# Is there an easy way to find U.S Navy enlistment records?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-find-u-s-navy-enlistment-records/512985>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 7, 2009, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-find-u-s-navy-enlistment-records/512985 "2009-10-07T21:10:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Quintas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-find-u-s-navy-enlistment-records/512985/1 "2009-10-07T21:10:23Z")

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I have learned that my great-uncle, now deceased, was stationed at Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Is there an easy way to search his enlistment dates and perhaps what his job may have been on that day? Some type of publicly availible search other than sending a request to the Navy?

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**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-find-u-s-navy-enlistment-records/512985/2 "2009-10-07T21:17:00Z")

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You won’t have to send a request to the Navy, but you’ll have to send one to the National Archives.

> **[Request Military Service Records](https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records)**
>
> Veterans and their next of kin can get FREE copies of their DD 214, and other military service records including Official Military Personnel File (OMPF), Replacement Medals, and Medical and Health Records.

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**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-find-u-s-navy-enlistment-records/512985/3 "2009-10-07T21:19:49Z")

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Be aware that many, many records were burned and destroyed in the '73 Records Center fire.

> **[The 1973 Fire, National Personnel Records Center](https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/fire-1973)**
>
> The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) Fire: A Study in Disaster Overview: On July 12, 1973, a disastrous fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) destroyed approximately 16-18 million Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF).

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**Author:** ![Quintas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-easy-way-to-find-u-s-navy-enlistment-records/512985/4 "2009-10-07T21:43:00Z")

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> [@Captain\_Amazing](#):
>
> You won’t have to send a request to the Navy, but you’ll have to send one to the National Archives.
> 
> [Request Military Service Records | National Archives](http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/)

Is this publicly available or do you have to prove ‘need to know or family relation’?