United States, World War II Army Enlistment Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States

What is in This Collection?
This collection is a name index to Army Serial Number Enlistment Card Records, which covers the years 1938-1946, excluding officers, in the United States Army including the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps and the Enlisted Reserve Corps circa 1938-1946. The index is part of Record Group 64: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration. This index is not complete covering about nine million men and women and may contain scanning errors. Database courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Enlistment
 * Name
 * Date of enlistment
 * Place of enlistment
 * Race
 * Citizenship
 * Birth year and place
 * Education level
 * Civilian occupation
 * Marital status
 * Rank
 * Army branch
 * Army component
 * Serial number

Collection Content
Sample of indexed information:

How Do I Search This Collection?
To begin your search you will need to know:
 * The name of the enlisted person
 * The birth date and birth place of the soldier
 * The residence of the solider
 * The date of enlistment for the soldier

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.

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

 * Continue to search the index to identify other relatives
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct
 * You may need to compare the information of more than one family or person to make this determination
 * Be aware that, as with any index, transcription errors may occur

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

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals that may be your ancestor

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the United States.
 * US Military Basic Search Strategies
 * Beginning Research in United States Military Records
 * Finding a World War II (1939-1945) Veteran's Records
 * United States Guided Research
 * United States Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies

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.