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June 2000

**Facts About the 1973 St. Louis Fire and Lost Records**

The National Archives and Records Administration is the official
depository for records of military personnel separated from the U. S.
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. The records are
housed in three locations: the National Archives Building in Washington,
D.C., the Washington National Records Center in Suitland, Md., and the
National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Mo.

The NPRC in St. Louis contains records relating to:

> Army officers separated after June 30, 1917, and enlisted Army
> personnel separated after October 31, 1912.
>
> Air Force officers and enlisted personnel separated after September
> 1947.
>
> Naval officers separated after 1902, and naval enlisted personnel
> separated after 1885.
>
> Marine Corps officers separated after 1895, and enlisted personnel
> separated after 1904.
>
> Coast Guard officers separated after 1928, and enlisted personnel
> separated after 1914. Civilian employees of predecessor agencies
> (Revenue Cutter Service, Life-Saving Service and Lighthouse Service)
> of the Coast Guard from 1864-1919.

### The Fire

A fire at the NPRC in St. Louis on July 12, 1973, destroyed about 80
percent of the records for Army personnel discharged between November 1,
1912, and January 1, 1960. About 75 percent of the records for Air Force
personnel with surnames from \"Hubbard\" through \"Z\" discharged
between September 25, 1947, and January 1, 1964, were also destroyed.

### What Was Lost

It is hard to determine exactly what was lost in the fire, because:

> There were no indices to the blocks of records involved. The records
> were merely filed in alphabetical order for the following groups:

-more-

St. Louis Fire & Lost Records -- Page 2

> World War I: Army November 1, 1912 - September 7, 1939
>
> World War II: Army September 8, 1939 - December 31, 1946
>
> Post World War II: Army January 1, 1947 - December 31, 1959
>
> Air Force September 25, 1947 - December 31, 1963

Millions of records, especially medical records, had been withdrawn from
all three groups and loaned to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
before the fire. The fact that one\'s records are not in NPRC files at a
particular time does not mean the records were destroyed in the fire.

# Reconstruction of Lost Records

If veterans learn that their records may have been lost in the fire,
they may send photocopies of any documents they possess \-- especially
separation documents \-- to the NPRC. The address is National Personnel
Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 9700 Page Blvd., St. Louis,
MO 63132-5100. The NPRC will add those documents to the computerized
index and file them permanently.

# Alternate Sources of Military Service Data 

When veterans don't have copies of their military records and their NPRC
files may have been lost in the St. Louis fire, essential information
about their military service may be available from a number of other
sources.

> The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) maintains records on veterans
> whose military records were affected by the fire if the veteran or a
> beneficiary filed a claim before July 1973.
>
> Service information may also be found in various kinds of
> \"organizational\" records such as unit morning reports, payrolls and
> military orders on file at the NPRC or other National Archives and
> Records Administration facilities.
>
> There also is a great deal of information available in records of the
> State Adjutants General, and other state \"veterans services\"
> offices.

By using alternate sources, NPRC often can reconstruct a veteran\'s
beginning and ending dates of active service, the character of service,
rank, time lost on active duty, and periods of hospitalization. NPRC can
issue NA Form 13038, \"Certification of Military Service,\" considered
the equivalent of a Form DD-214, \"Report of Separation From Active
Duty,\" to use in establishing eligibility for veterans benefits.

### Necessary Information for File Reconstruction

The key to reconstructing military data is to give the NPRC enough
specific information so the staff can properly search the various
sources. The following information is normally required:

Full name used during military service Place of entry into service

Branch of service Last unit of assignment

Approximate dates of service Place of discharge

Service number or Social Security number

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