U.S. Military Casualties, Missing in Action, and POWs from the Era of the Vietnam Conflict
Military Records

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Records of U.S. Military Casualties, Missing in Action, and Prisoners of War from the Era of the Vietnam War

Electronic Records Reference Report


Introduction

This reference report provides an overview of the electronic data records in the custody of the National Archives that relate to U.S. military casualties, missing in action, and prisoners of war from the Vietnam War era. Full descriptions of the series and data files listed in this report are in NARA's catalog available via the Online Public Access (OPA) resource. OPA can be searched by title, National Archives Identifier, type of archival material, or keyword.

Series and file units accessible online through the Access to Archival Databases (AAD) resource (www.archives.gov/aad) have an AAD logo AAD next to them. Some of the files listed in the report are also available online for downloading as computerized data files from the Online Public Access (OPA) resource. All of the files are also available on removable media for a cost-recovery fee. For more information see: Ordering Information for Electronic Records.


Record Group 330: Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense

  • Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) Extract Files
    National Archives Identifier: 2163536
    • Vietnam Conflict Extract Data File, as of April 29, 2008 AAD
      National Archives Identifier: 2240992
      Technical Documentation: 26 pages (also available electronically) and extensive supplemental documentation (code lists)

      This file contains records of U.S. military officers and soldiers who died as a result of either a hostile or non-hostile occurrence or who were missing in action or prisoners of war in the Vietnam Conflict, including casualties that occurred in Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is the successor to the Combat Area Casualties Current Files (CACCF), which are part of the series "Records of Military Personnel Who Died, Were Missing in Action or Prisoners of War as a Result of the Vietnam War." The Electronic Records Reference Report on Statistical Information about Fatal Casualties of the Vietnam War contains statistics based on selected data fields in the Vietnam Conflict Extract Data File.

  • Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) Files AAD
    National Archives Identifier: 4667739
    Data Files: 2 (one file with casualties records from 1950-2005 and one file with casualties from 2006)
    Technical Documentation: 46 pages basic documentation (some available electronically), 59 pages supplemental

    This series contains records of U.S. military officers and soldiers who died as a result of either a hostile or non-hostile occurrence in the Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, or War on Terrorism. These include the records of persons who were missing in action or prisoners of war in either the Korean War or the Vietnam War.

  • Records on Military Personnel Who Died, Were Missing in Action or Prisoners of War as a Result of the Vietnam War AAD
    National Archives Identifier: 306742

    This series contains records of U.S. military officers and soldiers who died as a result of either hostile or non-hostile occurrence or who were missing in action or prisoners of war in the Southeast Asian combat area during the Vietnam War, including casualties that occurred in Cambodia, China, Laos, North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and Thailand. The dates of death range from 1956 to 1998 (the last transfer of the records). This series consists of:

    • Combat Area Casualties Current Files (CACCF) AAD
      Technical Documentation: 58 pages
      These files contain final records of deceased casualties. Unless otherwise requested or noted, NARA uses the CACCF as of December 1998 for reference purposes. The agency no longer updates CACCF as it has been succeeded by the "Vietnam Conflict Extract Data File" from the series "Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) Files."

    • Combat Area Casualties History Files (CACHF)
      Technical Documentation: 57 pages
      These files contain non-final records for some of the casualties for whom there is a final record in either the Combat Area Casualties Current File or the Combat Area Casualties Returned Alive File.

    • Combat Area Casualties Returned Alive File (CACRAF) AAD
      Technical Documentation: 53 pages
      This file contains final records for U.S. military personnel who returned alive after having been held prisoner or missing in action. Since these records concern individuals who presumably are still alive, NARA masks some data elements before releasing the records to the public.

Record Group 407: Records of the Adjutant General's Office

  • Records of Deceased, Wounded, Ill, or Injured Army Personnel, Including Dependents and Civilian Employees AAD
    National Archives Identifier: 641697
    Technical Documentation: 22 pages

    This series contains information about U.S. Army personnel and their dependents who died or were injured worldwide, including missing in action and prisoners of war, between 1961 and 1981. NARA makes a public use version of the file available. In addition, individual records of Army personnel who were wounded will be provided in full to the named individual upon receipt of a written request and appropriate identification. NARA provides this service free of charge.

Collection COFF: Richard Coffelt, Richard Arnold, and David Argabright Collection

  • Records with Unit Information on Military Personnel Who Died During the Vietnam War AAD
    National Archives Identifier: 571687
    Technical Documentation: 12 pages

    This series contains military unit information on U.S. military officers and soldiers who died as a result of either a hostile or non-hostile occurrence, including while missing in action or while prisoner of war, in the Southeast Asian combat area during the Vietnam War.

Related Information

NARA Reference Information Paper 90, Records Relating to American Prisoners of War and Missing in Action from the Vietnam War Era, 1960-1994

Electronic Records Reference Report, Electronic Data Records Relating to Military Objectives and Activities During the Vietnam War

Electronic Records Reference Report, Statistical Information about Fatal Casualties of the Vietnam War

Theodore J. Hull, "Electronic Records of Korean and Vietnam War Casualties," Prologue (Spring 2000).

Contact Us

Reference Services
Electronic Records
National Archives at College Park
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(301) 837-0470
e-mail: cer@nara.gov

July 2013


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