Veterans

Equinox Moon

(6,344 posts) Sun Apr 22, 2018, 08:45 PM Apr 2018

I'm bummed, just learned my grandfather's military records burned up in 1973 fire

I was doing some family research and wanted to look up my grandfather's military records from WWll.
They are gone forever - what a bummer!

Army ----- Personnel discharged November 1, 1912 to January 1, 1960----80% destroyed
Air Force ------Personnel discharged September 25, 1947 to January 1, 1964------75% destroyed

https://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/fire-1973.html

7 replies

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I'm bummed, just learned my grandfather's military records burned up in 1973 fire (Original Post) Equinox Moon Apr 2018 OP

That's sad mercuryblues Apr 2018 #1

Thanks Mercury Equinox Moon Apr 2018 #3

You may be able to access his form DD-214. tonyt53 Apr 2018 #2

Thanks, I will try. Equinox Moon Apr 2018 #4

Also try Ancestry.com no_hypocrisy Apr 2018 #5

I thought the Pentagon had copies of copies of copies Freelancer Apr 2018 #6

Here is another link regarding "The National Personnel Records Center Fire of 1973." John1956PA Apr 2018 #7

mercuryblues

(15,102 posts)

1. That's sad

Reply to Equinox Moon (Original post)

Sun Apr 22, 2018, 08:56 PM

Apr 2018

As much as the Army wants things in duplicates of triplicates you would think this could not happen. I hopeyour Grandfather told you stories of his service.

Equinox Moon

(6,344 posts)

3. Thanks Mercury

Reply to mercuryblues (Reply #1)

Sun Apr 22, 2018, 08:59 PM

Apr 2018

Indeed, the military was big on copies, but if all the copies are in one place - poof.

I do have some stories, he told some gruesome tales.

tonyt53

(5,737 posts)

2. You may be able to access his form DD-214.

Reply to Equinox Moon (Original post)

Sun Apr 22, 2018, 08:57 PM

Apr 2018

Equinox Moon

(6,344 posts)

4. Thanks, I will try.

Reply to tonyt53 (Reply #2)

Sun Apr 22, 2018, 09:02 PM

Apr 2018

no_hypocrisy

(48,781 posts)

5. Also try Ancestry.com

Reply to Equinox Moon (Original post)

Sun Apr 22, 2018, 09:52 PM

Apr 2018

Freelancer

(2,107 posts)

6. I thought the Pentagon had copies of copies of copies

Reply to Equinox Moon (Original post)

Sun Apr 22, 2018, 11:18 PM

Apr 2018

It's probably in a filing cabinet in a warehouse next to the box with the Lost Ark in it.

John1956PA

(3,368 posts)

7. Here is another link regarding "The National Personnel Records Center Fire of 1973."

Reply to Equinox Moon (Original post)

Mon Apr 23, 2018, 04:37 AM

Apr 2018

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Personnel_Records_Center_fire :

The National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973,[1] also referred to as the 1973 National Archives fire, was a fire that occurred at the Military Personnel Records Center (MPRC - part of the National Personnel Records Center) in Overland, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, on July 12, 1973, striking a severe blow to the National Archives and Records Administration of the United States.[1] MPRC, the custodian of military service records, lost approximately 16–18 million official military personnel records as a result of the fire.[2]

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