In the event of a temporary shutdown of the federal government effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, all Library of Congress buildings will be CLOSED to the public and researchers. All public events will be cancelled until the shutdown is concluded and federal funding resumed. More information.
Unfortunately, the Library of Congress does not hold military service records. These materials are in the custody of the National Archives - http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/about-ompfs.html If you meet NARA’s criteria for being an immediate family member, you can request a soldier’s military service record from the National Archives. If you would like a copy of the form to apply for receiving a service record, you may order a copy from the National Archives’ web site http://www.archives.gov/veterans/, Click on “Veterans Service Records.” These forms can be filed electronically as well (eVetRecs); you will see that option on the Archives' web site. You may also contact the National Archives at http://www.archives.gov/contact/ and at https://historyhub.history.gov/welcome
Keep in mind that many service records were destroyed in a fire in 1973. Army service records from the nineteen-teens to 1960 suffered 80% loss. Air Force service records from September 1947 through the end of 1963 suffered 75% loss. Check this web site for suggestions on how to proceed if a veteran's records were destroyed http://www.archives.com/experts/brandt-kathleen/military-records-destroyed.html
Learn more about using the diverse collections housed in the Library of Congress Main Reading Room, including telephone directories, microform collections, genealogy, biographies, and more.
