U.S. Military Records Now Online

May 25, 2007 — The world's largest database of U.S. military records, spanning more than four centuries from the 1600's to the Vietnam War, is now available and searchable online, according to Ancestry.com.

Highlights from the collection include World War I and World War II draft registration cards; prisoner of war records from the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War II, and Korea; unit rosters for the Marine Corps and Navy; burial registers; service records from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War; and casualty listings from WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam.

The database also includes all 267 United Newsreel Motion Pictures. The Office of War Information produced these counter-propaganda films between 1942 and 1945. German language versions were dropped behind enemy lines.

The WWI records are most extensive, with more than 40 million names.

"One in four Americans who had relatives born in this country during the last quarter of the 19th century will find family members there," Megan Smolenyak, chief family historian for Ancestry, told Discovery News.

Smolenyak said that, while working on the project, she found 116 records for her own relatives.

"A lot of times, fellows who served swallowed painful memories and did not share them with their families, so you might be surprised by what you find," she added.

Some of the documents even include personal affidavits from neighbors, describing what the individual's character was like, or physical descriptions. Actor Tom Cruise's great grandfather was described as "short," "stout," and "bald" on his WWI draft registration card.

Other political and celebrity links include information on Senator Barack Obama's grandfather, Stanley Dunham, who served in WWII, as well as the senator's great-grandfather, who served in WWI.

Although mob boss Al Capone dodged his taxes, he filled out his draft registration card for WWI, listing his occupation as "paper cutter" for a box company. Elvis Presley's great-great grandfather enlisted in the Confederate Army, but wound up deserting not once, but twice, after he each time collected the $300 men were paid for a year of service.

Some of the nation's greatest military heroes are also listed. Paul Revere, whose famous 1775 midnight ride informed listeners, "The British are coming!" may be found in the Revolutionary War Service Records, and the records set entitled the Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution.

Theodore Roosevelt, the only U.S. President to receive the Medal of Honor — the country's highest military honor — is also included.

Smolenyak said a surprising number of women, who served as nurses and in other capacities, are in the database.

"If you had adventurous great aunts, you might want to investigate their military connections," she said.

Retired U.S. Senator and former astronaut Jake Garn served as a Navy pilot and as Brigadier General of the Utah Air National Guard. He said the online records provide families with "precious links that can often be found no where else."

He added, "Through the digitization and online availability of these documents, Americans can discover the story of our nation and remember the military legacies of their ancestors through details such as names, service dates and locations, battles fought, medals or honors awarded and even sometimes, very distinct physical descriptions."

The online collection will be available for free to Internet users from now until the anniversary of D-Day, June 6th, at www.ancestry.com/military.