Plain-English guides to military records
Short, free how-tos for families: getting the official file, what the 1973 fire means, finding a unit or a ship's crew list.
How to get a DD-214, free
A plain-English guide to getting a DD-214 or older discharge papers free from the National Archives, who can ask, what to send, and how long it takes.
What the 1973 fire means for your family
Which Army and Air Force records burned in the 1973 St. Louis fire, how to tell if your veteran was affected, and the other records that can rebuild the story.
How to find which unit Grandpa was in
Step-by-step ways to find a veteran's unit: discharge papers, letters and APO numbers, photos, enlistment records, morning reports, and hometown newspapers.
How to find a ship's crew list
Where Navy crew lists really live: free WWII muster rolls, 1949-1971 rolls, deck logs, cruise books and reunion groups, and how to find one sailor aboard.
How to request records for a veteran who has died
Who counts as next of kin, what proof of death to send, what anyone can get, plus burial flags, headstones, medals and memorial certificates for the family.