What is the best/easiest way to obtain US Navy records for a relative who served between 1893 and 1946? I have not found any of the websites user-friendly at all. Would a FOIA request me best?
What is the best/easiest way to obtain US Navy records for a relative who served between 1893 and 1946? I have not found any of the websites user-friendly at all. Would a FOIA request me best?
Dear Mr. Morris,
Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!
We suggest that you request a copy of your relative’s Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). OMPFs and medical records of enlisted men and women of the U.S. Navy who were separated from the service after 1885 and before 1960 are located at NARA's National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), (Military Personnel Records), 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138-1002. To request these records, please mail a completed GSA Standard Form 180 to NPRC. If there is any information requested by the form that you do not know, you may omit it or provide estimates (such as for dates), but the more information you provide, the easier it will be to locate the correct file. For more information see Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF), Archival Records Requests.
We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your family research!
Thank you very much!!