In July of 1966, Grace F. Pennell of the Research and Coordination Section of the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, put together the following publication:
Monograph on Military Personnel and Related Records of the War Department: 1912-1939 (click on the link to read the publication)
This publication does into great detail recording the Official Personnel Records of Army personnel who served between 1912 and 1939, especially those Army personnel who either enlisted in the Army between November 1, 1912 and September 8, 1939, or were inducted into the Army during World War I. If you have been wondering exactly which records would have been in your ancestor's Army service record, as well as how they would have been organized, then this is a great read.
Ms. Pennell gives a history of
the time period that is covered by these records. She explains that the records
for World War I Army servicemen covers the time period between November 1, 1912
through September 8, 1939. She explains something that I had not been aware of
before; the beginning on November 1, 1912, all enlistments in the Army were for
a period of seven years. Soldiers were to serve for four years on active duty,
and then be furloughed to the Regular Army Reserves for the remainder of their
enlistment. This continued until June 30, 1920, when the Regular Army Reserves
was disbanded and all soldiers in the Regular Army Reserves were honorably
discharged. The Army stopped enlisting soldiers for a seven-year enlistment period when
the United States entered World War I.
She states that up to 80% of the Army enlisted personnel records from this period are for servicemembers who served during World War I, and that relatively few were added during the interwar years (1920-1939). She notes that the records for any personnel that were separated from military service during this time excludes those service members who re-enlisted after September 8, 1939, or those who were retired from the Army and who were still alive.
It is important to understand
that not every single record that may have existed in each Service Record is
included in this monograph. She explains that: ‘The number of different types
of documents contained in the World War I records is incalculable…The selection
of those to include has been given much thought…The final choice of documents
has centered on those which are known to contain valuable individual or
organizational information…what is considered valuable today may not
necessarily be valuable 50 years from now. The writer does not pretend to
predict the changes in values that time will bring; nevertheless, much thought
was been given to intelligently selecting for inclusion those records which,
because of their informational content and evidence of origin, might some day
be needed for research purposes.’
I doubt in 1966 that anybody could have predicted the disastrous loss that would happen just seven years later on July 12, 1973, when a fire broke out at the National Personnel Records Center, damaging or destroying some 16-18 million Official Military Personnel Files. According to the National Archives website, this number includes approximately 80% of records for Army enlisted personnel discharged between November 1, 1912 and January 1, 1960, (as well as approximately 75% of Air Force enlisted personnel discharged between September 25, 1947 and January 1, 1964 with last names Hubbard through Z). Advances in technology has facilitated efforts to recover some of the surviving records today. While there are many secondary records that are now available online to facilitate reconstruction of these records, the loss of these original records is heartbreakingly incalculable.
The monograph explains that there are three types of courts-martial: General Court-Martial, Special Court-Martial and Summary Court-Martial. A General Court-Martial is the ‘highest type of military court [and] has the power to try any offenses punishable by the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and is the only court that can adjudicate a dishonorable discharge.’ A Special Court-Martial ‘has jurisdiction to try any person subject to military law for any crime or offense not capital, by the Uniform Code of Military Justice [and] may impose sentences not in excess of six months confinement at hard labor and forfeiture of two-thirds pay per month for a like period.’ A Summary Court-Martial ‘may impose punishment of confinement up to one month, hard labor without confinement up to 45 days, restrictions up to two months, and forfeitures up to two-thirds of one month’s pay.’ A Summary Court-Martial is composed of only one officer, while a Special Court-Martial is composed of at least three officers. A General Court-Martial is composed of no fewer than five military officers.
David Nemetzky faced General Court-Martial three times. The first was in 1904, where he was found guilty of desertion. The second was in 1912, where he was guilty of AWOL. The third was in 1918, where he was found not guilty of misappropriation of Army property. Each General Court-Martial record contains a transcript of the proceedings and the Order announcing the verdict and punishment of the General Court-Martial. The 1918 General Court-Martial record contains the top portion of the charge sheet, which includes his name, rank, date of enlistment, any previous convictions during his current period of enlistment, as well as the witnesses who were called to testify. His 1918 General Court-Martial even found a brief mention in the April 1, 1918 edition of the San Francisco Bulletin. Additionally, I found his 1904 General Court-Martial Order published in the July 16, 1904 edition of The Atlanta Journal.
Decorations and Awards Records
The monograph explains that ‘Decorations
are honors and rewards given in recognition of extraordinary, exceptionally
meritorious, or conspicuously outstanding acts or services. The conferring of
decorations and the incidents for which they were awarded were normally made a
matter of record at the time of their occurrence, or shortly thereafter. This
was done by War Department General Order, by the report of proceedings of a
Board of Officers…or simply by correspondence. Service awards are based on
record data, and an administrative decision is required to determine
eligibility. Once a decoration or a service award has been issued, some type of
record showing that it has been issued or authorized is retained on file with
the soldier’s enlisted jacket.’
The most common award would have been the World War I Victory Medal. Every member of the military, regardless of their time in service or place of service, would be eligible for the World War I Victory Medal. The War Department issued orders authorizing the World War I Victory Medal in 1919. To receive the World War I Victory Medal, each soldier would have to fill out an application with their service information, and then send in the completed form in order to receive their Victory Medal.
Battle and Service Clasps were also awarded depending on their service. For example, my great-grandfather, Fred C. Feller, participated in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, so he would have received the Meuse-Argonne Battle Clasp along with the Victory Medal. My great-grandfather, James R. Dodge, was completing basic training in France in October of 1918, and he would have received the France Service Clasp with his Victory Medal. My great-great uncle, David Nemetzky, served stateside during World War I, so he would have just the Victory Medal.
The World War I Army of Occupation of Germany Medal was awarded to Army servicemembers who participated in the Occupation of Germany following the Armistice between 1918 and 1923. Congress authorized this medal in 1941, and just like the Victory Medal, veterans who were eligible for this medal would have had to send in an application for Army of Occupation medal. My great-grandfather, James R. Dodge, was part of the first occupying troops to enter Germany after the armistice, and would have been eligible for the Army of Occupation Medal.
The monograph also talks about the Mexican Border Service Medal. The monograph states that the Mexican Border Service Medal ‘is authorized for service with the Mexican Border Patrol between January 1, 1916 and April 6, 1917’. The Wikipedia article for the Mexican Border Service Medal indicates that ‘It was initially awarded for service on the border between May 9, 1916 and March 24, 1917’. The book The Army Almanac - A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States, published in 1950, clarifies who was eligible for the Mexican Border Service Medal. It reads: ‘Service between 9 May 1916 and 24 March 1917, or with the Mexican Border Patrol between 1 January 1916 and 6 April 1917, by persons not eligible for the Mexican Service Medal.’
I have surmised that my great-great uncle, David Nemetzky, may have been eligible for this Medal because he was stationed at Camp Fort Bliss, at El Paso, Texas between August 1916 and February 1917, and at Base Hospital #5 at Nogales, Arizona between February and April of 1917. In looking through the Record Series ‘Decorations and Awards Index’ on the National Archives Catalog (NAID: 310818842; RG 92), I found Sergeants John S. Barnes and Alfred W. Maynard of the Army’s Medical Department both applied for, and received, the Mexican Border Service Medal. Sergeants Barnes and Maynard were stationed at Base Hospital #5 at Nogales, Arizona at the same time that David Nemetzky was stationed there, which indicates that David Nemetzky would have also been eligible for the Mexican Border Service Medal.
Descriptive List & Service Record
Prior to March 1917, the
Descriptive List was the record that contained the enlisted soldier’s service
record. It is twelve pages long, and contained a complete military history of
each soldier. In March of 1917, the name of the document was changed from the
Descriptive List to the Service Record. Even though the new Service Record contained
the same information as the Descriptive List, there was only one Service Record
that was prepared for the entirety of the soldier’s enlistment. The Descriptive
List is 3 ¾” by 8 ½”, and was prepared each time a soldier was transferred. The
monograph explains that: ‘With each transfer, a new [descriptive list] was
prepared by the acquiring organization. This meant of course that, during a
single enlistment, a soldier would have as many Descriptive Lists as he had
organization assignments.’
The Descriptive List began with the name, rank, and organization of the soldier, and continued with residence and emergency contact. Next, we find the soldier’s date and place of assignment, and then his vital information and physical description. The second page lists the soldier’s previous military service along with his present military service. Page three includes information on wounds received in service, medals and awards, physical condition, character of the soldier and whether he had any convictions by court-martial.
Page four was a statement of accounts, including pay received, clothing allowance, and any money either due the soldier or due the United States. Pages five and six continued the financial accounting, including deposits made by the soldier. Pages seven, eight and nine gave an accounting of the clothing drawn by the soldier, and the value of such clothing. Page ten gave a final settlement of the soldier’s clothing account, and whether any money was due, either to the soldier or to the United States. Page ten finished with remarks, and the remarks continued on to page eleven. Page eleven finished with the soldier’s discharge information. Page twelve contained instructions for those responsible for completing the Descriptive List.
After March of 1917, the
Descriptive List title was changed to Service Record and contained the record
of the soldier’s entire enlistment. It was approximately 18 pages long, and
contained the soldier’s entire military record for that specific period of
enlistment. The First page of the Service Record lists the name, service number
and the Company and Regiment that the soldier first enlisted in. Page two
continues with the descriptive list, which is a summary of the soldier’s
personal information, including their residence, emergency contact, vital
information, occupation, and physical description. Page three lists their prior
military service (if any), and information on their current enlistment. Page four
is their military record for their current enlistment. Page five listed any
court-martial information. Pages six and seven listed their clothing account.
Page eight listed their deposits. Pages nine through fourteen listed each of
their places of assignment. Additional pages were added containing educational
and occupational qualifications, convictions by court-martial, and small-arms
qualification.
Enlistment Record
The Enlistment Record, according
to the monograph: ‘represents the enlisted man’s service contract and it
contains both enlistment and personal data.’ Before August of 1919, the
Enlistment Record was known as the “Enlistment Paper.” Enlistment Papers prior
to November 1, 1912 are housed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.,
and are able to be searched. The two primary Enlistment Records we will look at
are Enlistments in the Army, and Inductions in the Army.
The examples from the monograph for enlistments are taken from a soldier who enlisted in 1913, and a soldier who enlisted in 1929. The example from 1913 was used until 1919, when the physical examination at the place of acceptance was added to the enlistment form. Prior to 1919, physical examination forms were recorded separately. The enlistment form was changed in April of 1924, and contained much of the same information as the previous enlistment form. This second enlistment form was still use in 1939.
The first enlistment form recorded the soldier’s name, date and place of enlistment, the enlisting officer, declaration of citizenship (or intention of declaration to become a citizen), their place of birth, age, occupation, physical description, and emergency contact. The second enlistment form was a four-page document, and asked additional questions about their marital status, criminal record, previous military service, and present medical condition. The second enlistment form also contained their physical examination at the place of acceptance and place of enlistment, as well as a designation of beneficiary and oath and certificate of enlistment. The last page contained the instructions on how to complete the Enlistment Record.
Medical Records
The most common type of medical
records that would have been available in these service records would have been
the Medical Card. The Medical Card gives the name, rank and unit of the
soldier, their age, tome in service, date of admission for medical treatment,
medical ailment, whether their medical ailment was in the line of duty, place
of medical treatment, and date of disposition. While there are medical cards
that may be available with a soldier’s reconstructed file, those that are
available are less than 100% readable, as care was not taken when the medical
cards were microfilmed. The Medical Cards that are with David Nemetzky's reconstructed file are for medical treatment that he received as Letterman General Hospital in 1921, 1922 & 1930. The example of the Medical Card that is in the
monograph is similar to the Medical Cards that are available through the
National Archives in Washington, D.C., for soldiers who received medical
treatment prior to November 1, 1912, which is shown below. I have found several Medical Cards for David Nemetzky for medical treatment that he received between 1904 and 1912.
The other medical record that
would have been available would be the Clinical Record. The Clinical Record is
the doctor’s report on the individual who received medical treatment. The
Clinical Record included a personal history, reports on symptoms, history of
the present disease, reports on blood, urine, and fecal samples, operation
report, lab reports, treatments received, and other reports on the diagnosis
and prognosis of the soldier. I have examples of Clinical Records for 2nd Lt.
Berenice Newitt of the Army Nurse Corps from her 201 File. She received medical treatment for the
measles at Fort Snelling, Minnesota in March of 1935. Examples from her
Clinical Record are below. Similar reports would have been completed for
enlisted soldiers who received medical treatment as well and would have been
kept in each soldier’s enlistment record.
Certificate of Disability for Discharge
The Certificate of Disability for
Discharge would also have been in the enlisted soldier’s Service Record. According
to the monograph: ‘These records were used when enlisted personnel became unfit
for military service and discharge was necessary because of a mental of a
physical disability. They were prepared when the veteran had reached the
condition of maximum benefit from medical treatment and after he had been
examined by a board of medical officers.’ The Certificate of Disability for
Discharge lists the soldier’s name, rank, date of enlistment, age, occupation,
reason for discharge by disability, and whether the disability occurred in the
line of duty. The Certificate of Disability for Discharge also fives the report
of board of medical officers, explaining in detail the medical disability, and
finishes with the proper endorsements recommending discharge for disability.
Special Orders
Special Orders ‘announce
assignments, transfers, and furloughs of individuals,’ as well as ‘the changes
in the status of the personnel [such as] (appointment, assignment,
reassignment, detail, transfer, promotion, reduction, relief from active duty,
discharge, retirement).’ Special Orders would have been placed in the soldier’s
Service Record. Special Orders issued by the War Department, as well as each of
the geographic Departments (prior to September 1, 1920), and each Corps Area
(September 1, 1920 and afterward) are available in bound volumes (by year) at
the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and College Park, Maryland. Some
Special Orders, such as the Western Department for the years 1914-1918, and
Corps Area IX for the years 1921-1923, are now available online. Additionally,
Special Orders were also issued by each individual post, fort, and station.
Some are available through the National Archives today, yet many no longer
appear to exist. The Special Orders issued by the Fort Porter, New York, and
the Presidio of San Francisco are available at the National Archives in
Washington, D.C., while the Special Orders issued by General Hospitals #2 and
#41 are available at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland. I mention
these specific Special Orders because I have found Special Orders for David
Nemetzky issued by these various posts and hospitals in my research, and it is
likely that these Special Orders (as well as others that are now lost) would
have been in his Service Record.
Furlough to the Regular Army Reserves
For soldiers who enlisted between November 1, 1917 and April 5, 1917, they would have been eligible for furlough to the Regular Army Reserve after serving a minimum of four years in active duty. David Nemetzky requested furlough to the Regular Army Reserves in June of 1919, after more than five years on active duty following his re-enlistment in April of 1914. The form listed the name and rank of the soldier, his date of enlistment and date of furlough as well as the date he was to be honorably discharged. The form also listed his address at the time of furlough and his emergency contact. The Regular Army Reserves was disbanded in June of 1920, and all soldiers who were in the Regular Army Reserves were honorably discharged. David Nemetzky requested to be discharged from the Regular Army Reserves in August of 1919 so that he could re-enlist. His request was granted. He was discharged on August 27, 1919, and re-enlisted on September 9, 1919.
Physical Examinations
Each soldier was required to submit to a physical examination at the time of enlistment. The physical examination form was initially a separate form the enlistment form until 1919, when the physical examination was added to the enlistment form. The Physical Examination form that is shown in the Monograph is identical to the Physical Examination form that I found for David Nemetzky when he re-enlisted in 1911. The first page shows the name of the recruit, his date and place of acceptance, and his date and place of enlistment. The second page shows his name, address, date and place of birth, information on his previous employment, and information on any previous military experience. Page three asks about his personal habits, such as whether he smoked or drank, as well as his most recent medical treatment. Page four listed his physical examination at the place of acceptance. Page five listed his physical examination at the place of enlistment. Pages six and seven listed any medical notes about the recruit. Additionally, another physical examination was administered at the time the soldier was discharged. These would all have been in the soldier's Service Record.
For World War I draftees (this practice continued for all future draftees from 1940 through 1973), a preliminary physical examination was conducted prior to an individual being called up for induction. A second physical examination was administered at the time of induction. Both of these physical examinations would have been included in the inductee's Service Record.
Conclusion
Reading through this Monograph, I am amazed at how much information was included in each soldier's service record, as well as the scope of what was lost in the 1973 fire. The records I have discussed above are a sample of the records that would have been in each soldier's service record. It is heartbreaking to read about each of the records that have been lost. It is also rewarding to read about the records that still exist that I have been able to find to reconstruct the Army service records of my ancestors who served during this time period.
