United States, Military Personnel who Died During the Vietnam War - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States

What is in This Collection?
Records of military personnel who died in the Southeast Asian combat area during the Vietnam War acquired from the National Archives, "Access to Archival Databases" (AAD). Additional information about this collection may be found on the National Archives website. In August of 2013, the National Archives replaced the ARC – Archival Research Catalog - with the OPA – Online Public Access. ARC identifiers will still work to access the collections in OPA. The collection covers the years 1956 to 2003.

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

Death
 * Name
 * Date of birth
 * Date of death or repatriation (return or restoration to one’s own country)
 * Home state and city of record (if known)
 * Social Security or Service number
 * Religious affiliation
 * Marital status

Collection Content
Sample of indexed information:

How Do I Search This Collection?
To begin your search it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the soldier
 * The date of death for the soldier
 * The state where the soldier enlisted
 * The social security number or service number of 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?

 * Use the birth date or age of your ancestor to obtain a birth certificate
 * The country and town of residence could lead you to funeral, memorial service or burial information
 * 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
 * United States Guided Research
 * United States Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies

Related Publications

 * Register of Vietnam War casualties from Kentucky
 * Wisconsin Vietnam War Stories

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.