(This page's most recent update is October 2024)
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Military records are yet another very useful set of records that will help you find out 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 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.
Pennsylvania 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
Pennsylvania
- Adams County, Military Records
- Adams County, Military Records
- Allegheny County, Military Records
- Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in the War for the suppression of the Rebellion, 1861-1865: Roll of Honor, defenders of the flag, Attack on Fort Sumter, S.C., April 12, 1861, surrender at Appomattox, Va., April 9, 1865
- Armstrong County, Military Records
- Armstrong County, Military Records
- Armstrong County, Soldiers’ Discharge Records, 1865-1915
- Beaver County, Lists of Taxables, and Militia Lists for Harmony Township, Pennsylvania, 1852-1876
- Beaver County, Military Records
- Beaver County, Military Records
- Beaver County, Soldier’s Discharge Books, 1919-1934
- Bedford County, Enlistment Requests 1781, Colerain Twp.
- Bedford County, Military Records
- Bedford County, Military Records
- Berks County, Military Records
- Berks County, Military Records
- Berks County, Pension Applications of Revolutionary Soldiers
- Berks County, Revolutionary War Soldiers’ Pension Applications, 1785-1786
- Berks County, Veterans of Western Berks County, Pennsylvania
- Blair County, Military Records
- Blair County, Military Records
- Blair County, Military Services and Genealogical Records of Soldiers
- Bradford County, History of Overton, 1810-1910: including Sketches of All the Pioneer Families including Soldiers.
- Bradford County, Honor Roll, Soldiers, Sailors and Nurses from Sayre
- Bradford County, Military Records
- Bradford County, Pioneer and Patriot Families of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, 1770-1826: including Soldiers of the Revolution
- Bradford County, Pioneer and Patriot Families of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, 1770-1826: including Soldiers of the Revolution
- Bucks County, Military Records
- Bucks County, Military Records
- Bucks County, Militia Returns, 1775-1790
- Bucks County, Minutes and Records of Board of Relief, 1863-1865
- Bucks County, Soldiers of the American Revolution with Record of Services
- Burial List of the 2,436 Confederate Soldiers, mostly taken Prisoners of War at the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, interned as Prisoners of War at Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island, and interred in Finn’s Point National Cemetery, near Salem, New Jersey
- Butler County, Military Records
- Cambria County, Military Records
- Cambria County, Military Records
- Cameron County, Military Records
- Carbon County, Military Records
- Carbon County, Patriotism and what her People contributed during the War for the preservation of the Union
- Carbon County, Summit Hill, World War II Scrapbook, 1900
- Centre County, Military Records
- Centre County, Military Records
- Chester County, Military Records
- Chester County, Military Records
- Chester, Columbia and Crawford County, Pensioners
- Clarion County, Military Records
- Clearfield County, Military Records
- Clearfield County, Military Records
- Clinton County, Military Records
- Clinton County, Military Records
- Columbia County, Military Records
- Columbia County, Military Records
- Crawford County, Military Records
- Crawford County, Military Records
- Cumberland County, Military Records
- Cumberland County, Military Records
- Cumberland County, Revolutionary War Pensions, 1820-1834
- Cumberland County, Soldiers Discharge, Vol. 1, 1868-1912
- Dauphin County, Military Records
- Dauphin County, Military Records
- Delaware County, Military Records
- Delaware County, Military Records
- Elk County, Military Records
- Elk County, Militia Enrollment Records, 1864-1889
- Erie County, An every Name Index to Revolutionary Patriots
- Erie County, Military Records
- Erie County, Military Records
- Erie County, Soldiers of the American Revolution: Who at some Time were Residents of or Whose Graves are Located in Erie County, Pennsylvania
- Fayette County, Military Records
- Fayette County, Military Records
- Fayette County, Uniontown’s Part in the World War
- Forest County, Military Records
- Franklin County, Military Records
- Franklin County, Military Records
- Fulton County, Military Records
- Fulton County, Soldiers Discharge Book, 1919-1924
- Greene County, Military Records
- Greene County, Military Records
- Huntingdon County, Military Records
- Huntingdon County, Military Records
- Indiana County, Military Records
- Indiana County, Military Records
- Jefferson County, Military Records
- Juniata County, Military Records
- Lackawanna County, Military Records
- Lackawanna County, Military Records
- Lancaster County, Military Records
- Lancaster County, Military Records
- Lawrence County, Military Records
- Lebanon County, At the Battle of Gettysburg
- Lebanon County, Military Enrollment, 1861-1882
- Lebanon County, Military Records
- Lebanon County, Military Records
- Lebanon County, Revolutionary War Soldiers Buried in Lebanon County
- Lebanon County, Soldiers Discharge Dockets, 1869-1950
- Lebanon County, Veterans Grave Registration Card File, 1800-1932
- Lehigh County, Military Records
- Luzerne County, Military Records
- Luzerne County, Military Records
- Luzerne County, Pensioners
- Lycoming County, Military Records
- McKean County, Military Records
- McKean County, Military Records
- Mercer County, Military Records
- Mercer County, Pensioners
- Mifflin County, Military Records
- Monroe County, Military Records
- Montgomery County, Military Records
- Montgomery County, Military Records
- Montour County, Military Records
- Northampton County, Military Records
- Northampton County, Military Records
- Northampton County, Miscellaneous Manuscript Records (including Military), 1727-1851
- Northampton County, Pensioners
- Northumberland County, Military Records
- Northumberland, Pensioners
- Pennsylvania Archives. Fifth Series
- Pennsylvania, A Record of Union Prisoners, containing an Appendix with the Names, Regiments, and Date of Death of Pennsylvania Soldiers Who Died at Andersonville
- Pennsylvania, Applications for Burial of Deceased Soldiers, 1885-1937 and their Widows, 1916-1937
- Pennsylvania, Archives Military Records, Seventh Series
- Pennsylvania, Archives. Military Records, Sixth Series
- Pennsylvania, Black List: a List of those Tories Who took Part with Great Britain in the Revolutionary War, and were attainted of High Treason
- Pennsylvania, Board of War and State Navy Board File, 1776-1777
- Pennsylvania, Civil War Draft Records
- Pennsylvania, Civil War Medal of Honor recipients
- Pennsylvania, Civil War Regiment Histories and Rosters
- Pennsylvania, Civil War Regimental Rosters
- Pennsylvania, Civil War Rosters
- Pennsylvania, Civil War Soldier Deaths
- Pennsylvania, Civil War Veterans’ Card File, 1861-1866
- Pennsylvania, Colonial Soldiers in 1746
- Pennsylvania, Compiled Military Service Records of: James Marsh, Gravenor March, Charles Mash, John Mash, Peter Mash, John Mash, Caleb Mash: Who Served during the War of 1812
- Pennsylvania, Compiled Military Service Records of: James Marsh, Gravenor March, Charles Mash, John Mash, Peter Mash, John Mash, Caleb Mash: Who Served during the War of 1812
- Pennsylvania, Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers Who Served during the Mexican War in Organizations from the State of Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania, County Lists of Civil War Soldiers
- Pennsylvania, Donation Lands or Military Tracts Granted to the Officers and Soldiers of the Pennsylvania Line in the Revolutionary Army, 1780-1800
- Pennsylvania, Donation or Military Tracts of Land Granted the Soldiers of the Pennsylvania Line
- Pennsylvania, Early History of Western Pennsylvania and of the West and of Western expeditions and Campaigns, including Military Records
- Pennsylvania, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records, 1865-1936
- Pennsylvania, Grand Army of the Republic Membership, Transfer, Death and questionnaire Records
- Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, World War II Casualty Cards, 1933-1947
- Pennsylvania, History of the Corn Exchange Regiment, 118th Pennsylvania Volunteers: from their First engagement at Antietam to Appomattox, to which is Added a Record of its Organization and a Complete Roster
- Pennsylvania, Honor Roll: Military and Naval Service, World War II, Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania, 1941-1945
- Pennsylvania, In the War of the Revolution, Associated battalions and Militia, 1775-1783
- Pennsylvania, In the War of the Revolution, battalions and line, 1775-1783
- Pennsylvania, Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania, Index to Military Commission Books
- Pennsylvania, Korean Conflict State-Level Casualty Lists
- Pennsylvania, Lehigh, Allentown, Veterans’ Records, 1890-1945
- Pennsylvania, Lehigh, Emmaus, Military Records, 1917-1946
- Pennsylvania, List of the Adjutant General’s Office for Carded Records of Military Organizations: Revolutionary War through Philippine Insurrection
- Pennsylvania, Mexican Border Campaign Veterans’ Card File
- Pennsylvania, Military and Veterans Records
- Pennsylvania, Military Appointments Files, 1775-1790
- Pennsylvania, Military Claims, Pensions and Accounts
- Pennsylvania, Military Clemency Files, 1775-1790
- Pennsylvania, Military Commission Books
- Pennsylvania, Military Roll for Civil War, ca. 1861-1863
- Pennsylvania, Militia and Revolutionary War Accounts
- Pennsylvania, Militia in 1777
- Pennsylvania, Militia Officers Index Cards, 1775-1800
- Pennsylvania, Muster Rolls of the Navy and Line, Militia and Rangers, 1775-1783, with List of Pensioners, 1818-1832
- Pennsylvania, Muster Rolls of the Pennsylvania Navy, 1776-1779
- Pennsylvania, Muster Rolls of the Pennsylvania Volunteers in the War of 1812-1814: with contemporary Papers and Documents
- Pennsylvania, Muster-roll of Capt. John Christian’s Company, in the Second Regiment, Second brigade Pennsylvania Militia
- Pennsylvania, Muster-rolls of Marines and Artillery Commanded by Capt. Isaac Craig, of Pennsylvania, in 1775 and 1778
- Pennsylvania, National Guard Veterans’ Card File, 1867-1921
- Pennsylvania, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard World War II Casualty List
- Pennsylvania, Oaths of Allegiance, 1777-1790
- Pennsylvania, Officers and Soldiers in the Service of the Province of Pennsylvania (a) 1744-1765
- Pennsylvania, Officers in the War of 1812
- Pennsylvania, Pension Abstracts of Soldiers of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Indian Wars
- Pennsylvania, Pension Roll of 1883
- Pennsylvania, Pensioners
- Pennsylvania, Pensioners
- Pennsylvania, Pensioners of the Revolution
- Pennsylvania, Petitions for Revolutionary War Pensions, 1783-1800
- Pennsylvania, Record of Honorable Discharged Soldier Burials, 1896-1927
- Pennsylvania, Record of Pennsylvania Volunteers in the Spanish-American War, 1898
- Pennsylvania, Records and Databases of Volunteers in the Civil War
- Pennsylvania, Recruits for the Polish Army in France, 1917-1919
- Pennsylvania, Register of Military Volunteers, 1861-1865
- Pennsylvania, Register of the Commandery of the State of Pennsylvania, April 15, 1865-September 1, 1902
- Pennsylvania, Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the Naval Militia
- Pennsylvania, Reunion of the Ninety-seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, October 29th, 1884: An Account of the Proceedings with a Roster of the Comrades Present
- Pennsylvania, Revolution Military Accounts, 1776-1777
- Pennsylvania, Revolution Military Accounts, 1777
- Pennsylvania, Revolution Military Accounts, May 1777-April 15, 1779
- Pennsylvania, Revolution Military Records, 1776-1777
- Pennsylvania, Revolution Military Records, 1777-1790
- Pennsylvania, Revolution Receipt Books A-B, 1775-1776; Accounts, 1775-1776
- Pennsylvania, Revolutionary Government and Military Records
- Pennsylvania, Revolutionary Pensioners
- Pennsylvania, Revolutionary Pensioners (1764-1838)]
- Pennsylvania, Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File
- Pennsylvania, Revolutionary War Militia Battalions and Companies
- Pennsylvania, Revolutionary War Pension List Book 1834-1838
- Pennsylvania, Revolutionary War Pension Records
- Pennsylvania, Revolutionary War Pension Records
- Pennsylvania, Revolutionary War Pensioners Index
- Pennsylvania, Revolutionary War Rolls 1775-1783
- Pennsylvania, Revolutionary War Soldiers Buried in Pennsylvania: Listed according to Counties
- Pennsylvania, Roster of Officers Commanding the Militia Regiments of Pennsylvania, 1802
- Pennsylvania, Selected List of Naval matter
- Pennsylvania, Selective Service System Registration Cards [World War II]: Fourth Registration
- Pennsylvania, Soldiers of the Great War.
- Pennsylvania, Soldiers Who perished at the Confederate Prison at Andersonville, Georgia
- Pennsylvania, Soldiers Who perished at the Confederate Prison at Salisbury, North Carolina
- Pennsylvania, Spanish American War Veterans’ Card File of United States Volunteers
- Pennsylvania, State of the Accounts of the County lieutenants during the War of the Revolution, 1777-1789
- Pennsylvania, Statewide and County Military Records
- Pennsylvania, Statewide Military Records
- Pennsylvania, Statewide Military Records
- Pennsylvania, The Chronicles of Middletown: containing a Compilation of Military Records, etc.
- Pennsylvania, The Record of the Court at Upland, in Pennsylvania, 1676 to 1681: and a Military Journal, kept by Major E. Denny, 1781 to 1795
- Pennsylvania, The Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- Pennsylvania, U.S. Military Fatal Casualties of the Vietnam War
- Pennsylvania, World War 2 Casualties – Army, Air Force
- Pennsylvania, World War I American Expeditionary Forces, Deaths, 1917-1919
- Pennsylvania, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
- Pennsylvania, World War I Service Medal Application Cards
- Pennsylvania, World War II Casualty Cards
- Pennsylvania, World War II Photo Collection and Casualty Cards, 1943-1945
- Pennsylvania, Young American Patriots: the Youth of Pennsylvania in World War II
- Perry and Pike Counties, Pensioners
- Perry County, Military Records
- Perry County, Military Records
- Philadelphia City, History of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry November 17, 1774 to its Centennial Anniversary November 17, 1874
- Philadelphia City, Soldiers of the American Revolution
- Philadelphia County, General Return of the Militia for fines for nonattendance on the Different Muster days, 1779-1781
- Philadelphia County, In the Civil War, 1861-1865
- Philadelphia County, In the World War, 1914-1919
- Philadelphia County, Military Records
- Philadelphia County, Military Records
- Philadelphia County, Pensioners
- Philadelphia County, Seamen’s proofs of Citizenship, 1791-1861
- Philadelphia, County Directory of Officers, Philadelphia Naval Shipyard
- Philadelphus County, Seamen’s proofs of Citizenship, 1791-1861
- Pike County, Military Records
- Potter County, Military Records
- Schuylkill County, Military Records
- Schuylkill County, Military Records
- Snyder County, Military Records
- Somerset County, Military Records
- Somerset County, Military Records
- Sullivan County, Military Records
- Sullivan County, Military Records
- Susquehanna County, Military Records
- Susquehanna County, Tax Assessment and Military Records, 1813-1865
- Tioga County, Military Records
- Tioga County, Military Records
- Tioga County, Records of Revolutionary Soldiers
- Tioga County, Twentieth Century Wildcats: a History of the Pennsylvania National Guard Medical Units 1920-1963
- Union County, Military Records
- Union County, Pensioners
- Venango County, Military Records
- Warren County, Military Records
- Warren County, Military Records
- Warren County, Revolutionary Soldiers
- Washington County, Biographical Sketches of many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, including Military Records
- Washington County, Biographical Sketches of many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, including Military Records
- Washington County, Military Records
- Washington County, Military Records
- Wayne County, Military Records
- Westmoreland County, Military Records
- Wyoming County, Military Records
- York County, Military Records
- York County, Military Records
- York County, The Annals of the Families of Caspar, Henry, Baltzer and George Spengler including Military Information.
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!