What My Father’s File Taught Me
Robert Gordon Howell during his U.S. Army service.
Many of us know a parent, grandparent, or another relative served in the military, but beyond that, we may know very little about what happened while they were in service. Family stories are a great place to start, but official military records may confirm what you’ve heard—or they might set the story straight and reveal secrets your veteran didn’t ever talk about.
That has certainly been true as I’ve delved deeper into records concerning my father, Robert Gordon Howell.
I knew my dad was in the Army. I heard stories about WWII, Burma, and maybe serving again during the Korean War. But my dad was not a guy who freely shared his experiences. After he passed away several years ago, I was filled with questions I would never have the chance to ask.
Requesting his military records was one of the best steps I took in learning who he was before he became my father.
What Records Can Tell You
An Official Military Personnel File, commonly referred to as an OMPF, can contain enlistment information, duty assignments, promotions, training, awards, evaluations, separation documents, and much more. Administrative records are included as well. The contents of an individual military record can vary widely based on the veteran, branch of service, when they served, and, of course, which records still exist.
My father’s records held much more than dates and locations of his service. They introduced me to a side of his military career I was not expecting and prompted additional questions about his assignments, disciplinary issues, medical history, and the circumstances of his final discharge.
I thought I was just ordering a box of paperwork. Instead, I was about to learn more about my father than I knew before.
How to Request Those Records
If you are a veteran or the next of kin to a veteran, you can request military personnel records from the National Archives. Generally, the next of kin is limited to an unmarried spouse, parent, child, sibling, or other direct relative. Requests can be submitted online via the National Archives’ eVetRecs system or by mail or fax using Standard Form 180.
Before starting your request, compile as much information as you can.
- Veteran’s full name (surname, prefix, and first name) as it was used during service
- Branch of Service
- Social Security number or service number
- Approximate dates of service
- Date and place of birth
- Name of last unit, place of discharge, or place entered, when known
The more information you can provide, the easier it will be for the National Personnel Records Center to locate the correct file. A next-of-kin request for a deceased veteran may also require you to include proof of the veteran’s death. Acceptable documentation includes a copy of the death certificate, obituary, or funeral-home proof of death.
Files Destroyed in the 1973 Fire
This tip is a must for military researchers. In 1973, a fire broke out in the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. Depending on the branch of service, approximately 16–18 million personnel files were lost in the fire. Records from the Army were hit especially hard, with an estimated 80 percent of Army personnel files destroyed for veterans who were discharged between November 1, 1912, and January 1, 1960.
My father falls into that window of service dates. Even though military officials said his file was “fire-related,” that didn’t mean there were no records remaining. While searching for his file, I was warned the National Archives may not have everything, but they can often reconstruct parts of a veteran’s military service using alternative records.
Don’t forget there may be other records that existed outside of the personnel file. Look for:
- Unit histories
- Hospital records
- Military court-martial records
- Department of Veterans Affairs records
- Morning reports
- Newspaper accounts
Get Started on That Request
Don’t go into your request expecting your military records will have the answers to all your questions. My father’s file answered some questions but also led me to ask many more. That is par for the course when doing genealogy research.
Requesting my father’s file did open a new chapter in his life for me. Family stories only told me so much. After I received his records, I was able to begin learning about the young man who lived an incredible life before I was born.
Military records aren’t just pieces of government-generated paperwork. They could be all that’s left of your veteran’s story.
Sources
National Archives. Request Military Service Records.
https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records
National Archives. Standard Form 180 (SF-180): Request Pertaining to Military Records.
https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/standard-form-180
National Archives. The 1973 Fire, National Personnel Records Center.
https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/fire-1973
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