National Archives at St. Louis

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Officer Pay Cards

The National Archives at St. Louis maintains Pay Cards and Vouchers for Army service members from World War I and World War II. The records may contain the following information: in-date, out-date, rank and muster out pay. These records are an invaluable source for reconstructing basic service information.  

See examples of the information that may be found on these records in the following samples.

Accordion

Single Name Final Pay Vouchers created during World War I and World War II are an alternate source of service information in the event a file was lost in the 1973 fire. The following examples assist to interpret the information that can be found in these records.

Information located within easily identifiable fields in these records includes:

The veteran's serial (service) number (if available) is typically found in the following location on the pay voucher:
  • Name
  • Rank
  • Unit assignment at discharge
  • Date and place of enlistment
  • Place and date of discharge
  • Character of service
  • Discharge authority
  • Indication of foreign service (if applicable)
  • Signature of veteran
  1. World War I: first page of the final pay voucher as indicated by the number "I" on the attached sample
  2. World War II: second page by the veteran's name
WWI Single Name Pay Voucher with number 1WWII Single Name Final Pay Voucher with number 2

 

 

Single Name Final Pay Vouchers created during the later years of World War II are an alternate source of service information in the event a file was lost in the 1973 fire. The following examples assist to interpret the information that can be found in these records.

Information located within easily identifiable fields in these records includes:

The following information may also be available. The numbers below correspond with the numbers on the following samples.
  • Name
  • Serial number
  • Grade or rank
  • Home address (generally valid for three months following discharge)
  • Unit assignment at discharge
  • Place and date of entry
  • Place and date of discharge
  • Previous organization
  • Character of service
  • Discharge authority
  • Years of service
  • Signature of veteran
 1. The remarks may include any number of pieces of information, including payment allotments, and previous transfers.
2. Army component
3. Indication of overseas service (date arrived U.S.).
4. Mustering-out pay ($300 indicates at least 60 days of active service, pait of which was served outside the continental US, including Alaska and Hawaii; $200 indicates at least 60 days of active service within the continental US; $100 indicates less than 60 days of active service) Receipt of MOP is an indication of an honorable discharge.
WWII Single Name Final Pay Voucher for Later Years

 

Multiple Name Final Pay Vouchers created during World War I and World War II are an alternate source of service information in the event a file was lost in the 1973 fire. The following examples assist to interpret the information that can be found in these records.

These records list multiple personnel on multiple pages.  Personnel are generally arranged by rank (for example, all corporals are listed together and all sergeants are listed together) under each character of discharge.

Information located within easily identifiable fields in these records includes:

The following information may also be available. The numbers below correspond with the numbers on the following samples.
  • Name
  • Service number
  • Date of enlistment, induction, or call to active duty (World War II only)
  1. The front cover provides the place (1a) and date (1b) of discharge of all personnel associated with a pay voucher.
  2. This line, which may also appear at the top of each page, may show the character of service and the discharge authority.
  3. The narrative following an individual's name and service number may show, if applicable:
    • Date when last paid
    • Rank when transferred to discharge station
    • Last unit
    • Arrival date at discharge station
    • Arrival date in United States (if overseas)
    • Various monies due
    • City/state to which being transported
    • Mustering out pay (MOP), which applies to World War II only and is an indication of an honorable discharge (NOTE: $300 indicates at least 60 days of active service, part of which was served outside the continental US, including Alaska and Hawaii, $200 indicates at least 60 days of active service within the continental US; $100 indicates less than 60 days of active service).
  4. Signature of veteran

 

Multiple Name Pay Voucher with numbers 1a and 1bMultiple Name Pay Voucher with numbers 2, 3, and 4

 

Officers' final pay vouchers and cards created during World War II are an alternate source of service information in the event a file was lost in the 1973 fire. The following examples assist to interpret the information that can be found in these records.

Information located within easily identifiable fields in these records includes:

The following information may also be available. The numbers below correspond with the numbers on the following samples.

• Name
• Serial number
• Grade or rank
• Branch of service
• Indication and name of dependents, if any
• Date entered active duty
• Place from where ordered to active duty
• Years of service
• Mailing address
• Signature of veteran
• Prior enlistment service

 1. Army component
2. Mustering-out pay ($300 indicates at least 60 days of active service, part of which was served outside the continental US, including Alaska and Hawaii; $200 indicates at least 60 days of active service within the continental US; $100 indicates less than 60 days of active service).
3. Discharge order
4. Date relieved from active duty
5. Dependent(s)
6. Career progression via promotions (on pay cards only)
7. Discharge authority

 

 

Officer Pay Voucher with numbers 1, 2, and 7 Officer Pay Voucher with number 4 Officer Pay Voucher with number 3 Officer Pay Card with numbers 5 and 6

 

Officer Pay Cards / Enlisted Pay Vouchers (Army), Holdings:

  • Enlisted Pay Vouchers (WWI), 1917 to 1921
  • Enlisted Pay Vouchers (WWII), 1926 to 1963
  • Officer Pay Cards, Army (WWI), 1917 to 1921
  • Officer Pay Cards, Army (WWII), 1940 to 1951
     

 

What is the difference between archival and Federal (non-archival) records?   Learn more
 

Access to Pay Records:

It is essential to collect as much information from old personal papers before submitting a request for records from fire-related collections. Good information helps identify which sources to research for reconstructing basic service data. If an insufficient background is received, the requester will be asked to provide additional information.

You may access the record by:

 

How do I submit a written request for copies of records?

Federal law [5 USC 552a(b)] requires that all requests for records and information be submitted in writing. For us to locate military records, please submit as much of the following information, as applies to the type of record being requested: the veteran's complete name as used in service; service number; branch of service; date and place of birth; dates of service - or units or outfits; complete organizational designation (company/battery, battalion, and regiment; squadron, group, wing, etc.); geographical location (camp, base, and country).

To obtain a copy of a record, a requestor may:

  • Mail a letter to:
    National Archives at St. Louis, PO Box 38757, St. Louis, MO 63138
  • Email: Stl.archives@nara.gov
  • Fax a letter or Standard Form 180 to 314-801-9195

Please Note, the veteran's or next-of-kin's signature is not required on a request to obtain copies of archival records.

Copy Fees:

Generally, there is no charge for basic military personnel and health record information provided to veterans, next-of-kin, and authorized representatives from non-archival records. However, the NARA fee schedule authorizes the Agency to collect fees from the public for copies of archival records (44 USC 2116c and 44 USC 2307).

Mailed and Faxed Archival Requests:

A mailed or faxed request requires the purchase of a COMPLETE photocopy of the record.

  • 5 pages or less: $20 flat fee
  • 6 pages or more: $60 flat fee

Visitors to the Archival Research Room:

There is no fee to request and review an archival record in the Archival Research Room. So too, any number of pages may be copied for a per-page fee.

  • Paper-to-paper copy made by Attendant: $ .75 per page and $2.90 per microform to a paper copy
     
  • Self service copies are $ .20 per paper to paper copy and $ .50 per microform to paper copy

If you or your designated representative decide to review the records, please notify the Archival Research Room in advance of your visit so we can make the necessary arrangements.

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