R/RFHA Newsletter, September 1999                                     P.31

How To Check Records of Military Service

Those of us who are attempting to research military records, for the most part, have little difficulty. However, there are some glitches. B.G. Burkett & Glenna Whitley, the authors of "Stolen Valor", a book about phony Vietnam veterans, have compiled some helpful information and placed them on a web site: www.stolenvalor.com. (link verified 09/21/2004)

To get your own military records, simply write a letter to the National Personnel Records Center, (Army, Air Force or Navy 9700 Page Avenue, St Louis, MO 63132. There is also additional information at the following website: http://www.nara.gov/regional/stlouis.html. (link verified 09/21/2004) Provide your full name, branch of service, inclusive dates of service, and service number (for service before 1969) and Social Security number for service after 1969. If not sure of service dates, provide both.

To find someone else's records you must use a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Order it at website: http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/foi/ (link updated 09/21/2004) which is the FOIA website of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, which has detailed information. Give all information you have on that veteran, birth certificate copies, marriage, death records, etc. The Center will not release medical, disciplinary and some other records under the FOIA. When researching records of family members and others who are cooperating in your research request they sign a Form DA1800, which provides you all the records that they could get themselves.

The one glitch you must remember is that in July of 1973 a fire destroyed nearly all records of people discharged from the Army before 1960, and many records of Air Force veterans who served between 1947 and 1963. Phony war heroes sometimes capitalize on this fire by claiming their records burned up. However the Records Center can find duplicate files to piece histories back together.

Good luck.

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From Ann Valois, 5359 East Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90803

From the Anne Arundel Co., Maryland, Marriage Records - 1779-1873

Frederick RAWLINGS to Ann Tydings, Dec. 18, 1811

JAMES RAWLINGS to. Mary E. Woodward, Jan. 10, 1837

JOHN RAWLINGS to Sophia Duvall, May 9, 1794

JOHN RAWLINGS to Mary Chatten, Dec. 7, 1813

JOHN RAWLINGS to Martha Reigler, May 18, 1853

JONATHAN RAWLINGS to Rachel Bryan, April 2, 1794

JOSEPH RAWLINGS to Elizabeth Robinson, Jan. 21, 1802

JOSHUA RAWLINGS to Elizabeth Lusby, July 13, 1789

PHILIP J. RAWLINGS to Lottie E. Rockhold, Dec. 8, 1873

RICHARD RAWLINGS to Sarah Thornton, April 24, 1781

RICHARD RAWLINGS to Mary Bryan, Dec. 23, 1789

RICHARD RAWLINGS to Susannah Tayman, Feb. 16, 1811

RICHARD G. RAWLINGS to Airy Jeannes, Nov. 28, 1803

STEPHEN RAWLINGS to Eleanor Lusby, Jan. 5, 1779

THOMAS RAWLINGS to Tabatha Donaldson, Jan. 12, 1804

WILLIAM RAWLINGS to Elizabeth Retallick, June 13, 1801

WILLIAM J. RAWLINGS to Anne E. Scible, April 9, 1869

WILLIAM JOSEPH RAWLINGS to Susanna Thompson, April 20, 1857

WILLIAM JOSEPH RAWLINGS to Jane M. Barber, Nov. 15, 1832

Residence: Dallas Co., TX