Here is some basic information intended for researchers ordering a pension or military record for the first time. This is the URL for the current web page that tells how to order the order forms from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). http://www.nara.gov/research/ordering/ordrfrms.html A "pension" record is not the same as a "military" record. It's important which one you order. The "pension" record is the one that contains the most genealogical information. This contains a man's (or widow or dependent's) application, giving identifying information about the applicant and the military service performed: usually complete date of birth, place of birth, date and place of entry into service, military unit designation. Often contains questionnaires filled out by the pensioner with name of spouse and children, date and place of marriage. When the pensioner is dropped from the pension roll because of death, the complete death date is often given in the "drop report". Ordering the "military" record can be disappointing. It may contain little biographical information - possibly only the man's name, age and residence at enlistment, where he entered the service, unit designation, rank attained, where and when discharged. Sometimes they show where the man was born. Shows the man's whereabouts during his period in the service. May give details on temporary duty assignments, illnesses or wounds received and show where and when hospitalized. Papers are "selected" from a file to be copied and sent to you, and there is no guarantee that you'll receive those that may be of most importance to you. You'll never know exactly what treasures are in a pension record unless you order the entire file. Depending on the size of the file, it may be expensive to order. My understanding is that effective September 1, 2000, the entire file will be sent when ordering, and the fee at that time for copies will be $17.50. For information on new fees, see NARA's web site at http://www.nara.gov/nara/fees-pro.html