The 1973 NPRC fire: recovering records that were “destroyed.”
If you've been told your DD214 was destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center, the situation isn't hopeless. NPRC reconstructs records every day for veterans and families of veterans whose original files were lost. Here's what actually happened, whose records were affected, and how the reconstruction process works.
Rather not handle the paperwork? We prepare, file, and follow up on it for you. $125 flat · 120-day money-back guarantee.
Get My DD214- A 1973 fire at the NPRC building in St. Louis destroyed an estimated 16–18 million military records.
- Primarily affected: Army veterans separated 1912–1959 and Air Force veterans separated 1947–1963 with names Hubbard through Z.
- NPRC can reconstruct a DD214 using alternate documents: pay records, hospital records, unit morning reports, prior award documentation.
- Reconstruction typically takes 6+ months.
- You can help by providing any documents you have: old discharge papers, separation orders, even photos of awards.
What happened in 1973.
On the night of July 12, 1973, a fire broke out on the sixth floor of the National Personnel Records Center building in Overland, Missouri. By the time the fire was contained four days later, the entire sixth floor was destroyed.
The sixth floor housed the discharge records of millions of Army and Air Force veterans. There were no microfilm backups, no off-site duplicates, no copies in another building. When the records burned, they were gone.
Total estimated loss: 16–18 million records. The cause of the fire was never officially determined.
Decades later, NPRC built and trained a reconstruction team that uses alternate documentation to recreate the records of veterans affected by the fire. Their work is ongoing.
Whose records were affected.
The fire destroyed records based on where they were physically stored. Two service-era groups bore the brunt:
Army veterans
Discharged between November 1, 1912 and January 1, 1960.
An estimated 80% of these records were lost in the fire.
Air Force veterans
Discharged between September 25, 1947 and January 1, 1964, with surnames beginning Hubbard through Z.
An estimated 75% of these records were lost.
Not affected: Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or Reserve records. Army records of veterans discharged before November 1912 or after January 1960. Air Force records of veterans discharged before September 1947, after January 1964, or with surnames before "Hubbard."
If a veteran in your family served in either of the affected groups, assume the original DD214 is gone, and request the reconstruction process up front rather than waiting for NPRC to discover the records are missing.
What "destroyed" actually means.
NPRC uses "destroyed" pretty liberally. In practice, an affected record can be in one of three states:
-
1
Completely gone
The original file was entirely consumed in the fire. NPRC has no fragments to work from. Reconstruction is built from alternate sources, but the original is unrecoverable.
-
2
Partial loss
Some pages survived the fire, possibly damaged by water, smoke, or heat. NPRC may have a partial file: perhaps the cover sheet and a few pages, but not the DD214 itself.
-
3
Damaged but recoverable
The file survived but is in fragile condition. NPRC's conservation team works to retrieve readable information. This is rare but possible.
You usually won't know which state your record is in until NPRC writes back. Either way, the path forward is the same: submit the request, indicate you suspect fire damage, and let the reconstruction team take it from there.
How NPRC reconstructs a DD214.
When the original file is gone, NPRC's reconstruction team pieces together the veteran's service history from alternate sources. They don't print a duplicate DD214. They issue an equivalent document, typically called an NA Form 13038 (Certification of Military Service). It carries the same legal weight as a DD214 for VA benefits, employment verification, and most other purposes.
The reconstruction team draws on:
- Pay records (Finance Center). Held in a different facility and survived the fire. These confirm dates of service and active-duty periods.
- Hospital and medical records. Stored separately. Can confirm service location, dates, and circumstances of treatment.
- Unit morning reports. Daily roster records kept at the unit level. Document who was assigned, transferred, hospitalized, or discharged on each day.
- Award and decoration documentation. Held separately by service branches and often by the units themselves.
- Final pay and discharge orders. Often preserved at the Finance Center or in unit records.
- VA records. If the veteran filed any VA claim, those records can confirm service details.
Reconstruction is meticulous work. The team cross-references multiple sources before issuing a Certification. They want to get it right.
The NA Form 13075.
If the reconstruction team can't piece together enough from official records alone, they may send you (or the next-of-kin) an NA Form 13075: Questionnaire About Military Service. It's a fillable form asking the veteran or family member to provide what they remember.
Useful information to provide:
- Names of units assigned to, ships served on, or training schools attended
- Names of supervising officers or commanders
- Locations served (domestic and overseas)
- Awards or decorations received
- Combat zones, campaigns, or specialized training
- Reasons for any hospitalizations or transfers during service
Even approximate or partial answers help. NPRC uses them as starting points for further investigation. Don't leave the form blank because you "aren't sure."
Documents you can provide to help.
If you (or the veteran's family) have any service-era documents in a drawer, an attic, or a safety deposit box, send copies along with your SF-180. Even partial documents help anchor the reconstruction.
Send copies, not originals. NPRC won't return materials. Keep your originals safe.
Need help with a fire-damaged records case?
Fire-damaged records take longer and need more careful submission to avoid extra delay. We charge $249 for these cases (vs. $97 standard) and set realistic expectations upfront: 6+ months timeline. We've worked with families pulling together documents for veterans who served generations ago.
Realistic timeline for a fire-damaged records case.
Plan for 6+ months, sometimes longer for complex cases. The reconstruction team works methodically. That pace is the price of getting it right.
-
Months 0–1: Request received and routed
NPRC determines the record is fire-affected and routes to the reconstruction team.
-
Months 1–3: Alternate source research
The team requests pay records, hospital records, unit reports, and award documentation from holding facilities.
-
Months 2–4: NA Form 13075 (if needed)
If gaps remain, you'll receive a questionnaire. Respond promptly to avoid stalling.
-
Months 4–6: Reconstruction assembled
The team consolidates verified information into a Certification of Military Service.
-
Months 6+: Issued and mailed
The NA Form 13038 (or equivalent) is issued. It carries the same legal weight as a DD214.
Frequently asked questions.
Is a reconstructed DD214 just as valid as the original?
Can you confirm whether my records were destroyed before I submit?
My family member died and I have nothing. Is reconstruction still possible?
How do I find old pay records or unit morning reports myself?
Are records of Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard veterans affected?
What if my discharge was after the fire-affected window?
"Destroyed" is rarely the end of the story.
If you're piecing together the service history of a veteran whose records may have been affected by the fire, we can help carry the paperwork while you focus on family.