Comment on ordering records from the Archives

[John Winn]

I thought I'd pass on something I feel I confirmed just now regarding what one gets from the Archives these days. That is that you might not actually get the complete service record or pension file. In the last year I've received several of each where I strongly suspected I didn't get everything. I wrote them after the last incident and they just responded that "we send the complete record." Well, I decided to hire Brian Rhinehart of rhinehartroots.com to retrieve those latter files and sure enough, neither the service record or the pension file were complete.

I can also say that Brian did a great job and was quick at it (you'll wait months for the Archives) and his prices are better than what the Archives charges.

So, if you are thinking of ordering either a service record or a pension file you might want to consider hiring Brian (or somebody like him). I've ordered a lot of records and had a lot of problems with the Archives - i.e. not just shorted files - and think I'm done with them now. In the future I'm hiring someone.

OK, just wanted to put that out there.

 

[Zella]

Thank you so much, John! I am going to have to start doing this for my Union relatives and had hesitated because it's a lot of money. This advice is much appreciated!

 

[donna]

Thanks from me too. We need to order records for several of my husband's relatives.

 

[huskerblitz]

I think it would be more beneficial for everyone if you contacted the Archives again and figure out what is causing the disconnect. Maybe it was a miscommunication between the full and short pension files or just someone who isn't doing their job correctly.

 

[Seduzal]

Thanks for sharing this information.

 

[John Winn]

I think it would be more beneficial for everyone if you contacted the Archives again and figure out what is causing the disconnect. Maybe it was a miscommunication between the full and short pension files or just someone who isn't doing their job correctly.

I'm really just burned out on dealing with them. In my last contact I was quite specific in detailing why I felt I didn't get the whole file (and it was both the pension file and the service record file) and they were dismissive. They don't really make it easy to contact a specific person with such a problem either.

I think most of the work is done by contractors, not the actual Archives employees, and having worked for the government I'd bet the contract goes to the lowest bidder. At best all I could expect would be that I'd get refunded some of my $30 for the records where I can now prove I didn't get everything (I did get some of it) and it's just not worth the aggravation to me. I'm lucky that I'm rich enough that I can just write off the $30 as a lesson learned and use the much better and cheaper alternative I have now discovered.

My public service is to let folks here know there is a better alternative to using the Archives.

 

[donna]

When I contacted them about my Dad's records a few years ago, they wrote back they had nothing. I called and was told same thing. I actually had some of his papers as he had gotten them and kept them. They asked me if I would copy what I had. I sent them what I had. They thanked me. So now at least some of my Dad's record is now on file.

It seemed funny at the time but am glad he now in the Archives. He was in War War II in Army in the Pacific theater.

 

[jackt62]

I was able to retrieve WWII records from the US Archives for a relative. I wrote to them and after several back and forth letters, I was able to get much valuable documentation.

 

[Taylin]

Will be keeping this in mind when I order my next set of records.