On this day, July 12, 1973, the National Personnel Records Center caught on fire.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Last edited Sun Jul 12, 2020, 10:54 AM - Edit history (1)

Hat tip, appalachiablue

Thu Jul 9, 2020: Many treasures lost forevr in that one, also the Universal Studios

National Personnel Records Center fire


Fire underway, 1973, Aerial View of MILPERCEN, National Archives.

Date: July 12, 1973
Venue: National Personnel Records Center
Location: Overland, Missouri, United States
Coordinates: 38°41′06″N 90°22′14″W
Cause: Unknown

The National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973, also referred to as the 1973 National Archives fire, was a fire that occurred at the Military Personnel Records Center (MPRC - part of the National Personnel Records Center) in Overland, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, on July 12, 1973, striking a severe blow to the National Archives and Records Administration of the United States. MPRC, the custodian of military service records, lost approximately 16–18 million official military personnel records as a result of the fire.

{snip}

[The Wizard]

1. The military records are stored in about 5 locations

The VA used the fire to delay granting benefits to veterans.

[CaptYossarian]

2. I guess my dad didn't go AWOL after all.

[RazzleCat]

3. I worked there for a very short period

They still are dealing with the loss of records, and attempting to reconstruct some of the damaged records. You may be surprised how many of those documents are necessary for veterans to prove their honorable service, and or, war time/zone service. With out that information many vet. benefits are not available. That fire was a disaster for millions of veterans. fyi, did not work in the reconstruction dept. (total work time there was less than 4 months), long short, for the vets they had to show proof of service using such items as there DD 214 (discharge papers), if they don't have it, they would have to give there service rep enough information that could be researched to prove there service. info such as dates, officers, missions etc., then the rep would send all that to the researchers to attempt to verify.

[Sherman A1]

4. I recall it very well

My then girlfriend lived not too far from there and when I would go to her house during the fire we could stand outside and see the glow from her yard.

[CanonRay]

5. I remember that

I started working for the government 11 days later.