Genealogist Q&A
Whether you're a seasoned genealogy enthusiast or just starting, our Q&A section addresses the most frequently asked questions in family history research.
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Tom Kemp, the director of our Genealogy Products, is here to help. With over fifty years of experience, Tom is a skilled genealogist, prolific writer, and a seasoned librarian/archivist with international experience. In our Q&A session, Tom addresses common questions posed by genealogists. Don’t miss our free guide, Getting Started Climbing Your Family Tree.
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My grandfather had a WWI pension - he wasn't wounded - why did he have a pension?
Q: I have my grandfather's World War I payroll records and his discharge. However, I know that he collected a veterans' pension until his death in1973, and then my grandmother received a widow's pension until she died in 1976. Since his discharge clearly states that he was not wounded in the war, I would like to see his pension records to determine on what basis he collected a pension. Since he served 1918-1919, those records are not available through NARA. How can I access them?
A: Pension benefits for World War I veterans evolved over the years. Basically the rule of thumb for a pension was having served for 90 days. See: Veteran's Administration guidelines.
The National Archives has set up a special site for requesting these records. The son or daughter of a WWI veteran should use that site to request his records.
As the granddaughter, you may access the records of retired veterans from World War I to the present at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO.
You need to use Standard Form SF-180 Military Records Request Form to request those records. Click on the link to get a copy of that form. Simply complete the form and submit it to the appropriate mailing address listed on the form.
