Finding the Military Records for a Next-of-Kin or a Deceased Spouse or Parent

Do you need help finding military records of a next-of-kin?  It might be that you need them for any number of reasons and here is a really easy way to get those records of your father/mother, brother/sister, son/daughter, or deceased spouse.

Here is the information:

The records stored at the National Personnel Records Center cover military personnel who were discharged on or after the below-listed dates:

Air Force Officers and Enlisted -- September 25, 1947
Army Officers separated July 1, 1917
Army Enlisted separated November 1, 1912 
Navy Officers separated January 1, 1903
Navy Enlisted separated January 1, 1886 
Marine Corps Officers and Enlisted separated January 1, 1905 
Coast Guard Officers and Enlisted separated January 1, 1898

Military personnel records for individuals separated before these dates are on file at the National Archives and Records Administration, Old Military and Civil Records Branch (NWCTB), Washington, DC 20408. E-mail address: inquire@arch2.nara.gov.

Veterans and "Next of Kin": Veterans and next-of-kin of deceased veterans have the same rights to full access to the record. Next-of-kin are the unremarried widow or widower, son or daughter, father or mother, brother or sister of the deceased veteran.