Looking for information on a soldier KIA in Vietnam

Dear Ms. Vaughn,

Thank you for posting your inquiry to the History Hub.

There are several places you might be able to locate more information on the soldier you are researching.

Firstly, the Textual Reference Archives II Branch (RDT2) has custody of the Records of the United States Forces in Southeast Asia, 1950-1975 (Record Group 472) for U.S. Army units, including the 101st Airborne Division. These records consist mostly of unit organizational histories, after action reports, unit daily staff journals, and general orders. The files are arranged by unit, and they do not include personnel or medical information. We also do not have a name index to these records. This series, General Orders of the 101st Airborne Division, 1967-1972, is an example of the type of records you might find in RG 472. You can contact the Textual Reference Branch directly at archives2reference@nara.gov with questions about the records of the 101st.

Secondly, you might want to request the soldier’s Burial Case File (later known as the Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF)). Burial case files from 1915-1976 are in the custody of the National Archives at St. Louis, ATTN: RL-SL, P.O. Box 38757, St. Louis, MO 63138-1002. Please contact them regarding access to these records. Their email address is stl.archives@nara.gov.

And thirdly, the Official Military Personnel Files (OMPFs) of veterans who were separated from service service after 1954 may be requested from the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. Please contact them via mpr.center@nara.gov for further information.

Thank you, again, for sharing your question with the History Hub, and best of luck with your continued search.