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OBTAINING PERSONNEL RECORDS OF A VETERAN
Veterans personnel records can be obtained by the veteran or family members if he or she is deceased by contacting the National Personnel Records Center or contact may be made with a veteran by enclosing an envelope to be forwarded to the veteran.
If located the Records Center will forward a letter to the veteran and he may reply if he so desires, they will not give you information unless you are related. Also, Any Veterans interested in obtaining medals for their military service can contact:
National Personnel Records Center Military Personnel Records 9700 Page Boulevard St. Louis, MO 63132
NOTE: Even if you have received your awards you are entitled to a one time complete re-issue. I published complete instructions on page 15 of the 456th Bomb Group Association newsletter Volume IV, No. 6, June 1993. See Medals article in that issue.
Fred the Ed.
(To read a short letter from someone who did obtain a set of medals, click here.)
Note: An excellent source of information on how to find almost anyone or any record is available on the heavybombers.com website.
DECORATIONS & SERVICE MEDALS
a repeat from June 1993 Newsletter (please save)
How to claim any Awards, Decorations and/or Service Medals, U.S. or foreign to which you may be entitled.
Many of us did not receive all of the medals to which we were entitled, some were not awarded, some were determined after you had separated and some you may not have been aware of. Many did not receive the Victory Medal, the Reserve medal or some campaign awards. Or over the years they have been lost or destroyed.
Even if you have received your awards you are entitled to a one time complete re-issue. I would suggest surviving family members follow this procedure to claim awards due those KIA or since deceased.
If you would like a re-issue here is how to go about it.
1. WRITE THE FOLLOWING LETTER:
National Personnel Records Center Military Personnel Records. 9700 Page Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63132Dear Sir:
I would like to claim the Decorations and Service Medals to which I (or relative) am entitled and have not been issued, as provided in Department of Defense Regulations.
Attached is a completed SF Form 180 (or documentation in lieu of) to aid in locating and validating my (or his) military awards.
Please send my military awards and advise of any foreign awards to which I (he) may be entitled. My complete mailing address is listed on the attached.
Thank you in advance.
John Hancock Sr.
1. COMPLETE SF Form 180 (Request pertaining to Military Records)
The SF Form 180 is a standard form available through the National Personnel Records Center shown above. The information as shown below should suffice in lieu of a Form 180.
Fill in the following.
Date:
SECTION I - Information needed to locate records.
1. Name used during service.
2. SSN
3. Date of birth
4. Place of birth
Active service - Past or Present
5. Branch of service
6. Dates of active duty -
Date entered
Date released
7. Check one -
Officer
Enlisted
8. Service number during this period.
Reserve service during this period
9. Branch of service
10. Dates of membership
Beginning date
Ending date
11. Check one -
Officer
Enlisted
12. Service number during this period
National Guard Membership
13. Army
14. Air
15. State
16. Organization
17. Dates of membership -
Beginning date
Ending date
18. Check one -
Officer
Enlisted
19. Service number during this period
20. Is the service person deceased? -
No
Yes (If yes enter the date)
SECTION II - REQUEST
1. Explain what information or documents you need.
(Enter) This is submitted to facilitate my request for issuance of all Military awards earned by me. Please list any foreign awards to which I may be entitled in addition to my U.S. awards.
2. N/A
3. N/A
4. Purpose for which information or documents are needed.
(Enter) To substantiate my request to be issued all awards I am entitled to.
5. Requester is - check one.
Person identified in part I
Surviving spouse.
Next of kin (Show relationship)
Other (Specify)
5a. Signature of requester.
6. Release authorization -
I hereby authorize release of the requested information/documents to the addressee shown in 7.
6a. Signature of veteran (If other than veteran sign 6b.)
6b. Relationship to veteran.
7. Requesters complete return address (Enter)
SECTION III - ENCLOSE A PHOTO COPY OF YOUR HONORABLE DISCHARGE
Both sides, usually the reverse side is FORM 214, a statement of your service for the period of the discharge.
I have had quite a few questions lately about finding information relating to veterans. I prepared this information for one of those requests and thought it might help other members of this mailing list. If anyone has any other resources or corrections to add to this list, I would appreciate hearing from you
Personnel records, health and medical (including 201's) are available from: National Personnel Records Center Military Personnel Records Attn: Air Force Reference Branch 9700 Page Blvd St. Louis, MO 63132FAX (314) 538-4175
Aircraft accident reports and Mission reports can be obtained from:
Dept. of the AF, AF Historical Research Agency, 600 Chennault Circle, Maxwell AFB AL 36112-6424There is no cost for this information at this time. It will take several weeks to a month to get this information back to you. You will need to provide the mission date, Unit (bomb group and squadron), target and mission number if known.
To determine whether an individual was determined missing or killed in action, contact:
U.S Total Army Personnel Command TAPC-PED-F 2461 Eisenhower Ave., Room 984, Hoffman Bldg 1 Alexandria, VA 22331They can also provide location details if the deceased and is buried in a US overseas or National cemetery
Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR) can be obtained from:
The National Archives at College Park Modern Military Records, Textual Reference Branch 8601 Adelphi Road College Park, Maryland, 20740-6001Approximate cost is $4.75 Note that many are in poor condition on microfilm.
They are also available from:
USAF Historian 500 Duncan Ave., Box 94 Bolling AFB, Washington, DC 20332-1111Individual Deceased Personnel Files can be obtained from:
Department of The Army U.S. Total Army Personnel Command Alexandria, VA. 22332-0405 Personnel and Logistics Attention: Robert Dickerson Freedom of Information and Privacy Act OfficerThere is no charge to family members for copies of the IDPFs. Takes 3-6 weeks.
Also, if you are searching for photographs, The source would be the
National Archives, Still Pictures Division 8601 Adelphi Road College Park, MD 20740-6001Created 04/10/00 RJF Last Edited 10/25/07 RJF