Military Records

When you discover an ancestor who served in the US military, you may feel both a sense of pride and curiosity and want to learn all you can about them. Military records can tell remarkable stories about your war ancestors, but they can be challenging to track down and interpret. Here are some tips, resources and guides for finding these records, studying them and honoring your ancestor for their valor and sacrifices.

At Your Service: A Military Genealogy Research Guide

How to Find Your Ancestor’s US Military Records Free eBook

This free ebook gives you the tools you need to track down your ancestors' military records, while also providing comprehensive overviews of historical conflicts both big and small. You will also learn about different military records, where to find them and what valuable genealogical information you can gain from them.

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The Genealogist’s Guide to Military Service Records

This guide offers tips for obtaining your ancestor’s military records and interpreting the rich genealogical information found within them.

How to Learn About Your Ancestor's Military Service

Searching Military Records on FamilySearch.org

Request Your Ancestor’s Military Discharge Papers

What is a DD-214 Form?

Unusual Records: State-Specific Military Records

The Government and Genealogy Records: What You Should Know

Fold3: Make the Most of Your Searches (in Just 5 Steps)

Free Resources from Family Tree Magazine

Free Military Records Checklist Form Download

Use this free checklist to organize your ancestors' military records.

War Service Reference Guide Free Download

This free reference guide covers several notable US conflicts and includes a birth chart to help you determine what war your ancestor served in.

Early American Wars Records

Genealogy Q&A: Finding Revolutionary War Ancestors Prior to 1790 Census

How to Find Revolutionary War Ancestors

Revolutionary War Genealogy and History Websites

4 Tips for Applying to DAR or SAR

Photos of the Revolutionary War Generation

Tracing Your Colonial and Early American Ancestors

Resources to Guide Your War of 1812 Research

Tracing Canadian Ancestors in the War of 1812

Civil War Records

9 Steps for Civil War Research

Civil War Genealogy Cheat Sheet

Use this quick-reference guide to uncover valuable research strategies that can help you find your Civil War ancestors, whether they served for the Union or the Confederacy. Also included is information on military records and general Civil War history.

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Civil War Genealogy Research Guide

Learn how to find out if you have ancestors who fought in the Civil War, read military records for crucial genealogical information, study Civil War photograph and more.