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Immediately below the date of birth and birth place is the physical description of the soldier. Service details include place and date of enlistment, battles and campaigns in which the soldier served, medals earned by the soldier, inoculations received, theatre assignments, employer at time of enlistment, and how long employed. |
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Discharge records are among the richest resources an ancestor leaves behind. Soldiers usually keep their discharge records, not only as the key to important benefits, but also because of the pride they have in their service to their country. |
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The highlights and many details of a soldier's military service can be gleaned from his or her discharge record. In addition, there is information about the soldier's life before enlistment, and an address where the soldier can be contacted after discharge. |
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Discharge records are maintained by each component of the military (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard). To get a copy of an ancestor's discharge record, contact the appropriate component for the correct application form. Be prepared to prove that the ancestor is deceased and that you are a descendant of the soldier, as discharge records are not considered public records until the death of the soldier or until seventy-two years have passed after the soldier's discharge. |
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Soldiers often had these important personal records preserved by having them recorded at the county courthouse. Most counties have military discharge books especially for maintaining these records. |
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