Alabama, World War I Service cards, 1917-1919 - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This publication consists of statement of service cards of Alabamians who served in the United States Army, Navy, Coast Guard, or Marines during World War I from 1917 to 1919. Information available will vary depending on the type of form used. The collection was acquired from the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The cards may contain:
 * Name
 * Serial number
 * Rate (Rank)
 * Address
 * Date and place of birth
 * Date and place of enlistment
 * Service record
 * Date and place of discharge
 * Other notes

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name and date of birth of your ancestor
 * The division of the military your ancestor served in

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the names, age and residence to find census records including the 1910 and 1920 census. The 1930 also identifies World War I veterans.
 * Look for discharge records. Many veterans registered their discharges at the local county courthouse.
 * Look for membership applications at the local American Legion Post.
 * Look for a published military unit history.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor and that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times.

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor
 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Look for an index. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records
 * Search the records of nearby localities (or military units, counties, parishes, etc.)

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Alabama.
 * US Military Basic Search Strategies
 * Beginning Research in United States Military Records
 * Beginning United States World War I Research
 * US Military Records at the FHL
 * Alabama Guided Research
 * Alabama Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Related Family History Library Holdings

 * World War I service records, 1918-1919
 * U.S. District Court. Military petitions,1918 for Montgomery

Related FamilySearch Historical Record Collections

 * United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.
 * United States, World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919
 * United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940
 * United States Index to Naturalizations of World War I Soldiers, 1918

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.