HHC, US ARMY RECORDS CENTER, ST LOUIS, MO

• Origins in Record Keeping: The HHC (Headquarters and Headquarters Company), US Army Records Center in St. Louis, MO, traces its roots to Army efforts after World War II to centralize military personnel records and historical documents. • The National Personnel Records Center: The unit played a key role in the operations of the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), which houses millions of military personnel files. • The 1973 Fire: In July 1973, a catastrophic fire at the St. Louis facility destroyed approximately 16-18 million Official Military Personnel Files, making it one of the worst archival disasters in U.S. history. • Vital for Veterans’ Benefits: HHC personnel have helped process and recover documentation for thousands of veterans seeking benefits, pensions, and service medals. • Guardians of Army History: The unit is responsible for safeguarding historic Army records dating back to early 20th century and sometimes earlier, providing a vital resource for historians and genealogists. • Disaster Recovery: Following the 1973 fire, HHC and NPRC personnel innovated new techniques in document restoration, including freeze-drying and painstaking manual reconstruction. • Daily Operations: The HHC supports large-scale archival, administrative, and research operations, processing thousands of records requests every week. • Unique Structure: As an HHC, the unit provides command, administrative, and logistical support to both military and civilian personnel assigned to the records center. • Supporting Military Justice: The Records Center has supplied critical records for legal proceedings, including courts-martial and war crimes investigations. • A Living Memorial: Many memorial projects and military museums rely on the US Army Records Center for authentic documentation of soldiers’ service, helping to tell the Army’s story to future generations.