I am looking for the service record of:  Frank L. Barstow, Served US
Army 7th Cavalry.  Years of service we think would be betweem 1905 and 1915.

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Request for Question Clarification by scriptor-ga on 01 Mar 2004 06:30 PST

Dear bunky55,

The service record of this person is not available online. However, I
could provide you information on how to request an official paper copy
of it (provided that F. L. Barstows records still exist). Would you
accept such information as an answer?

Regards,
Scriptor

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Clarification of Question by bunky55-ga on 15 Mar 2004 12:18 PST

Your suggestion of requesting an official paper copy of Frank L.
Barstow's service record would be fine.  Keep in mind he served in the
7th Cavalry at the turn of the 20th century.

Dear bunky55,

All existing service records of U.S. Army military personnel are
centrally stored at the U.S. National Archives' National Personnel
Records Center - Military Personnel Records (NPRC-MPR). To request
copies of the records available, please follow these steps:

1)
Obtain the NPRC request form SF-180. It is available as a PDF document
for downloadin and priting under this link:
http://www.archives.gov/research_room/obtain_copies/standard_form_180.pdf

Or:
Order the form to be faxed to you from the National Archives and
Records Administration's Fax-on-Demand System. Call the Fax-on-Demand
System at (301) 837-0990 from a fax machine, using the handset. Follow
the voice instructions, and request document number 2255. There is no
charge for this service except for any long distance telephone charges
you may incur.

Or:
Use the NARA web site to order the form through the mail:
http://www.archives.gov/global_pages/inquire_form.html

Or:
Write to The National Personnel Records Center to request the SF-180 form:

National Personnel Records Center
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132


2) Fill in the form SF-180; be sure to provide as much information as
possible in order to identify the record among the more than 70
million on file.


4) If you are not able to obtain SF-180, you may still submit a
request for military records by writing a letter; again, try to
include as much information as you have on Frank L. Barstow. Useful
data, if known, can include:

-The soldier's complete name used while in service
-Service number or social security number
-Branch of service
-Dates of service
-Date and place of birth may also be helpful, especially if the
service number is not known

If the request pertains to a record that may have been involved in the
1973 fire (see below), try to also include:

-Place of discharge
-Last unit of assignment
-Place of entry into the service, if known.


5) Submit the request to the NPRC-MPR. Federal law requires that all
requests for records and information be submitted in writing, either
by mail or by fax only. Each request must be signed and dated.

The mailing address is:

National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100

The fax number is: 314-801-9195


Please note that in 1973, a fire at the NPRC destroyed 16-18 million
Official Military Personnel Files. About 80% of the records of Army
personnel discharged 1 November 1912 to 1 January 1960 were lost. So
it is possible that Frank L. Barstow's records are not existing
anymore.

You will find all instructions and additional information on
requesting military records on the NPRC website:
http://www.archives.gov/facilities/mo/st_louis/military_personnel_records.html


I hope this helps!
Best regards,
Scriptor