The National Archives and Records Administration is the official depository for records of military personnel separated from the United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy. The records are housed in three locations: the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C., the Washington National Records Center in Suitland, Md., and the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Mo.

The NPRC contains records relating to:

• U.S. Army officers separated after June 30, 1917, and enlisted Army personnel separated after October 31, 1912.

• U.S. Air Force officers and enlisted personnel separated after September 1947.

• U.S. Naval officers separated after 1902, and naval enlisted personnel separated after 1885.

• U.S. Marine Corps officers separated after 1895, and enlisted personnel separated after 1904.

• U.S. Coast Guard officers separated after 1928, and enlisted personnel separated after 1914. Civilian employees of predecessor agencies (Revenue Cutter Service, Life-Saving Service and Lighthouse Service) of the U.S. Coast Guard from 1864-1919.

  
  

A fire at the NPRC in St. Louis on July 12, 1973, destroyed about 80 percent of the records for Army personnel discharged between November 1, 1912, and January 1, 1960. Approximately 75 percent of the records for Air Force personnel with surnames from "Hubbard" through "Z" discharged between September 25, 1947, and January 1, 1964, were also destroyed.

Reconstruction of Lost Records

If a veteran learns that their records may have been lost in the fire, they may send photocopies of any documents they possess to the NPRC, particularly separation documents. The address is: National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 9700 Page Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63132-5100. The NPRC will add those documents to the computerized index and file them permanently.

Alternate Sources of Military Service Data