I'm hoping SKS on this list might have some insight on obtaining military records from St. Louis. My mother has tried to obtain her maternal uncle's military records from the National Records Center in St. Louis, but has only received "releasable military information" based on restrictions imposed by Dept. of Defense regulations. According to the powers that be in St. Louis, my mother is not allowed to receive any additional information (ie. the full military file) because she does not fall within the DOD's definition of "next of kin": unremarried widow or widower, son, daughter, father, mother, brother or sister. Her uncle died in 1934. He never had children and his widow remarried a few years after his death. She has since passed away. His parents and siblings passed away several years ago, so there is no living "next of kin" per DOD's definition. Has anyone on this list encountered this problem? If so, how was it resolved? It doesn't make sense to me that since my mother is the closest living relative, she would not be considered next of kin. Does this mean her uncle's full military file is inaccessible forever? I'd appreciate any tips and advice on how she might be able to overcome this problem. Thanks! Shannon