteran's name and anything you know (branch, war, hometown, ship or unit). Veteran Records Finder searches free public archives and emails you a private report with every fact cited. For the official file, request it free from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) using eVetRecs or Standard Form 180 (see below).

Only free, public sources: the National Archives online catalog and its Access to Archival Databases (WWII Army enlistment records, Korea and Vietnam casualty files, POW lists), scanned Navy muster rolls (1939–1949) and Army morning reports, the VA Nationwide Gravesite Locator, Library of Congress historic newspapers, official ship histories (DANFS), and Wikipedia/Wikimedia Commons for unit and base histories and public-domain photos.

We do not use people-search or data-broker sites, and reports never show addresses or phone numbers.

A DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) is the one-page separation document the military has issued since 1950. It lists dates of service, rank, job specialty, units, awards and type of discharge. Before 1950 the equivalents were forms such as the WD AGO 53-55 (Army) and NAVPERS 553 (Navy). Veterans and next of kin can get a copy free from NPRC.

Request it free from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC):

1. Online: veterans and next of kin can use eVetRecs at archives.gov.
2. By mail or fax: fill out Standard Form 180 (SF-180) and send it to the address on the form for the branch and era.
3. Include: full name used in service, service number or SSN (to NPRC only, never to us), branch, approximate dates, and date and place of birth. Next of kin must also send proof of death.

Ask for the "complete Official Military Personnel File (OMPF)" if you want more than the DD-214. Files of veterans who left service more than 62 years ago are archival and open to anyone (copy fees may apply).

On 12 July 1973 a fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis destroyed an estimated 16–18 million official personnel files. About 80% of Army records for soldiers discharged from November 1912 to January 1960 were lost, as were about 75% of Air Force records for people discharged from September 1947 to January 1964 (surnames Hubbard through Z). Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard records were not affected.

A lost file does not mean the service can't be documented. NPRC rebuilds key facts from other records (final pay vouchers, VA claim files, morning reports), and our search looks for surviving pages such as enlistment records, morning reports, muster rolls and newspaper notices.

• World War II: Army enlistment records (NARA AAD, 1938–1946), Navy and Marine muster rolls (1939–1949), Army morning reports, unit histories, draft cards, VA burial records and newspapers. Many Army files were damaged in the 1973 fire.
• Korean War: casualty files and POW lists (NARA AAD), Army morning reports, Navy muster rolls through 1949, unit histories and VA burial records.
• Vietnam War: the Defense casualty file (DCAS, NARA AAD), the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) name records, unit histories and VA burial records. Personnel files for veterans who left less than 62 years ago are restricted to the veteran and next of kin through NPRC.

Veteran Records Finder searches the free online parts of these collections automatically.

Yes. It's free at launch, with no account and no credit card. To keep it free for everyone there's a daily limit per email address and per connection.

Usually 5–20 minutes once you've confirmed your email. When the site is busy you'll be placed in a queue and we'll email you a private link as soon as your report is ready, so you don't need to keep the page open.

Every fact links to the record it came from. Each possible match is labeled:

• Confirmed: an exact identifier (such as a service number) matches.
• Probable: several independent details match.
• Possible: some details match and need checking.

Some sections describe what someone in that job, ship or unit was likely doing. Those lines are clearly marked Likely. They are informed guesses, not records about your veteran. Text read by computer from old scans can contain errors, so always check the page image.

No. A report is a research summary. It can't be used for VA benefits, medals, burial honors or any legal purpose. For those you need the official file from the National Personnel Records Center.

Never. Please don't type one anywhere on this site. Old service numbers (WWII–Korea era, usually 7–8 digits) are helpful and optional.

We'll ask whether the veteran is living. If so, please confirm that this is you, or that you have their permission. Searches about living people use public sources only, reports are private by default, and they are never added to the public example gallery.

Only people who have its private link. Links are long and random, and reports are not listed or indexed by search engines. A report becomes public only if the family asks for it to be shared in the example gallery.

Every report has an Add information / question a finding form. Family details stay labeled as family-reported until a record supports them, and we re-run the search with your hints. You can also ask us to remove a report: see corrections & takedowns.

No. This is an independent volunteer project. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Archives, or the Department of Defense, and it isn't a product of any bank or business.

Search details are deleted 12 months after your report is delivered. See the privacy page.