Deck Logs And Crew Rosters
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
901 M STREET SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Crew Member Information

The Naval Historical Center does not have custody of crew lists or current addresses for former crew members. However, this information can be compiled from several sources. The names of the officers usually appear on the first page of each month's deck log. The enlisted men assigned to a naval ship or command are listed on muster rolls which were also submitted monthly.

The Textual Reference Branch, National Archives, Washington, DC 20374 (202-501-5671) holds copies of the deck logs from 1801 through December 1940 , as well as microfilm copies of the muster rolls through 1938.
The Textual Reference Branch, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001 has custody of the deck logs from 1 January 1941 through 1961, as well as microfilm copies of the muster rolls from 1939 through 1966. In some cases in the 1950's and 1960's, a list of the officers is included with the muster rolls. The Textual Reference Branch at College Park also has custody of the Bureau of Naval Personnel Casualty Files, which have the official list of Navy casualties for each World War II action. By using the list of officers in the deck logs and the muster rolls, one can compile a list of the crew. Then by using the crew list and the list of Casualties the names of the survivors of a World War II ship or vessel can be created.

The deck logs from 1962 through 1978, and from 1990 to the present are at the Washington National Records Center, but access to them is controlled by the Deck Logs Section, Ships History Branch, Naval Historical Center, 901 M Street SE, Washington, DC 20374-5060 (202-433-0824). From 1979 through 1989, the logs only exist on microfiche which is held by the Deck Logs Section. For specific informationt contact the that office.

The muster rolls from 1967 to 1974 are in the custody of the Bureau of Naval Personnel (Pers-0243). Washington, DC 20370. From 1975 to the present, the muster rolls are held by the Enlisted Personnel Management Center, Diary Control/Research Branch (Code 312), New Orleans, LA 70159.

Basic Reunion Information
Individuals have had success in locating former and retired military personnel by placing advertisements or reunion notices in military oriented periodicals such as those appearing on the attached list. These magazines have a combined circulation of over one million and their readership includes many former and retired military personnel. The editors of the magazines should be contacted separately about placing advertisements.

For those that have access to a CD-ROM drive, PHONE-DISC, which costs approximately $100, provides the names, addresses and phone numbers for all people listed in the U.S. telephone books.

The Armed Forces World-Wide locators will forward letters to former members of the Navy, receiving retirement pay for active duty or reserve service. For this assistance, one should place their letter in a stamped envelope with just the name of the retired serviceman on the front and with no return address to: Navy Reserve Personnel Center, 4400 Dauphin Street, New Orleans, LA 70149.

The United States Naval Institute in Annapolis, Maryland has established a reunion hot line (410-295-1023) that is operated by Ann Hassinger. The American Legion maintains a reunion service, VETS (900-737-8387). For $1.95 per minute, operators are on call Monday through Friday from 1 pm to 9 pm Eastern Standard Time to provide information on scheduled reunions registered with The American Legion magazine. The average call takes two minutes.

Military Reunion News Co-Op Mail, P.O. Box 55, Bulverde, TX 78163-0355 (210) 438-4177 can provide searches for individual reunions. They request that you provide a self-addressed stamped envelope with all reunion search requests.
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