Having been through this search recently for my great uncle, I share what I discovered. I got the same information about the fire, and checked the internet for company histories. I found a comprehensive one that told how my uncle was injured, the date, an extensive history of the movements of his unit as well as the company. I found that he was buried in Arlington Cemetery: the staff person there sent the location of his grave and date of interment. If you haven't already searched for published company or regimental histories, I recommend it. However, I don't have his service number, needed for the service records and pension records. I'm hoping that number might be on his draft registration, but haven't received a copy of that yet from the Archives. I found (with some difficulty) the number of the microfilm for Wayne County registrations at the Family History Library, but haven't ordered the film yet. The #s are 1926974 (includes Wayne Co. A-B; 1926975, Wayne Co. C-Z. The first includesWashington and Montana Co., the second has Westmoreland. I hope this helps someone. Firehair3@aol.com wrote: > Having encouraged said Wainwwright desc. to chase down all avenues for > records---one never knowing what tidbit// gem may be in a realtive's file--- (in > this case, Wesley would have been a Gt. Uncle) > > Sheila // Firehair > > here is what came back on Veteran Records. Wesley J. Wainwright having died > n WW I: > > <<<<<<<<"Request for Wesley J Wainwright's military records could not be > fulfilled! One of 2 reasons..... > > 1. Unable to locate the record with the information. > > 2. The record needed to answer the inquiry was lost in the July 1973 fire > that destroyed millions of records here at the National Personnel Records Center. > The records stored in the area which suffered the most damage in the fire > were those of: > > Army veterans discharged or deceased between November 1, 1912 and December > 31, 1959 > > Air Force veterans discharged, deceased, or retired before January 1, 1964, > whose names come alphabetically after Hubbard, James E." > > Form 13075 page 2 of 2 enclosed additional instructions state completion of > the form 13075 may enable them to locate the record, if it is available, or > enable the Center to make use of various alternate sources to reconstruct some > of the basic service record data. > > They also note the Report of Separation (DD form 214, WDAGO Form 55-55, etc) > may be available from the recorders office of the city or county where the > veteran lived just after separation. > > additional information/instructions also included. > > Just thought you would be interested in hearing what happened due to the 1973 > fire. > I'll persue this by sending in the form , enclosing the copy of the > information you found. > > It is possible Veterans Benefits claim may have been located elsewhere. > Another possibility is since he was in Company G..... may be the NY State > National Guard..... they may have their own records! > > I will have to contact NY Veterans Affairs office about that. My cousin David > said his Dad had told him Helen filed //received Wesley's Death > Benefits..... that was where she got the money to buy the farm on Cambell Rd. in Ashland. > > Also Wesley was a Gas Casualty may have outlived the war, returned to the > States and dying from injuries received after his return. > > Brings to mind the quelling of the Veterans March On Washington caused by the > Gov renaging on promises made to the Veterans! Another story! > > Lukiebert""">>>>>>>>>>>>> > > > ==== PAWAYNE Mailing List ==== > If you can't visit the area you are researching, check with your local > Family History Center. They may be able to get the records you require > on microfilm. > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237