Request Records
A guide to requesting official military records for soldiers of D Co. 2/8 CAV — from personnel files to casualty documents.
If your father, grandfather, or loved one served with Delta Company, there are official records held by the federal government that you have the right to request. This page explains the three main record types, who can ask for them, and exactly how to do it.
Enlistment and discharge papers, DD-214, assignments, promotions, decorations and awards, training records, and medical records from active service.
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1Go to vetrecs.archives.gov and submit an eVetRecs request online — this is the fastest route. Alternatively, download and mail a signed SF-180 form to: NPRC, 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138.
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2As next of kin of a deceased veteran, include proof of death — a copy of the death certificate, a letter from the funeral home, or a published obituary. Next of kin is defined as an unremarried surviving spouse, son, daughter, father, mother, brother, or sister.
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3Because D Co. 2/8 CAV soldiers served in Vietnam (1966–1972), their records are archival — meaning they separated from the military more than 62 years ago. Archival records carry a reproduction fee of roughly 80¢ per page. NPRC will provide a price quote before charging anything.
Patience required. Processing takes 90 days or more. Don't send a follow-up before that — it can push your request further back.
The official record of how a soldier died: teletype messages, correspondence, mortuary affairs reports, accident investigation findings, and documentation of remains recovery and return. For KIA soldiers, this is often the most detailed firsthand account of their death.
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1Determine which office holds the file based on last name. Army IDPFs for surnames A–L are at the National Archives in St. Louis. Surnames M–Z are still held by the Army's Human Resources Command at Fort Knox.
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2For A–L surnames: Email stl.archives@nara.gov to request a search and price quote. Reproduction runs 80¢ per page with a $20 minimum. NARA will confirm the file exists and invoice you before sending copies.
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3For M–Z surnames: Contact the Army Human Resources Command at Fort Knox. Phone: (888) 276-9472. Their casualty records office handles Vietnam-era IDPF requests directly.
The IDPF is a separate file from the service record — you may want to request both. They are held by different offices and must be requested independently.
Daily journals, operational logs, after-action reports, unit orders, and general orders for infantry units in Vietnam. These document what the company was doing on any given day — missions, movements, casualties, and citations.
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1Unit records for Vietnam are held in Record Group 472 (Records of U.S. Forces in Southeast Asia, 1950–1975) at the National Archives. The relevant series is Infantry Unit Records, 1965–ca. 1973.
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2In-person access is available by appointment at the National Personnel Records Center Archival Research Room: 1 Archives Drive, St. Louis, MO 63138. Call (314) 801-0850 or email stlarr.archives@nara.gov to schedule.
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3If you can't travel to St. Louis, you can hire an independent researcher to visit on your behalf. NARA maintains a list of researchers familiar with Vietnam-era unit records — ask for it when you call to schedule.
Note on Morning Reports: Vietnam-era Morning Reports (daily strength and casualty rosters) are currently on hiatus at NPRC and unavailable for remote requests. In-person access may still be possible by appointment — confirm availability when you call.