Military Records SearchAncestor Research – Start With US Army Service Records
Men, and women, have been fighting and waging war since time began. Everyone has  an ancestors who were in the military and finding those US army service  records will help fill out your family tree. I have never heard a veteran, or heard about a veteran, who talked much about the war they were in and their involvement. It is up to you to look up the actual records.
First, join the army records database find out when and where the family member served and his or her branch and rank. Look through the house and see if you can find photographs, newspaper clippings, diaries and correspondence they may have sent home. If you put flowers on the family graves, look to see if there is a military marker on a grave. The government may have provided a plain gravestone.
Maybe, you will find an old khaki colored garment or even a uniform or a navy pea coat or heavy woolen cap. These are clues to broaden your search and look for military records. You might even find a sword or a gun.
Search US Army Records
The US Census records have a column pertaining to military status. The 1840 census asked for the names and exact ages of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services. Then, you can search for Revolutionary War records. Pensioners included both veterans and widows.
Since the United States Federal Census for 1890 was all but completely destroyed in a fire in January 1921 at the Commerce Building in Washington D.C., the 1890 Veteran’s schedule is an alternative means of documenting veterans or widows of veterans from the Civil War and War of 1812 who were still living and collecting pensions in 1890.
This census asked whether a person was a soldier, sailor, or marine during the Civil War or a widow of such a person, when enlisted and the length of service and any disability incurred. Practically all of the schedules for the states Alabama through Kansas, and approximately half of those for Kentucky were destroyed, possibly by fire, before the transfer of the remaining schedules to the National Archives in 1943.
The 1910 census asked whether a person was a survivor of the Union or Confederate Army or Navy. The 1930 census asked whether a person was a veteran of the US Army Military or Naval Forces, yes or no and whether you were mobilized for any war or expedition.
WWI registration records are wonderful as 24 million men registered for the WWI draft in 1917 and 1918. They show name, age, address, citizenship, color of eyes and hair, build, names of parents or nearest relative. The name of the employer is also listed and the cards are signed by the registrant.
Similar records are available for World War II. There are 8 million names of U.S. Army enlistees for the years 1938-1946.
Ancestry has military records that you can search free until November 14. We have ancestors who may have possibly served in the Revolutionary War so I typed in the name and state and found some possible records.
Old West Point applicants records are free until Sunday. 1805-1866 are the years covered and the papers include applicants’ letters requesting appointment and the War Department letters of acceptance and the letters of acceptance from the candidate. It is really neat to read the letters and signatures of your ancestor. More than 115,000 graduates who went on to military careers are named, such as General Custer who graduated last in his class at West Point.
It is well worth it to search for your family members by searching the US army service records online – this will fire your enthusiasm!
Start With US Army Service Records
Men, and women, have been fighting and waging war since time began. Everyone has  an ancestors who were in the military and finding those US army service  records will help fill out your family tree. I have never heard a veteran, or heard about a veteran, who talked much about the war they were in and their involvement. It is up to you to look up the actual records.
First, join the army records database find out when and where the family member served and his or her branch and rank. Look through the house and see if you can find photographs, newspaper clippings, diaries and correspondence they may have sent home. If you put flowers on the family graves, look to see if there is a military marker on a grave. The government may have provided a plain gravestone.
Maybe, you will find an old khaki colored garment or even a uniform or a navy pea coat or heavy woolen cap. These are clues to broaden your search and look for military records. You might even find a sword or a gun.
Search US Army Records
The US Census records have a column pertaining to military status. The 1840 census asked for the names and exact ages of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services. Then, you can search for Revolutionary War records. Pensioners included both veterans and widows.
Since the United States Federal Census for 1890 was all but completely destroyed in a fire in January 1921 at the Commerce Building in Washington D.C., the 1890 Veteran’s schedule is an alternative means of documenting veterans or widows of veterans from the Civil War and War of 1812 who were still living and collecting pensions in 1890.
This census asked whether a person was a soldier, sailor, or marine during the Civil War or a widow of such a person, when enlisted and the length of service and any disability incurred. Practically all of the schedules for the states Alabama through Kansas, and approximately half of those for Kentucky were destroyed, possibly by fire, before the transfer of the remaining schedules to the National Archives in 1943.
The 1910 census asked whether a person was a survivor of the Union or Confederate Army or Navy. The 1930 census asked whether a person was a veteran of the US Army Military or Naval Forces, yes or no and whether you were mobilized for any war or expedition.
WWI registration records are wonderful as 24 million men registered for the WWI draft in 1917 and 1918. They show name, age, address, citizenship, color of eyes and hair, build, names of parents or nearest relative. The name of the employer is also listed and the cards are signed by the registrant.
Similar records are available for World War II. There are 8 million names of U.S. Army enlistees for the years 1938-1946.
Ancestry has military records that you can search free until November 14. We have ancestors who may have possibly served in the Revolutionary War so I typed in the name and state and found some possible records.
Old West Point applicants records are free until Sunday. 1805-1866 are the years covered and the papers include applicants’ letters requesting appointment and the War Department letters of acceptance and the letters of acceptance from the candidate. It is really neat to read the letters and signatures of your ancestor. More than 115,000 graduates who went on to military careers are named, such as General Custer who graduated last in his class at West Point.
It is well worth it to search for your family members by searching the US army service records online – this will fire your enthusiasm!
Related Sites
Related Sites
Have you had the desire to do a military record search to discover what your father (or grandfather) did in the army during World War 2 or during the Korean War?
