Note that in 1973, a disastrous fire at NPRC destroyed approximately 16 million to 18 million Army and Air Force official military personnel files. Personnel records may be requested online at  or by completing the Standard Form 180 (see Appendix) and sending it to the correct address listed on the back of the form. The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), Military Personnel Records, holds most military personnel, health, and medical records of discharged and deceased veterans of all services from World War I to the present. Personnel Files of Discharged, Deceased, or Retired Veterans Military Service and Pension Records at the National Archives It includes contact information for military history centers, websites for additional sources of research, and a bibliography of other publications.Ĭontents Personnel Files of Discharged, Deceased, or Retired Veterans This guide provides information on locating military unit histories and individual service records of discharged, retired, and deceased military personnel. Congressional Research Service Report for Congress