Collection Information
Military draft records can include those who served, as well many who were drafted but never called to service. By the same token, those who enlisted or were already in the service at the time of the conflict will not be found in draft collections. Service records can include name, residence, birth information, physical description, enlistment and discharge dates, injuries or illnesses, assignments, rank and appointments, disabilities, and more.
Those entering the military either through draft or enlistment were often required to give names and other genealogical data to be kept in government files. These records document their draft or enlistment, service assignments, performance, discharge, and other personnel actions.
The useful genealogical data you might learn from service records could include the individual’s full name, rank, age, physical description, marital status, occupation, city of birth, and place of residence at enlistment.
