Websites and information of correcting and Obtaining your Military files

Websites and information of correcting and Obtaining your Military files.

Some veterans have had trouble finding the new web site for ST Louis military records center

National Personnel Records Center (St. Louis, MO)

Official military personnel files including active duty health records,
clinical records and medical treatment records are the primary holdings
at NPRC (MPR).

Official military personnel files (OMPF) including the active duty
record (includes outpatient, dental, and mental health treatment).

Clinical (hospital inpatient) records created for military personnel
while on active duty.

Medical treatment records for military retirees, dependents, and others
created at military health care facilities (includes inpatient,
outpatient, dental, and mental health treatment).

Other records at NPRC include:Morning Reports and Unit Rosters, Philippine Army and Guerrilla Records.

Frequently requested records which are not at NPRC (MPR).
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National Personnel Records Center
(St. Louis, MO)

The 1973 Fire

On July 12, 1973, a disastrous fire at NPRC (MPR) destroyed
approximately
16-18 million Official Military Personnel Files. The affected record
collections are described below.

Branch Personnel and Period Affected Estimated Loss
Army Personnel discharged November 1, 1912, to January 1, 1960 80%
Air Force Personnel discharged, September 25, 1947, to January 1, 1964
(with names alphabetically after Hubbard, James E.)
75%

No duplicate copies of the records that were destroyed in the fire were
maintained, nor was a microfilm copy ever produced. There were no
indexes created prior to the fire. In addition, millions of documents had been
lent to the Department of Veterans Affairs before the fire occurred.
Therefore, a complete listing of the records that were lost is not available.
Nevertheless, NPRC (MPR) uses many alternate sources in its efforts to
reconstruct basic service information to respond to requests. Alternate Record Sources

Info on REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM GALLANTRY CROSS

Info on REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM GALLANTRY CROSS

Near as I can tell... all who served in Vietnam are auth...

a search of most search engines such as www.google.com will bring up quite a
few mentions of this....

http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/armedal/blvgc.htm

and an application to get

http://www.americanwarlibrary.com/vcog2.htm

correct order of precedence fro Navy
http://www.mediacen.navy.mil/pubs/allhands/Jan99/Janpg38.htm

Order of Precedence - US Army
http://catalog.com/bzone/medals/armyoop.html

1. Description: A Gold color medal, 1 3/8 inches in width, consisting of a
wreath superimposed by two crossed scimitars saltirewise and a Maltese
cross. In the center of the Maltese cross a disc with an outline of the
country of Vietnam between two palm sprigs joined at the bottom and a scroll
overall inscribed "QUOC-GIA LAO-TUONG" (Reward of the State).

2. Ribbon: The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and consists of the following
stripes: 3/8 inch Old Glory Red 67156; center 5/8 inch Golden Yellow 67104
with 16 strands of Old Glory Red; and 3/8 inch Old Glory Red.

3. Criteria: a. U.S. Military units were individually cited for award of the
Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Gallantry Cross; however, the Vietnamese
Government issued the award to all units subordinate to Military Assistance
Command (MACV) during the period 8 February 1962 and 28 March 1973 and to
U.S. Army Vietnam and its subordinate units for the period 20 July 1965 to
28 March 1973. This permits all personnel who served in Vietnam to wear the
RVN Gallantry Cross unit citation.

b. The medal was awarded by the Vietnam Government to military personnel
who have accomplished deeds of valor or displayed heroic conduct while
fighting the enemy and have been cited individually at the regiment,
brigade, division, corps, or armed forces level.

4. Components: The following are authorized components of the Republic of
Vietnam Gallantry Cross:

a. Medal (regular size): Not issued. Available commercially.

b. Medal (miniature size): Not issued. Available commercially.

c. Ribbon: MIL-R-11589/173. Commercially available.

d. Streamers: Awarded to cited units. Inscription is as indicated on the
unit's lineage and honors. Requisition in accordance with Chapter 9, Army
Regulation (AR) 840-10.

e. Unit Award: Commercially available.

5. Background: a. The RVN Gallantry Cross was established by the Vietnam
Government by Decree No. 74-b/Qt, dated 15 August 1950 and Decree No.
96/DQT/HC, dated 2 May 1952. Authorization for all U.S. Army personnel was
confirmed in HDQA General Orders No. 8, dated 19 March 1974.

b. Only one emblem (with palm) will be worn regardless of the number of
times the unit was awarded the RVN Gallantry Cross. The Army initially
authorized the wear of a fourragere by letter AGPB-AC, Subject: Wear of
Vietnamese Unit Awards by U.S. Army Personnel, dated 11 February 1969, for
units which had been awarded the RVN Gallantry Cross with palm on two or
more occasions. Department of the Army message 111030Z April 1974,
established the policy that only one emblem was authorized, thus precluding
the wear of the Vietnamese fourrageres which represented multiple awards.