Service Information on Former Marines

The Marine Corps History Division does not hold service records on individual Marines. Service information on former Marines is held at the National Archives and Records Administration, the National Personnel Records Center, or Headquarters, Marine Corps. To obtain service records, please write to the proper agency.

For individual service records on Marine Corps officers who served from 1798 to 1895 and enlisted personnel who served from 1798 to 1904:

Military Reference Branch (NNRM)
National Archives and Records Administration
7th & Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20408

Visit their web site: http://www.archives.gov

For individual service records on Marine Corps officers who separated after 1895 and enlisted personnel who separated after 1904:

National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
1 Archives Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63138
1-866-272-6272

Visit their web site: http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/

For individual service records for Marines who separated on or after 1 January 1999:

Headquarters, Marine Corps
Records and Performance Branch (MMRP)
2008 Elliot Road
Quantico, VA 22134-5030
1-800-268-3710

PLEASE NOTE: Requests for service information should include the following data on the Marine(s): full name, social security number, service number, date and place of birth, and calendar years of Marine Corps service.

Reference Branch
USMC History Division
2011

Marine Corps Audio Visual Materials

Audio-Visual materials relating to the United States Marine Corps are held at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), and the Defense Visual Information (DVI)Directorate. To obtain photographs and/or film footage, researchers should contact the proper activity at the address or with the phone numbers provided below, or refer to the respective web sites at www.archives.gov and www.DIMOC.mil.

For still photographs taken prior to 1982:

Still Pictures Branch
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
8601 Adelphi Road 
College Park, Maryland 20740-6001

For film footage taken prior to 1984:

Motion Picture, Sound & Video Branch 
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
8601 Adelphi Road 
College Park, Maryland 20740-6001

For still photographs dating from 1982 to present:

Defense Visual Information (DVI) Directorate

www.DIMOC.mil

For film footage dating from 1984 to present:

Defense Visual Information (DVI) Directorate

www.DIMOC.mil

Unit Operational Records

Revolutionary War through World War I*

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Old Military and Civil Records Branch (NWCTB)
700 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20408
Phone: (202) 357-5400
Fax: (202) 357-5936
www.archives.gov

WWI*, WWII, Korea**, Vietnam**, and 1965-1975

National Archives at College Park (NWCTM)
Modern Military Records Branch
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001
Phone: (301) 837-3161
Fax: (301) 837-1752
www.archives.gov

Operational Unit Records: 1976 – present
(Command Chronology)

Marine Corps History Division
Attn: Archives Branch
2044 Broadway St.
Quantico, VA 22134
Phone: (703) 784-4685
MCU_Archives@usmcu.edu

Muster Rolls and Unit Diaries

1798 – 1941

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Old Military and Civil Records Branch (NWCTB)
700 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20408
Phone: (202) 357-5400
Fax: (202) 357-5936
www.archives.gov

World War II – 1975

National Archives at College Park (NWCTM)
Modern Military Records Branch
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001
Phone: (301) 837-3510
Fax: (301) 837-1752
www.archives.gov

Vietnam Era - Present

Headquarters, US Marine Corps (MMRP-11)
2008 Elliot Road
Quantico, VA 22134-5030
(703) 784-3923 or (703) 432-0513

Smb.manpower.mmrp@usmc.mil  (Attn:  MMRP-11 in the subject line)

How to FIND RECRUIT PLATOON PHOTOS AND YEARBOOKS:

Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island: Platoon photos are available at Parris Island back to 1939. Photos from between 1939 and 1950 are limited, however. Individual photos of Marines are also available but only go back for four years. Recruit training series books are not available. To find out how to get photos, call Recruit Photo at (843) 228-1555.

Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego: Recruit series book, platoon and individual photos are available at the Yearbook Office. Yearbooks and photos are kept for two years. They can be reached at (619) 296-3840. Yearbooks and photos older than two years can be purchased at the Museum Historical Society. The Museum Historical Society has an archive of old recruit platoon graduation photos dating back to the 1930’s and also offers some recruit yearbooks for sale. Yearbooks from the 1980's and 1990's are available in limited quantities. Platoon graduation photos and yearbooks may be purchased through the Society at (619) 524-4426.

Reference Branch
USMC History Division
2006

Geography and Map Reading Room
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave., SE
Madison Bldg, Room LM B01
Washington, DC 20540-4650
http://www.loc.gov/rr/geogmap/

Reference Branch
USMC History Division
2006

HOW TO FIND INDIVIDUAL MEDALS AND DECORATIONS:

Military Awards Branch (MMMA)
Headquarters, US Marine Corps
2008 Elliot Road
Quantico, VA 22134
Phone: (703) 784-9206
Fax: (703) 784-9866

Reference Branch
USMC History Division
2011

HOW TO FIND UNIT AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Historical Reference Branch*
Marine Corps History Division
3078 Upshur Avenue
Quantico, VA 22134
Phone: (703) 432-4874
Fax: (703) 432-4892

*Provide lowest level echelon known when making request (i.e.: Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines)

Awards Branch, which issues awards and maintains back-up information, may also need to be contacted:

Military Awards Branch (MMMA)
Headquarters US Marine Corps
2008 Elliot Road
Quantico, VA 22134
Phone: (703) 784-9206
Fax: (703) 784-9866

Reference Branch
USMC History Division
2011

SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO LOCATE FORMER MARINES:

1.) Contact one of the many Marine Corps Associations. Although the Marine Corps History Division can not vouch for or endorse any information obtain from an unofficial website, associations may be able to help by putting you into contact with the person you seek or someone with information on that person. Simple internet searches will yield numerous possible sites. The links below are just a few examples:

1st Marine Division Association

2d Marine Division Association

3d Marine Division Association

4th Marine Division Association

6th Marine Division Association

1st Marine Aircraft Wing Association

Raiders Association

Montford Point Marine Association

Women Marines Association

Marine Corps Reserve Association

2.) Leatherneck Magazine publishes personal announcements for free in the Mail Call Section. Please visit the Marine Corps Association’s website to learn submission rules and procedures.

Reference Branch
USMC History Division
2006

HISTORICAL REFERENCE BRANCH

1 Head
3 Historians
1 Research Assistant

INTRODUCTION

The Historical Reference Branch provides historical research and reference services for Headquarters Marine Corps, Marine Corps University, Marine Corps units, other military organizations and government agencies, active duty Marines, and the general public. The branch is also responsible for several key programs and projects including the Unit Lineage and Honors Program, and the Commemorative Naming Program. Additionally, the branch serves as the division focal point for the research and preparation of numerous articles, brief histories, studies, and reports for use within the History Division, MCU, HQMC, and DOD.

In order to respond to the requests received, the branch has created and maintains a robust collection of working files, which are broken into four distinct groups.  The Biographical files are on prominent, famous and infamous Marines including general officers, Medal of Honor recipients and former Marines of prominence (movie stars, etc).​  The Subject files contain topical files from Abbreviation to Women Marines, including battles/wars, families, Headquarters Marine Corps and much more.  The Unit files were initially created to support the Lineage and Honors Program and have grown to include many former units of the past and new units in the present.  Lastly, the Photograph files were created to support the writers and publishing​ efforts and mirror the subject/unit/biographical files.

Our files are in continual use by branch historians and therefore are non-circulating.  They may only be used within the branch's researcher room.

SERVICES

• The Historical Reference Branch answers many thousands of written, telephone, and in-person requests each year. The historians are available to answer questions or direct researchers to appropriate holdings. The branch maintains a large body of secondary and copies of primary historical sources collected over many decades to answer the questions received.  Visiting researchers are welcome to review materials in the branch's Researcher Room.  Please note that staff limitations preclude this office from conducting extensive research or doing extensive copying for individuals.

  VISITING RESEARCHERS:

  STAFF ASSISTANCE: The Historical Reference Branch staff is available BY APPOINTMENT ONLY to explain the various holdings of the branch and assist in making the desired materials available in the branch's Researcher Room. The staff will also direct researchers to appropriate records and other related holdings and agencies.  To make an appointment, please call 703-432-4874 or email history.division@usmcu.edu.

  COPYING: All materials for copying must be reviewed by a member of the Historical Reference Branch. 

  HOURS: Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm.  The office is closed on Wednesdays.

  Please Review the Following Information Regarding Conducting In-Person Research.

  OTHER RESEARCHERS:

  WRITTEN REQUESTS: Researchers may write to the Historical Reference Branch with requests for historical information. The address is:  

  Marine Corps History Division
  Attn: Historical Reference Branch
  2044 Broadway St.
  Quantico, Virginia 22134

  Or

  history.divsion@usmcu.edu

  Please note that staff limitations preclude this office from conducting extensive research or doing extensive copying for individuals.

  TELEPHONE REQUESTS: The Historical Reference Branch will respond to telephone requests if information is readily available. The telephone number is: 703-432-4874.