Posted on Jul 11, 2023
Families seek answers 50 years after fire destroyed veterans’ records
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FINAL FOR THE VETERAN OF THE VETERAN SHARE OF THE DAY
Families seek answers 50 years after fire destroyed veterans’ records
By Allen G. Breed, The Associated Press and Randy Herschaft, The Associated Press
Jul 11, 02:22 PM
In this photo provided by the National Archives and Records Administration, records from the sixth floor of the Military Personnel Records Center in Overland, Mo., near St. Louis, are recovered months after the massive fire that started on July 12, 1973. The box was soaked in water and covered completely with mold.
In this photo provided by the National Archives and Records Administration, records from the sixth floor of the Military Personnel Records Center in Overland, Mo., near St. Louis, are recovered months after the massive fire that started on July 12, 1973. The box was soaked in water and covered completely with mold. (National Archives via AP)
The apocalyptic scene is still burned into Mike Buttery’s memory 50 years later: Black smoke billowing from the top floor of the Military Personnel Records Center; bits of paper wafting through the air as dozens of firefighters tried desperately to stem the inferno.
“They’d hit it (the paper) with the water, and the water would knock it back up in the air, and then it would float around some more out there,” Buttery, then a janitor at the center, recalls of the wind-whipped paper swirling around the massive six-story building outside Saint Louis.
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk SGT (Join to see)] Sgt (Join to see) PV2 Larry Sellnow SPC Gary C. SPC (Join to see) Amn Dale Preisach SGT Ruben Lozada 1SG Patrick Burke PO2 Marco Monsalve Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Kim Patterson] SFC Ralph E Kelley PV2 Scott M. PO1 Lyndon Thomas SPC (Join to see) SGT Ruben Lozada SSG William Jones
Families seek answers 50 years after fire destroyed veterans’ records
By Allen G. Breed, The Associated Press and Randy Herschaft, The Associated Press
Jul 11, 02:22 PM
In this photo provided by the National Archives and Records Administration, records from the sixth floor of the Military Personnel Records Center in Overland, Mo., near St. Louis, are recovered months after the massive fire that started on July 12, 1973. The box was soaked in water and covered completely with mold.
In this photo provided by the National Archives and Records Administration, records from the sixth floor of the Military Personnel Records Center in Overland, Mo., near St. Louis, are recovered months after the massive fire that started on July 12, 1973. The box was soaked in water and covered completely with mold. (National Archives via AP)
The apocalyptic scene is still burned into Mike Buttery’s memory 50 years later: Black smoke billowing from the top floor of the Military Personnel Records Center; bits of paper wafting through the air as dozens of firefighters tried desperately to stem the inferno.
“They’d hit it (the paper) with the water, and the water would knock it back up in the air, and then it would float around some more out there,” Buttery, then a janitor at the center, recalls of the wind-whipped paper swirling around the massive six-story building outside Saint Louis.
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk SGT (Join to see)] Sgt (Join to see) PV2 Larry Sellnow SPC Gary C. SPC (Join to see) Amn Dale Preisach SGT Ruben Lozada 1SG Patrick Burke PO2 Marco Monsalve Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Kim Patterson] SFC Ralph E Kelley PV2 Scott M. PO1 Lyndon Thomas SPC (Join to see) SGT Ruben Lozada SSG William Jones
Families seek answers 50 years after fire destroyed veterans’ records
Posted from armytimes.comPosted in these groups: 
Family
Disability
Family Disability
Posted 10 mo ago
Responses: 5
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL thanks for the FINAL FOR THE VETERAN OF THE VETERAN SHARE OF THE DAY
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What about after action/ daily reports the units clerk did in triplicate? I Corps records, command mimeos that set the units assignments.? Or even supply requisitions to draw ammo/ rations/ supplies? Couldn't they work back through those things and others to zero in on Dates / missions/ results,...
Reverse engineer as it were. Perhaps a unit or command records may have been lost , but so many redundant reports and filings for even requisitioning anything back then, let alone missions and their results. Instead of looking for something that isn't existing, work the paper trail back from the Reports sent / generated by that unit/ command/ etc. from those after action reports/ command orders for missions to take place, or even from requesting Leave!!!!
If the unit's records no longer exist, there are definitely other units/ and separate records from ancillary regiments/ commands/ reports/ requests for medals to be awarded. On that last one, you earn medals, so, if there is record of all medals given( i know, no serial # ) but no service record showing medals earned, the mere fact that they were put in for commendation gives credence to the fact they were in combat on a certain time and command thought it right to put the soldier/ sailor/ Airman/ Marine/ Reservist in for award...
Reverse engineer as it were. Perhaps a unit or command records may have been lost , but so many redundant reports and filings for even requisitioning anything back then, let alone missions and their results. Instead of looking for something that isn't existing, work the paper trail back from the Reports sent / generated by that unit/ command/ etc. from those after action reports/ command orders for missions to take place, or even from requesting Leave!!!!
If the unit's records no longer exist, there are definitely other units/ and separate records from ancillary regiments/ commands/ reports/ requests for medals to be awarded. On that last one, you earn medals, so, if there is record of all medals given( i know, no serial # ) but no service record showing medals earned, the mere fact that they were put in for commendation gives credence to the fact they were in combat on a certain time and command thought it right to put the soldier/ sailor/ Airman/ Marine/ Reservist in for award...
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That fire saved the government 10’s of millions of dollars of payments to veterans for disabilities.
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