Reconstruct military records destroyed in NPRC fire 
In 1973 , a fire at the National Personnel Records Center NPRC in St. Louis, Missouri, destroyed the records held for Veterans who were discharged from the Army and Air Force during certain periods of time. Find out if your records may have been destroyed in this fire, and how to reconstruct your records to support a VA disability compensation claim. 

Were my records destroyed in the 1973 NPRC fire in St. Louis? 
Your records may have been destroyed in the fire if you were discharged from either : The Army between November 1 , 1912, and January 1 , 1960. The fire destroyed 80% of the records held for Veterans discharged from the Army during this time period. The fire didn't involve records for retirees and Reservists who were alive on July 12 , 1973. Or the Air Force between September 25 , 1947, and January 1 , 1964. The fire destroyed 75% of the records held for Veterans discharged from the Air Force during this time period with surnames beginning with Hubbard and running through the end of the alphabet. Learn more about the 1973 NPRC fire 

Reconstructing your records 


How does VA reconstruct my records? 
We submit a specific request to the NPRC for any additional service records they may have or can find for you. With the information we provide , the NPRC searches for documents that may help to reconstruct your records. They may also reach out to other government agencies. For example , they may try to reconstruct portions of your service treatment records by reviewing unit records, morning reports, and hospital admission records from the surgeon general's office. 

How can I get the records I need to support my VA disability compensation claim? 
If you're filing a VA disability compensation claim , follow the steps below to get the records you need. 

Fill out the National Archives request for information form 
You'll need to fill out a Request for Information Needed to Reconstruct Medical Data NA Form 13

user: I want to know about the fire you had and what to do if my military records are gone

assistant: In 1973 ,a fire at the National Personnel Records Center NPRC in St. Louis , Missouri , destroyed the records held for Veterans who were discharged from the Army and Air Force during certain periods of time .You can find out if your records may have been destroyed in this fire , and how to reconstruct your records to support a VA disability compensation claim.

assistant: Do you know if your records were destroyed in the 1973 NPRC fire in St. Louis?

user: yes, I was in the Army and I think they are gone but not sure.

assistant: Your records may have been destroyed in the fire if you were discharged from the Army between November 1 , 1912 , and January 1 , 1960 .The fire destroyed 80% of the records held for Veterans discharged from the Army during this time period .

user: How will you reconstruct my records if I need them for a claim?

assistant: We start by submitting a specific request to the NPRC for any additional service records they may have or can find for you .

user: So you do a search at the other Army offices?

assistant: the NPRC searches for documents that may help to reconstruct your records .They may also reach out to other government agencies .