Sue's Cook Book, Recipe #8, Federal Records, Part 1, Military Records... MILITARY SERVICE RECORDS THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION IN WASHINGTON DC HAS THE FOLLOWING RECORDS: Volunteers These are individuals who served voluntarily during a federal emergency from 1775 through 1902. This would include all the early wars. US Regular Army Regular Army enlisted personnel who served from 1789 through 31 December 1885, and officers who served from 1789 through 30 June 1917. US Navy Enlisted personnel who served from 1798 through 31 December 1885, and officers who served from 1798 through 31 December 1902. US Marine Corps Enlisted personnel who served from 1789 through 1904, and some officers who served from 1789 through 31 December 1895. US Coast Guard Persons who served in predecessor agencies to the Coast Guard (i.e. Revenue Cutter Service, Life-Saving Service, and Lighthouse Service) from 1791 to 1919. (For Coast Guard records, see under next two headings.) Confederate Service Records relating to persons who rendered military service for the confederate states government in its armed forces from 1861 through 1865. Veterans Records Claims filed for Pensions based on Federal military service, 1775-1916, and Bounty Land Warrant application files relating to claims based on wartime service, 1775-1855. THE NATIONAL PERSONNEL RECORDS CENTER IN ST. LOUIS, MO, HAS THE FOLLOWING RECORDS: US Army Officers separated after 30 June 1917, and enlisted personnel separated after 31 October 1912. US Air Force Officers and enlisted personnel separated after September 1947 (date of establishment of the US Air Force). US Navy and Marine Corps Naval officers separated after 1902, Naval enlisted personnel separated after 1885, Marine Corps officers separated after 1895, and Marine Corps enlisted personnel separated after 1904. US Coast Guard Officers separated after 1928 and enlisted personnel separated after 1914. Civilian employees of predecessor agencies, 1864-1919. THE WASHINGTON NATIONAL RECORDS CENTER IN SUITLAND, MARYLAND, HAS THE FOLLOWING RECORDS: US Coast Guard Officers who served from 1890 to 1929, includes records of former Revenue Cutter Service officers whose terms of service extended beyond 1915. ADDRESSES General Records Branch (NNRG-P) National Archives and Records Administration 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington DC 20408 National Personnel Records Center (Military Records), NARA 9700 Page Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63132 Nearly all of the records at the National Archives and Records Administration are available for examination. In general, they would only be restricted if their examination would pose a national security problem or invade the privacy of a living individual. There are restrictions on the use of the records at the National Personnel Records Center. They will only release records to veterans and members of their immediate family--LIMITED TO spouse, parent, grandparent, child, or sibling. If the veteran is still living, WRITTEN CONSENT is required, even for members of the immediate family. Both of these agencies require the request for records to be made on a special form. Write first and ask for the form.