The service number is a unique number and should be sufficient for full identification of the person. You might ask for a search of any information by that number both at the service branch as well as at the burned archives center. Ask if payroll records and income tax accounts were kept at a separate location. Good Luck from a veteran who still has service life insurance. G. Norman Crump ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, November 08, 1999 11:50 PM Subject: [NCMECKLE] Obtaining Copies of Military Discharge papers > Today, in reply to my Request Pertaining to Military Record, I received a > letter from National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis MO that 80% of all > Army records were destroyed in a 1973 fire - including the one I had > requested. There was a personal note attached from R. J. O'Neill to call and > he would "try to help." > > Has anyone out there tried to get copies of records and succeeded? How > involved is it? I have a service number and a vague idea of date entered > into service, that is all. >