The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 44, October 28, 2007, Article 23

MILITARY PERSONNEL RECORD ACCESS OPENED

Dick Johnson writes: "If you are researching a person 
of numismatic interest that served in the U.S. military 
this could be good news. The National Archives announced 
this week that they have opened access to all military 
records prior to 1946.

"Apparently this applies to the massive records center 
located in St. Louis, and the earlier records in Washington 
DC. Is there, perhaps, an E-Sylum reader who would like 
to do this research in the St. Louis area?

"Here is the exact wording of the release this week: 

'The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has announced 
it will open for the first time all of the individual 
Official Military Personnel Files (OMPFs) of Army, Army 
Air Corps, Army Air Forces, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast 
Guard military personnel who served and were discharged, 
retired or died while in the service, prior to 1946.

'Collectively, these files comprise more than six million 
records. This is the second step in the progressive opening 
of the entire paper and microfiche OMPF collection of over 
57 million individual files. Additional military personnel 
records will be made available to the public each year 
through 2067 until the entire collection is opened.

'To view an original record, individuals may visit the 
NPRC Archival Research Room in St. Louis, MO. Research 
room hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central Time Tuesday 
through Friday. Visitors are strongly encouraged to call 
ahead (314-801-0850) to make reservations.

'The National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel 
Records (NPRC-MPR) is the repository of millions of 
military personnel, health, and medical records of 
discharged and deceased veterans of all services during 
the 20th century (Records prior to WWI are in Washington, DC). 

'NPRC (MPR) also stores medical treatment records of 
retirees from all services, as well as records for dependent 
and other persons treated at naval medical facilities.' "

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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