To get your military service records or those of an immediate Next of Kin go to the National Archives and Records Administration website (URL below)
These instructions are for both your individual military records and/or the records or a deceased next of kin veteran. They pretty much apply in either case.
READ ALL OF THIS BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING.
Go to this website http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/index.html (for the root URL use http://www.archives.gov or http://www.archives.gov/veterans/ ) and you will get the web-page where you can ask for your, or NOK service records. Their website has recently been changed, and they have new format for requesting records, but most of this still applies. YOU WILL NEED TO KNOW (not required but it helps) Branch of Service Dates of Service Rank (if known) SSN (if known - SSN or MSN is required information) Military Service Number (if known - SSN or MSN is required information) Date of Birth Place of Birth Date of Death (If on active duty) Place of Death (if on active duty) Date of separation (at least the year) Character of separation. (if known)
When you go through the web-pages they ask for information in several separate steps. Eventually they will ask why you want this information. Put down "personal military history", or "family genealogy". You may want the information for other purposes BUT this will get you the most complete records . . THEN . . make sure you ask for the UNDELETED transcript. ((If not you will only get a copy of the DD-214/Record of Separation and just a few pages)). Also, be sure to fill out the comments section. Here you should ask for copies from his service record for "all official pages of the official military personnel file and any supplemental pages reflecting service schooling, education, air/sea travel, duty assignments, weapons qualification, special equipment or skill qualifications, awards, medals, decorations and commendations, combat service and/ injuries and all other military service related entries. Additionally any and all Performance Evaluation and or Fitness Reports." copy that exactly in the comments section of the electronic request. This will give you nearly, if not all of his service records. After you fill out the electronic request you will down load, I think its automatic, the signature authorization page. THIS IS REQUIRED. If you have fax capabilities you can sign the request and send it in. If not you can sign it and snail mail it. ALSO - They will give you an electronic ID REQUEST NUMBER. Make sure you write this down. You'll need it later. Once they receive the signature authorization page it should be about 3-4 weeks before you get the package. You "should" also get an email notification that the request is being processed and another email again when the package is mailed. There have been cases where you will only receive a DD-214. Send your request again. In the comments sections add "THIS IS THE SECOND REQUEST FOR all pages ........." When the package comes in . . . if you need further assistance, contact TWS Admin or anyone else on the site. CAUTION - be prepared for anything. When I sent in for my Dad's records I found out that he had been court-martialed in years gone by, - - AND - - that I had been adopted! Hope this helps - as we say in digging the family tree - good hunting and watch for the nuts falling from the tree.
