National Personnel Records Center Fire Series: The Aftermath

This post, the final in a series of three looking at the 1973 National Personnel Records Center fire and its aftermath, comes from Jen Hivick, an archives technician at the NPRC in St. Louis, Missouri. In the year following the disastrous fire at the Military Personnel Records Center, employees struggled to find a new normal. … Continue reading National Personnel Records Center Fire Series: The Aftermath

Becoming Bigger and Better: The NPRC After the Great Fire of 1973

Fifty years ago, a fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, MO, destroyed millions of military personnel records. Visit the National Archives website for more information about the fire and its aftermath. Today’s post from Thomas Richardson, an archives technician at the National Personnel Records Center, was originally published in 2021 and has been … Continue reading Becoming Bigger and Better: The NPRC After the Great Fire of 1973

National Personnel Records Center Fire Series: The Fire

July 12, 2023, marks 50 years since the disastrous 1973 fire at the Military Personnel Records Center in St. Louis that destroyed millions of military personnel records. To commemorate the occasion, we are featuring a three-part series on the fire and its aftermath. This post comes to you from Jen Hivick, an archives technician at … Continue reading National Personnel Records Center Fire Series: The Fire

Harvey Milk: Veteran

This June the National Archives is commemorating National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month, which honors the important contributions that LGBTQ+ Americans have made to U.S. history and culture. Visit our website for more information. Today’s post is from Jen Hivick at the National Personnel Records Center, and looks at civil rights activist … Continue reading Harvey Milk: Veteran

National Personnel Records Center Fire Series: Origins

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the devastating fire at the National Personnel Records Center, we're featuring a three-part series. Today’s post comes from Jen Hivick, an archives technician at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO. July 12, 1973, has loomed large in the history of the National Archives. That day, shortly … Continue reading National Personnel Records Center Fire Series: Origins

End of an Era: The National Defense Service Medal

Today’s post comes from Thomas Richardson, an expert archives technician at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri.  The awards system of the United States Armed Forces is complex with a plethora of awards. They range from awards given for acts of valor to those given for blanket participation in the service branches. … Continue reading End of an Era: The National Defense Service Medal

Fall In! Morning Reports with the National Archives

Today’s post comes from Thomas Richardson, an expert archives technician at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri.  Information is vital in warfare, whether it’s the latest intelligence on enemy movements or orders transferring materials and weapons. Reports relay the necessary information for soldiers, NCOs, officers, and generals, helping them to make … Continue reading Fall In! Morning Reports with the National Archives

Contact, Brawls, and Chambering: The Combat Action Ribbon

Today’s post comes from Thomas Richardson, an expert archives technician at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri.  Not all service members in the United States Armed Forces serve in combat. In fact, fewer than 15 percent of enlisted personnel ever see combat or are assigned a combat role. How can one … Continue reading Contact, Brawls, and Chambering: The Combat Action Ribbon

Protecting Human Welfare: The Humanitarian Service Medal

Today’s post comes from Thomas Richardson, an archives technician at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri. It is part of a series on records at the National Personnel Records Center. Humanitarian Service Medal. (U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry) On June 30, 2020, the Department of Defense issued a memorandum authorizing all military … Continue reading Protecting Human Welfare: The Humanitarian Service Medal

Recognizing Service: How to Determine Entitlement to Medals

Today’s post comes from Thomas Richardson, an archives technician at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri. It is part of a series on records at the National Personnel Records Center. Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces can be beautifully complex and informative. New awards are established, and existing ones … Continue reading Recognizing Service: How to Determine Entitlement to Medals