Hints on Using the Search Page

We've tried to make using the search page(s) relatively easy. Still, problems can arise, and if you haven't been around computers much, it could be harder-looking to you than it is to us. Here are some basic instructions:

Searching is something of an art, so if you don't find what you're looking for quickly, be patient and try different things. Though we've said it before, we'll say it again: the "Home of Record" is a military term, and is not necessarily where you know the person to be "from". If you don't get the results you are looking for using the Home of Record, try leaving it blank.

Instructions for a Basic Search

If your search doesn't work.

BASIC SEARCH

The Basic Search simply has Lastname, Branch of Service, State, and Home Town (which is home of record). This search will produce a list of names from which you may choose.

The search is case-insensitive, that is, it doesn't care if you use small or capital letters. Note that it does care about spaces, that is, MC DONNELL is not the same person as MCDONNELL.

Here is an example, using Warrant Officer Willard Burkhart, a helicopter pilot who died in an accidental crash.

(1) LASTNAME: BURKHART FIRSTNAME: WILLARD HARLEY IDNO: W3161503 SVC: A COMP: V RANK: WO GRADE: W1 MOS: 062B AGE: 25 HOME: HELTON ST: KY CASDATE: 19690205 CAS1: C1 CAS2: B CAS3: 4 BODY: --- CTRY: VS PROV: 28 LSVC: 06 BIRDATE: 19430303 RACE: C REL: PN MAR: M SEX: M CIT: 1 TOURD: 680929 PANL: 33W LINE: 061 REFNO: 3309 PDATE: 6902

This is confusing at first glance, but you can de-code it one of two ways. You can get keys for the codes being used on our codes page, but it is much easier to simply click on the (1) which appears in blue. [Note: on this page, clicking the blue number will take you immediately below.]

This is the result:

--- General / Personal ---

Last name: BURKHART
First name: WILLARD HARLEY
Home of Record (official): HELTON
State (official): KY
Date of Birth: Wednesday, March 3, 1943
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Marital Status: Married

--- Military ---

Branch: Army
Rank: WO
Serial Number: W3161503
Component: Reserve
Pay grade: W1
MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 062B

--- Action ---

Start of Tour: Sunday, September 29, 1968
Date of Casualty: Wednesday, February 5, 1969
Age at time of loss: 25
Casualty type: (C1) Non-hostile, died of other causes
Reason: Air loss - Crashed on land (Pilot - Helicopter)
Country: South VietNam
Province: Kien Tuong
The Wall: Panel 33W - Row 061

With Army casualties Notice that you DO NOT get any information in this search about what unit Mr. Burkhart might have served with at the time of his death. This information may be included for many Army casualties near the end of the Military section; it will not appear for any casualties in the other services. See the FAQ for why this is so.

MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY CODES

These are codes for military jobs held by the casualties. You can find links to translations of these codes HERE. You can use those to decipher the MOS listed in the casualty information about Willard Burkhart at the top of this message like this:

062B "Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor"

SOME COMMON PROBLEMS WITH SEARCHES

FIRST AND FOREMOST, do not assume that there is a database error just because your first search doesn't work. We've gotten hundreds of messages that someone "is not in the database", and found that person the first time we looked. We realize that not everyone is equally good with computers, but make an effort before you assume that something is wrong on this end.

If you are not finding someone with a search:

check your spelling, or try an alternate spelling. One letter off is all it takes. The DoD sometimes has odd conventions about using MC or O names. Don't use apostrophes ' , there aren't any at all in the names list.

drop the Home field. We bring this up a lot, but it's a fairly frequent problem.

use less information rather than more. It will give you a bigger list, but you might be able to find someone in the list, where they didn't show up with your search criteria (note: this might not be the best strategy with someone named "Smith").

leave the site, come back and try again. This is something of a last resort, but it's what tech support people try all the time with other applications. Might work here, too ....

These aren't the only problems that can exist with a search, but they'll make a good start.

Some other problems we've heard about.

Q: I was getting a LONG list and it just stopped right in the middle...

A: Check the cache settings on your browser. You may have something like "maximum document size" set too low. You could also try for a smaller list .....

Q: If I do a second search with the same query info, I get different results...

A: Try clearing the form and re-entering the search criteria. A pain, I know, but I've noticed some anomalies (that's the 25-cent word for BUG) where the form steps on itself and sends a garbled query.

Q: I KNOW Joe was from Cleveland, but I can't find him...

A: "Home of Record" searches can be odd. Military "home of record" isn't necessarily where someone was "from" -- bearing in mind that there can be several meanings for that. Joe may well have used a temporary address in Sandusky on his enlistment forms, so he won't show up under people from Cleveland. Best to leave it out if it might be a problem.

Q: I can't remember the exact spelling of the last name...

A: A common query, most easily resolved by looking through the alphabetical listing at http://www.vietvet.org/thewall/thewallm.html.

Q: I'm researching casualties from a certain battle, how can I get a list by...

A: The CACCF contains no info regarding units or battles per se, but you might have a look at the "advanced" search (coming soon) and try a combination of date, province, etc.