I got this from another this thought it could help someone Granny Research Tip: Military or Civilian? Having an ancestor with military service can often be a source of pride. Not only because he or she served his or her nation, but also because service files and other records for military personnel (such as pensions) can be great sources of biographical and genealogical information. But you need to remember that not everyone employed by the military was considered to be military personnel. Armies, navies and other military organizations have always needed a certain number of civilian employees for a wide range of jobs. Some military-related civilian jobs can be physically dangerous, but many are no more life-threatening than most non-military occupations. While civilians and military personnel serve side by side, their records are usually kept in separate archives, and the records for civilian employees can be less likely to contain as much personal data as the ones kept for military personnel at the same location. If you have a family tradition that an ancestor served in the military, but you can't locate a service record, pension file, bounty land warrant, or other military record, try looking for records of civilians supporting the military in that area during that time period. It may be that your ancestor served his country, but in a civilian capacity rather than a military one. Resources: National Personnel Records Center: Military Records http://www.nara.gov/regional/mpr.html National Personnel Records Center: Civilian Records http://www.nara.gov/regional/cpr.html