George, Thanks for posting this information. I am not going to <snip> it because I think it deserves to be posted again in case someone misses it the first time around. My husband was provided with a very sturdy envelope -- it still exists in very good condition 50+ years later. It contained his discharge papers and awards and quite a bit other information. As a matter of fact, it is from that envelope that I was able to post at the Purple Heart site discussed here just recently. He also was provided with a billfold size photocopy of his discharge, rather important in those days when "Honorable" might get you a job, and another type of discharge might put you at the bottom of the list. As for the fire, I understand there is a site on the internet explaining just what happened and the aftermath of restoring records. I do recall that veterans were encouraged after the fire to send copies of their personal records so they would once again be available in the archives. Since I don't need to go to the site for information, I haven't done a search (that's called laziness <smile>). But, for those who wish more information, it would be well to use a good search engine and I am sure they will find information. Thanks again for your information. Best, Elaine George Basden wrote: > I don't really think they are in denial nor closed mouth about the fire. > Remember the fire happened in 1973 and you would be hard pressed to find > anyone there now that was working there back then. The military personnel > are long gone and most of the civilians transfered to other better jobs. > The fire simply destroyed some records. They have done their best to try > and reconstruct some of the records to the best of their abilities. > > However, one good thing did come of the fire. Since then all the records > they receive on a daily basis are shipped to another location to be placed > on microfiche. It takes about 6 months for this process to happen. The > end result is a duplicate set of the records stored in another location. > If my records were destroyed today, it would not be a problem since there > is a "backup" copy. Also, I made a copy before I left the service. > > As much as I hate to say this about military records, one of the biggest > problems in not finding out anything are the veterans themselves. Copies > of all/most documents in those personnel records were also given to the > soldier/sailor/marine/airmen at the time the document was issued. Most > military members at the time did not take any care or precautions to > safeguard the documents as they received them. Some like me did, but others > did not. I have to admit it wasn't until the last couple of years during > my 8-year hitch that I started to hang onto and make copies of earlier > documents. > > When I die and my kids open my safe deposit box, they will find a DA Form > 201 file (Army Military Personnel Records Jacket). This is another way of > saying they will find a COMPLETE copy of my military record with the > exception of my finance and health record. Those documents I tossed at the > time of issuance. > > I used to work at the Records Center so I have a good idea of how the > system works there. I now work for the Coast Guard. Course, I am also > keeping copies of any personnel action documents I receive as a civilian > worker. I hope you don't mind but I am also posting this to the GenTips > list so other people may have a better idea of what happened and safeguards > that are now in place. > > By the way, the fire was severe enough the building is now one floor less > than what it used to be. > > George > gebasden@worldnet.att.net > http://www.basden.com >