Military Service Records Discharge Papers, Official Military Personnel Files, and Pension Files

From the earliest years of United States history, American Indians have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Ever since General George Washington noted American Indians' skills as scouts and light troops during the Revolutionary War, they have participated in every major conflict, including both sides of the American Civil War. American Indians have also served with distinction in unique roles, including as U.S. Army Indian Scouts and U.S. Army and Marine Corps code talkers in both World Wars.

The National Archives holds Federal military service and pension records from the Revolutionary War to the present, including records of American Indian veterans.

Military Service and Pension Records

Requests for these records must be submitted in writing or online.

• Prior to 1917: These records are located at the National Archives in Washington, DC.

• From World War I through today: These records are located at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

• Veterans, as well as their next of kin, can request service records online using the eVetRecs system.

For more information, please see National Archives Veterans Service Records.

NOTE: Some older military records are digitized, indexed, and fully searchable on Ancestry.com and/or Fold3.com.

Additional Military Records

The National Archives also houses military records detailing the general activities of the U.S. Armed Forces in both times of peace and war. See Research in Military Records for more information.