Notice: Our website is currently undergoing a migration, and some content may have been moved to a new location, be actively migrated, or be temporarily inaccessible. We appreciate your patience as we continue to add content gradually over time.

Inquiries


For inquiries on organizational history, lineage and honors, official Army histories, staff rides, military programs, please e-mail CMH Answers at usarmy.mcnair.cmh.mbx.answers@army.mil.

Because of the high volume of correspondence CMH receives, there might be a delay in your questions and comments being answered.

Before you contact the Center of Military History regarding a historical inquiry, please follow these simple procedures in order to expedite your research:

  1. Review the entire Master List of Army Records to see where the information you are looking for is held.
  2. If you think the document is held by CMH, go into the Research Tools area and see if it is listed in one of the finding aids we have posted.
  3. Check the Army History Frequently Asked Questions page to see if we have posted an answer to your question.
  4. Check the Online Bookshelves area of the site to see if you can glean the information from some of the reference materials we have posted.
  5. If you are trying to locate a living veteran, or a Veterans' group, please contact the Department of Veteran's Affairs.
(Please note that CMH does not maintain a list of Veterans' Groups or endorse any such organization. Problems with contact information should be directed to the VA.)
 

After following this procedure, first speak to a local reference librarian for assistance. Many of the most basic questions about the U.S. Army can be answered with standard reference materials or by requesting specialized literature through interlibrary loan. Local libraries are one of our nation's most valuable resources and should be the first stop for anyone interested in pursuing research in military history.

 

If Still Requiring Assistance


The CMH inquiries team is not staffed to conduct extensive research but will attempt to answer questions. In cases where information is not readily available in our holdings we may direct researchers to other possible sources of information. Before sending an email to the address below, please be advised of the following:

  1. RESPONSE TIME: Due to current budgetary constraints, our ability to answer the many questions we receive has been curtailed. For that reason, we must prioritize our responses. Inquiries from Army units and commands, DoD organizations, and other government agencies will be answered first; all others will be addressed as time and resources permit. We apologize for any inconvenience and hope the current situation will be temporary.
  2. CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRIES: If you are inquiring from the office of a member of Congress, please direct your question to the Office of Congressional Legislative Liaison (OCLL) rather than directly to the US Army Center of Military History. Thank you.
  3. MEDAL OF HONOR: For information on Medal of Honor recipients visit the Congressional Medal of Honor Society; or for specific issues email the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Awards and Decorations Branch (usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.tagd-ask-hrc@army.mil). Please do not contact CMH ANSWERS regarding Medal of Honor issues.
  4. LINEAGE AND HONORS INFORMATION: Preparation of lineage and honors certificates (and posting of such information to CMH Online) IS NOT AUTOMATIC. Commanders of currently active MTOE units can submit a request to CMH on unit letterhead for the preparation of a new lineage and honors certificate. Requests should include a return mailing address and point of contact. Only after the certificate has been prepared will the lineage information be posted to CMH Online. Lineage information for inactive units will not be posted to CMH Online. Lineage information posted to CMH Online will not be updated to reflect changes in unit status (such as an inactivation) or honors until a new certificate has been prepared at the request of the unit commander. Please see the policies and restrictions regarding posted lineage information.
 

On-Site Research Appointment Requests


For on-site research appointment requests at the U.S. Army Center of Military History (CMH) Library and Archives, Fort McNair, Washington, DC, please e-mail usarmy.mcnair.cmh.mbx.cmh-research-appointment-request@army.mil.

All researchers must request an appointment at least one week in advance when planning a visit to the CMH Library and Archives. CMH does not accommodate any walk-in researchers. Please note that CMH is a secured facility with controlled access.

Research hours are available from 8:00 am – 3:30 pm Monday – Friday, dependent on staffing level and availability.

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External Links Disclaimer - The appearance of hyperlinks to external sites does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Army of the linked web site or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation sites, the Department of the U.S. Army does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this web site.

Migration Notice - The Center for Military History has recently completed the initial migration process to a new content management system (CMS). Please note that not all content has been migrated over yet, but it will be gradually transferred over time. If you are unable to find specific content, feel free to send us an inquiry, and our team would be happy to assist you in locating the information you need.

Inquiries - For inquiries related to organizational history, military programs, or research at the U.S. Army Center of Military History (CMH), please email CMH Answers at usarmy.mcnair.cmh.mbx.answers@army.mil. Due to high correspondence volume, response times may vary. Before reaching out, review the Army Records Master List, FAQs, and Online Bookshelves. On-site research appointments require one week’s notice. For more information, please visit the CMH website at https://history.army.mil/About-CMH/Inquiries-and-Visitor-Policy/.