Nebraska Military Records
This entry was originally written by Marsha Hoffman Rising, CG, FUGA, FASG and Dwight A. Radford for Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources.
The Nebraska State Historical Society has specialized collections concerning military veterans and microfilm of the government records. The following are examples.
Among the more specialized collections not produced by the U.S. Government are the records of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). The Grand Army of the Republic Membership Rosters (the Nebraska Department of the Grand Army of the Republic Membership Files) give the name of each member, dates of military service, the unit and state from which he served, GAR post number, and Nebraska post office address of union Civil War Veterans. The GAR Burial Records consist of an alphabetical file of Civil War veterans buried in Nebraska that lists the military unit of service, date of death, place of burial, and often the place of birth.
'Rosters of Nebraska Soldiers in the Civil War (1861'65)' were published in Andreas's 1882, History of Nebraska (see Background Sources for Nebraska). It includes rosters of those persons serving in Nebraska units and Indian Campaigns on the Plains (1861'69). These rosters list names, dates of service, Nebraska residence, and remarks. These have been included in a database at Ancestry.com as 'Nebraska Volunteers, 1861'69.'
'Rosters of Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines (1887'1925)' were printed and published by the secretary of state from information furnished by county clerks and assessors. These rosters give name, unit designation, and post office address. An online database at Ancestry.com covers 'Nebraska Resident Military Roster on June 1, 1891,' which includes a roster of soldiers, sailors, and marines from the War of 1812, Mexican War, and the Civil War who resided in the state on that date.
FamilySearch.org has a variety of collections available for free online:
The war service cards for the 1898 Spanish-American War provide name, birthplace, age or birth date, residence, dates of service and assigned unit of Nebraskans. Included in these records are the enlistment and service records for Nebraskans who served in the Philippine War and the Insurrection that followed (1898'1902). World War I service cards are also available and provide name, serial number, residence, age or birth date, and dates of service of Nebraskans. A World War II servicemen index cites references to Nebraska servicemen from local newspapers in the state.
