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United States


Goal E1: Military Records


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Part E: U.S. Military Records





Goal E1: Learn about U.S. military records.

Many ancestors, or their relatives, served in the U.S. military at some point. One of the useful websites for locating military records is www.fold3.com.



ChoicesVault


A Understand U.S. military records and how they can be used in family history.


Class Outlines:    Basic


Summary
  1. Basics: Learn the basics of U.S. military records in these research outlines.

    FS—U.S. Military Records Class Handout
    AC—U.S Military Records

  2. Gather sources for U.S. military records in the FamilySearch Wiki.

    FS—United States Military Records   

  3. Learn how to interview military veterans to capture their stories.

    How to Interview Military Veterans—38:11 - 2020   



  4. Learn about the basic types of U.S. military records available and how to find them.

    GC—Researching through Military Records
    GE: The Ultimate Guide to Military Records for Genealogy - 2022

  5. See how military records can be used to further your family history.

    AF—Using Military Records to Construct Family Trees - 2015

  6. Watch this video to learn about compiled military service records.

    AAC—Compiled Military Service Records—3:24

Resources
  1. Search for military records from a variety of sources in the NARA Access to Archival Databases site.
  2. Search for records of servicemen buried overseas in the American Battle Monuments Commission site.
  3. Learn how to decipher common military record abbreviations.
Exercises

B Learn to trace your military ancestors.


  1. Identifying Ancestors: Watch these videos to learn about identifying ancestors in the U.S. military.

    AC—Discovering Our Veterans—23:34 - 2012


    AC—Track Down Your Family Vets—20:46 - 2012   



  2. Benefits & Pensions: Learn more about military veterans' benefits and pensions in these articles.

    FS—United States Military Pension Records
    HD—How To Trace Women In Your Family Tree With Veterans' Pension Records

  3. Watch these videos from Ancestry Academy to learn more about doing research with pension application files.

    AAC—Pension Application Files (video series)

  4. Cemetery & Gravestones: Use cemetery and gravestone records to find military ancestors.

    GC—Final Resting Place

  5. FamilySearch: Check out the FamilySearch Community Group for United States Military Records.
  6. Ancestry: Use the Ancestry message boards to read or post questions about U.S. military records.
Exercises

  Record Search Practice  |   Hints  |   Answers


QUIKLinks



C Explore the Fold3 website for military records.


  1. Introduction: Watch these videos to become familiar with the Fold3 website for military ancestors.

    An Introduction to Fold3—4:30 - 2011


    BYU—Fold3—12:18   



  2. Search: Learn how to search for military records on Fold3.

    Searching on Fold3—5:43 - 2013



Exercises