The July 12, 1973, fire at NPRC destroyed about 80% of the records for Army personnel discharged between November 1, 1912, and January 1, 1960, and about 75% of the records for Air Force personnel with surnames from Hubbard through "Z" discharged between September 25, 1947, and January 1, 1964.

When a record is not in NPRC's files at the present time, and it would have been in the area that suffered the most damage in the fire, Center employees often cannot determine for certain if it was burned because:

1. There were no indices to the blocks of records involved. The records were merely filed in alphabetical order within each major block:

2. Millions of the records (especially medical records) had been withdrawn from all three blocks and lent to the Veterans Administration prior to the fire.

III. VETERANS MAY SUBMIT-PHOTOCOPIES OF DOCUMENTS IN HIS/HER POSSESSION TO THIS CENTER

If a veteran who inquires about his/her record is advised that is was probably lost in the fire, he/she may send to this Center photocopies of any documents he/she has in his/her possession, particularly separation documents. These will be added to the computerized index and filed for permanent retention.

In the event a veteran has no records in his/her possession, the essential military service data is available from a number of alternate sources. The Veterans Administration, for example, maintains records on veterans whose military records were affected by the fire, if the veteran or his/her family filed a claim prior to July 1973. Other sources of service information included various kinds of "organizational" records such as morning reports, payrolls, and military orders at this Center. There is also a great deal of information available in records of the state adjutants general, and other state "veterans service" offices. By using the alternate sources of information which are available at this Center, NPRC employees can often reconstruct the veteran's beginning and ending dates of active service, the character of the service, rank while in service, time lost while on active duty, and periods of hospitalization. Usually this Center is able to issue NA Form 13038, Certification of Military Service - - which is considered to be the equivalent of a DD Form 214, Report of Separation from Active Duty - - for the purpose of establishing eligibility for veteran's benefits.

Of course, the key to reconstructing military data is to get enough specific information from the veteran to allow our Center personnel to search the available alternate sources. The information normally required is:

1) Full name used during service,
2) Branch of service,
3) Approximate dates of service,
4) Service number,
5) Place of discharge,
6) Last unit of assignment, and
7) Place of entry into service.

If you should wish to re-establish your veteran's file at the National Personnel Records Center, make a xerox copy of your DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from Active Duty) and send it with an explanatory note, to NPRC at: