Over the last 16 years, the ability to obtain copies of the World War II Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) has changed often. You can track a lot of those changes through my website by searching ‘IDPF’ as I have articles dating back to 2015 when I first launched this specific website. You may also find information I wrote on other websites, in articles and blogs that show the history of access and movement of these files. As a reminder, whenever you find information on accessing military records online, you need to Check the Date.
While there has been a lot of frustration over access, lengthy delays, and at times, the inability to even obtain these files, now you can get them without having to hire a researcher. However, if you need additional records, then hiring a researcher is a good idea because we can access things faster and obtain information you may not know exists.
The IDPF is the first file you should be accessing if you are researching someone who died while in military service. This file exists for World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. If you are researching someone who died in World War I – you need the Burial File. Several options exist to obtain these files.
Access the IDPF through NARA Catalog
As of the date of this article, 8 July 2026, you will find just shy of 7,000 IDPFs available on the NARA Catalog. These contain some of the files from surnames A-C.
Individual Deceased Personnel Files, 1939–1953
Access the file through a private website
Many unit Reunion Associations, private researchers, and genealogists along with non-profits, host IDPFs on their websites. Use your favorite search engine to see if the file is online somewhere.
For example, the 7th Armored Division is one Association site site that has digitized all records for that Division, except for the OMPFs (service files). If your fallen served with the 7th Armored – his IDPF will be on their website.
Request the IDPF from the NPRC
Finally, the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis has all the IDPFs. To request, send an email to stl.archives@nara.gov Don’t request more than five names at a time. Be sure to provide full name, service/serial number, birth and death dates and unit/ship if you have it for additional clarification. Military records and databases do contain errors so the more information you can provide, the easier it will be on the archivist searching for the files you need.
Would You Like to Learn More?
Join my newsletter list at my online course site and grab a free copy of my new PDF The Research Roadmap. This will guide you through the information you need to start a project and which classes to take to move your research forward.
If you would like to learn how to research, click here to see upcoming small group coaching sessions to learn how to use Fold3, NARA Catalog, research Army or Navy service, discover more about military death records and the IDPF, find POW records, and more. These sessions come with extensive workbooks, plenty of Q&A for attendees, my 2-part research strategy and the replay. Need a researcher? I am taking research and book clients – email jennifer@ancestralsouls.com to set up a free consult to discuss your project.
© 2026 WWII Research and Writing Center
Leave a Reply