The Ancestor Hunt regularly adds and updates new collection links, as well as searches for and fixes broken links.
(This page's most recent update is September 2024)
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Military records are yet another very useful set of records that will help you in finding more about your ancestors. There are a ton of records that are available for free online, and there are some very robust collections (such as Fold3 and Ancestry) that have sizable online military collections as well.
Typically, military records online fall into 5 different categories:
- Military Service Records:
Includes enlistment information, such as location and date enlisted. Also includes demographic information, such as full name, birth date and location, residence, and occupation, plus contact information of next of kin, medical and military information, and unit assignations while in the military. - Selective Service Records:
Includes full name, residence, age, occupation, marital status, birthplace, contact information, physical description, and other information. - Bounty Land Warrant Applications:
Includes similar information as in service records as well as other information. Only used between 1775 and 1855. - Pension Records:
Will include birth, marriage, and death records, demographic information, plus information about the spouse, and possibly children. - Special Records:
May include information if the person was a prisoner of war, was wounded or killed in action. 1910-1940 Census Records include questions about military service. Includes those buried in Veteran’s cemeteries.
A good primer on Military Records is found on FamilySearch’s Military Records page, available on their wiki.
Note: Some links listed take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections’ images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. To take full advantage make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.
Below, listed by state are links to military records that are available for free online. Included in each state’s page are links to free nationwide collections since there are a sizable number of collections that are available for the entire country.
Kentucky Military Records
National
- American Battle Monuments Commission – Korean War Honor Roll
- American Battle Monuments Commission Burials Database
- American Prisoners of War During the Korean War, 1950-1953
- Burial Registers for Military Posts, Camps, and Stations,1768-1921
- Card Register of Burials of Deceased American Soldiers, 1917 – 1922
- Casualties of Army Personnel, Dependents and Civilian Employees, 1961-1981
- Casualties of the Vietnam War, 1956-1998
- Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War, 1890
- Civil War and Later Pension Index, 1861-1917
- Civil War Confederate Applications for Pardons, 1865-1867
- Civil War Confederate Papers of Citizens or Businesses, 1861-1865
- Civil War Records of Confederate Nonregiment Soldiers, 1861-1865
- Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865
- Civil War Service Records of Union Colored Troops, 1863-1865
- Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1864-1866
- Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database
- Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865
- Civil War Unfiled Papers of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865
- Civil War Widows and Other Dependents Pension Files, 1861-1934
- Compiled Military Service Records Of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served With The Colored Troops, 1861-1866
- Confederate Navy and Marine Service Records, 1861-1865 Images only.
- Confederate Officers Card Index, 1861-1865
- Doughboy MIA Database 1917-1918
- Enlisted and Officer Muster Rolls and Rosters, 1916-1939
- General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 Index Only.
- Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1949
- Index to General Correspondence of the Pension Office, 1889-1904 Index only.
- Index to Indian Wars Pension Files, 1892-1926
- Index to Naturalizations of World War I Soldiers, 1918
- Index to Service Records, War with Spain, 1898
- Japanese Americans Relocated During World War II, 1942-1946
- Japanese Registers of POWs WWII, Index.
- Korean War Battle Deaths, 1950-1957
- Korean War Dead and Army Wounded, 1950-1953
- Korean War POW/MIA List
- Korean War Repatriated Prisoners of War, 1950-1954
- Lists of Fatal Casualties of the Korean War (6/28/1950 – 3/10/1954) and the Vietnam War (6/8/1956 – 5/28/2006)
- Mexican War Index and Service Records, 1846-1848
- Mexican War Pension Index, 1887-1926
- Mexican War Soldiers & Sailors Database
- Military Personnel Who Died During the Vietnam War, 1956-2003
- Mormon Battalion Pension Applications, 1846-1923, Index
- Muster Rolls of the Marine Corps, 1798-1937, Index and Images
- National Archives, Archival Databases, Civil War
- National Archives, Archival Databases, Korean War
- National Archives, Archival Databases, Vietnam War
- National Archives, Archival Databases, World War II
- National Cemetery Administration – Nationwide Gravesite Locator
- National Graves Registration Database
- National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938 Partial Index and Images.
- National Park Service – US Mexican War Soldiers and Sailors Database
- National Society Daughters of 1812 – Ancestor Database
- Naval Enlistment Rendezvous, 1855-1891, Index and Images
- Navy Widows’ Certificates, 1861-1910, Index
- Never Forgotten, Taiwan POW List
- Old War Pension Index, 1815-1926
- Original Mormon Battalion Roster – Mormon Battalion Association
- Pearl Harbor Casualty List
- Prisoners of the First World War
- Records of Confederate Prisoners of War, 1861-1865
- Records of Headstones of Deceased Union Veterans, 1879-1903
- Register of Confederates and Civilians Who Died in the North,1861-1865
- Registers of Enlistments in the Army, 1798-1914
- Remarried Widows Index to Pension Applications, 1887-1942
- Revolutionary War Compiled Service Records, 1775-1783
- Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Applications, 1800-1900
- Revolutionary War Pension Payment Ledgers, 1818-1872
- Revolutionary War Records – Daughters of the American Revolution
- Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783
- Revolutionary War, Virginia Pension Application Files, 1830-1875
- Roster of All Regimental Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons in the Late War, with the Service, and last-known Post-office Address (1882)” Compiled by N. A. Strait. The Text is Searchable.
- Rosters of Revolutionary War Soldiers and Sailors, 1775-1783
- Service Personnel Not Recovered Following WWII
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Military Servicemen in World War I Records
- United States French Combatants in the Revolutionary War, 1778-1783
- Veteran’s Administration Master Index, 1917-1940
- Veterans Administration Pension Payment Cards, 1907-1933
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- Vietnam War POW/MIA List
- War of 1812 Index to Pension Application Files, 1812-1910
- War of 1812 Index to Service Records, 1812-1815
- War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
- War Relocation Authority Centers, Final Accountability Rosters, 1942-1946
- World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919
- World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
- World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
- World War II Casualties for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard
- World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942
- World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942
- World War II Prisoners of War of the Japanese, 1941-1945
- World War II Prisoners of War, 1941-1945
- WWII Army and Army Air Force Casualties
- YMCA World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919
Kentucky
- 1813 Pension List
- 1813 Pension List
- 1818 Pension List
- 1818 Pensioners of the United States
- 1820 Pension List
- 1820 Pension List
- 1835 Pension Roll
- 1840 Census of Pensioners
- 1883 List of Pensioners on the Roll
- Adair County, Abstracts of Pension Papers of Soldiers Who Served in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Indian Wars
- Allen and Adair County, Record of Abstracts of Pension Papers of Soldiers of the Revolutionary and 1812 War[s] and Indians Wars
- Allen County, Pension Records: Abstracts of Pension Papers of the Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Indian Wars
- Allen County, Revolutionary Soldiers: Pensioners Living in 1835
- Barren County Pensioners: Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Indian Wars: Pension Abstracts
- Bath County, Abstracts of Pension Papers of Pensioners
- Blue Grass Region of Kentucky, Abstracts of Pensions, Soldiers of the Revolution: 1812 & Indian Wars
- Bourbon County Woman’s Club, Men and Women Who Served in World War Two
- Bourbon County, World War I Draft Registration Cards
- Bracken County Revolutionary War Pensioners
- Bracken County, History in the World War, 1917-1919
- Bracken County, Pension Records: Abstracts of Pension Papers of the Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Indian Wars
- Breathitt County, Clerk of the County Court, History of Breathitt County in the World War
- Breathitt County, Register of Enrolled Militia, 1876
- Bullitt County, Abstracts of Pension Papers of Pensioners
- Bullitt County, Abstract of Pension Papers: pertaining to Soldiers of the Revolutionary, Indian, and 1812 Wars
- Butler County, Abstracts of Pension Papers of Pensioners
- Butler County, Militia Roll, 1860-1863, 1875
- Caldwell Count, Order Books, 1809-1915
- Caldwell County, Abstracts of Pensions, Soldiers of the Revolution, 1812 and Indian Wars
- Calloway County, Record of Abstracts of Pension Papers pertaining to Soldiers of the Revolution: War of 1812 and Indian Wars
- Calloway County, Abstracts of Pension Papers Soldiers of the Revolution, War of 1812 and Indian Wars
- Campbell County, Records of Abstracts, Pensions, Papers, pertaining to Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Indian Wars
- Casey County, Abstracts of Pension Papers of Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Indian Wars
- Christian County Pensioners: Abstracts of Pensioners of the Revolutionary [War}, War of 1812, and Indian Wars
- Civil War Union Veterans Burial List
- Clay County, Names of the Militia of the upper section of Horsecreek, 1853-1855
- Corn Stalk Militia of Kentucky, 1792-1800
- Edmonson County, List of Names of Persons liable under the Military Laws to be Enrolled in the Militia of the State of Kentucky, 1875
- Estill County, World War I Draft Registration Cards
- Fayette County, Revolutionary War Pension of Soldiers
- Fleming County, Abstracts of Pension Papers of Soldiers of the Revolution, 1812 & Indian Wars
- Fleming County, Revolutionary War Soldiers
- Frankfort, Civil War Pension Application
- Gallatin County Military Pensioners
- Gallatin County Military Pensioners
- Gallatin County Military Pensioners
- Garrard County, Abstracts of Pension Papers pertaining to Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Indian Wars
- Grant and Graves County, Abstracts of Pension Papers pertaining to Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Indian Wars
- Graves County, Confederate Pension Applications
- Graves County, Pension Applications, 1912-1929
- Green County, Civil War Soldiers
- Hardin County, Abstracts of Pensions, Soldiers of the Revolution, 1812 and Indian Wars
- Hart County Pension Records: Abstracts of Pension Papers of the Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Indian Wars,
- Henderson County, Pension Papers of Revolutionary, 1812, and Indian Wars Soldiers
- Henderson County, Pension Records: Abstracts of Pension Papers of Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Indian Wars
- Henderson County, The Civil War, 1860-1865
- Henry County, Abstracts of Pension Papers pertaining to Soldiers of the Revolutionary, Indian and 1812 Wars
- Hickman County, Names Eligible to be Enrolled in the State Militia, 1868-1875
- Hickman County, Abstracts of Pension Papers of Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Indian Wars
- History of the Orphan Brigade
- Hopkins County, Record of Abstracts Pension Papers of Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Indian Wars
- Jefferson Count, confederate Pension Applications by Soldiers and Indigent Widows, 1912-1940
- Kenton County Bounty Fund Certificates, 1864-1865, 1867, 1869
- Kentucky Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865
- Kentucky Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865
- Kentucky Confederate Pension Applications, 1912-1950
- Kentucky Military Records
- Kentucky side of the Ohio River, Abstracts of Pensions: Soldiers of the Revolution, 1812, & Indian Wars
- Kentucky Soldiers of the War of 1812
- Kentucky State Guard Register for 1861
- Kentucky, Certificates of Death for World War I soldiers from Kentucky, ca. 1917-1920
- Kentucky, Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers
- Kentucky, Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers
- Kentucky, Confederate Pensioners, and Pension Applications of the Veterans & Widows, 1912-1946
- Kentucky, Fallen Soldiers of the Great War (WW I)
- Kentucky, Historical Annual, National Guard of the Commonwealth
- Kentucky, Index of Confederate Pension Applications
- Kentucky, Index to Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers
- Kentucky, Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers
- Kentucky, Index to Report of the Adjutant General of Soldiers of the War of 1812
- Kentucky, Index to Veterans of American Wars
- Kentucky, List of captains in the War of 1812
- Kentucky, Military Records: World War II 4th Draft Registration Cards, 1942
- Kentucky, Pensioners of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Indian Wars
- Kentucky, Record of Abstracts, Pension Papers, pertaining to Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Indian Wars
- Kentucky, Record of Abstracts, Pension Papers, pertaining to Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Indian Wars
- Kentucky, Register of Revolutionary Soldiers and Patriots Buried in Kentucky, with an Index of Women’s Surnames
- Kentucky, Report of the Adjutant General Volunteers, War 1861-1865
- Kentucky, Report of the Adjutant General, 1861-1866
- Kentucky, Report of the Adjutant General, Mexican War Veterans (1846-1847)
- Kentucky, Report of the Adjutant General, War of 1812
- Kentucky, Revolutionary Soldiers and Patriots
- Kentucky, Revolutionary Soldiers Roster, 1963
- Kentucky, Soldiers 1778 to 1781
- Kentucky, Union Soldiers and Sailors Regiments
- Kentucky, World War I American Expeditionary Forces, Deaths, 1917-1919
- Kentucky, World War I Draft Registration Cards: Prisoners, Indians, Insane, in Hospitals & Late Registrants
- Kentucky, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
- Kentucky. Report of the Adjutant General, Confederate Kentucky Volunteers, War 1861-65
- Kentucky’s German Americans in the Civil War
- Korean Conflict State-Level Casualty Lists – Kentucky
- Lee County, world War I Draft Registration Cards
- Lewis County, Enrolled Militia, 1863-1876
- Lewis County, Order Books, 1807-1921
- Livingston County, Militia Records, 1867-1875
- Logan County Abstracts of Pensioners: Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Indian Wars
- Logan County Pensioners: Revolutionary, War of 1812 and Indian Wars
- Logan County, Militia Roll Book, 1859-1941
- Louisville, Military Petitions,1903-1906,1918-1921
- Lyon County, Militia Book, 1874-1875
- Lyon County, miscellaneous Book, ca. 1911-1920
- Madison County, Pension Records: Abstracts of Pension Papers of Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Indian Wars
- Madison County, Abstracts of Pension Papers pertaining to the Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Indian Wars
- Marshall County, Militia Books, 1848-1876
- Meade County, Pension Records: Abstracts of Pension Papers of Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812
- Mercer County, Records of Abstracts, Pension Papers; Revolutionary War Soldiers, War of 1812 & Indian Wars
- Monroe County, Miscellaneous Records, 1914-1935
- Morgan County, Revolutionary War Pensioners,
- Morgan County, World War I Draft Registration Cards
- Muhlenberg Count, Militia Roll, 1862
- Muhlenberg County, Pension Paper Abstracts for Soldiers, Indian Wars, Revolutionary War, and War of 1812
- Nelson County Pension Records of Soldiers; Revolutionary War, 1812 War, Indian War
- Nelson County, Bardstown, County seat: Pension Abstracts of Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Indian Wars
- Nelson County, Pension Records: Abstracts of Pension Papers of Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Indian Wars
- Nelson County: Abstracts of Pension Papers of Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Indian Wars
- Nicholas County, History in the World War, 1917-1919
- Northern Kentucky Mexican War Veterans 1846-1848
- Ohio County, Pension Records: Abstracts of Pension Papers of Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Indian Wars
- Old Crab Orchard, Historical Records
- Oldham County, Revolutionary War Pensioners, under the Acts of June 7, 1832 and under the Acts of May 15, 1828
- Pensioners of Revolutionary War Struck Off The Roll
- Powell County, Persons Eligible for Militia Service, 1864-1878
- Records of Death and Interment at Camp Nelson, Kentucky – 1864 – 1865
- Robertson County, History in the World War, 1917-1919
- Robertson County, Militia Roll, 1870-1874
- Russell County, Militia Book, 1860-1866
- Russell County, Pension Records: Abstracts of Pension Papers of the Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Indian Wars
- South Central Kentucky, The Civil War
- Spencer County, Pension Records: Abstracts of Pension Papers of the Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Indian Wars
- Spencer County: Abstracts of Pension Papers of Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Indian Wars
- Taylor and Green Counties, Civil War African American Soldiers in the 5th United States Colored Cavalry and the 107th and 108th Colored Infantry
- Taylor County, Militia Book, 1861-1864
- The Vietnam Veterans Memorial – Kentucky
- Trigg County, Abstracts of Pensioners, Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Indian Wars
- Trigg County, Soldier’s Application for Pension and Widow’s Indigent Pension, 1912-1941
- Trimble County, Revolutionary War Pensioners
- U.S. Military Fatal Casualties of the Vietnam War for Kentucky
- Union County, in the Civil War, 1861-1865
- United States Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War, 1890
- Washington County, Record of Pensions pertaining to Soldiers of the Revolution, War of 1812 and Indian Wars
- Washington County, Veterans Discharge Records
- Wayne County, Record of Abstracts of Pension Papers concerning Soldiers of Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Indian Wars
- Whitley and Hart Counties, Abstracts of Pensioners, War of Revolutionary, War of 1812 and Indian Wars
- Whitley County, Abstracts of Records pertaining to Soldiers of the Revolutionary War
- Woodford County, Abstracts of Pension Papers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Indian Wars
- World War I (Kenton County)
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!