How can you find information on former service members who served in the US Armed Forces?

NPRC (National Personnel Records Center) website:
http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/index.html

Address:
National Personnel Records Center
9700 Page Avenue
Saint Louis, Missouri 63132-5100
(M-F 7:30am - 3:45pm)
Telephone: 314-801-0800
E-mail: MPR.center@nara.gov
Status Check: mpr.status@nara.gov
Fax: 314 801-9195

*NOTE:* that a large fire at the center in July 1973 destroyed:
Army Personnel discharged November 1, 1912, to January 1, 1960 (80% were destroyed)
Air Force Personnel discharged, September 25, 1947, to January 1, 1964
(with names alphabetically after Hubbard, James E.) (75% were destroyed)

-> You will find alternative resources and methods for locating some copies of the destroyed records or sections of them explained on the website listed. <-

Records Prior to WWI (1917): These are held in Washington, DC so visit this link:
http://www.archives.gov/research/order/vets-records.html#nara
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Requests for copies of military service records may only be honored for veterans of US military service or the surviving spouse who has not remarried, father, mother, son, daughter, sister, or brother of that service member.

Requests may be made electronically or by mail to the National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri.

The Web site, eVetRecs, is listed in the link below.

Federal Law:

Federal law [5 USC 552a(b)] requires that all requests for records and information be submitted in writing. Each request must be signed (in cursive) and dated (within the last year). Certain basic information is needed to locate military service records. This information includes the veteran's complete name used while in service, service number, social security number, branch of service, date of birth, place of birth, and dates of service.

Requests for Military Service Records:

You must use Standard Form (SF) 180 to request copies of military records. You may access a copy of SF180 electronically from the link below: Standard Form 180

Request for Military Service Information:

The use of SF180 is not required for information requests, however it facilitates the location and recovery of requested information. Requests for information may be submitted in the form of a letter. Submit as much information as you have on the subject.

For More Information

For additional information, contact the National Personnel Records Center public affairs office at:

MPR.Center@nara.gov
Tel: 314-801-0587