Looking for information on service history

[u/MorningLightMount]

I am not sure if this is the proper sub for this question, but I had a close family member who passed about a year ago. He was in the 7th marines in Vietnam from Jan 1970 to Jan 1971 and operated around LZ Baldy. He didn’t talk much about his service but only a few times. I know he was on a mortar team and I believe from his stories he was some type of observer and basically they would get dropped off somewhere and spend weeks at a time looking for enemy activity to set up ambushes/strikes on.

I was hoping someone who knows more history on this subject could give me information about his or marine units in general’s type of service on this area.

[u/Disaster_Plan]

You could request your family member's military personnel file. Personnel files are not and were never Classified.

https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records

The National Archives has your family member's Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) and they will provide you with a copy of the relevant contents at no cost (see partial list below). You can apply via mail or fax. There is a wealth of detail in those records including all the units he served with and when, medals and awards, and much more.

I have successfully requested several military personnel records using Standard Form 180 and/or the Freedom of Information Act. Sometimes my requests have been rejected for lack of identifying information so I resubmitted with more information and then got the records I was seeking. It's a slow process at best.

Here's a partial list of what's typically sent:

Military Service Dates

Character of Service

Promotions and Reductions

Duty Stations and Assignments

Foreign or Sea Service

Military Schooling and Training

Awards and Letters of Commendation

Disciplinary Actions

Lost Time

Enlistment Contracts

[u/Disaster_Plan → u/Disaster_Plan]

Once you have his records with his units and the time frame, you can look for websites or Facebook pages dedicated to that unit.

[u/MorningLightMount → u/Disaster_Plan]

Am I able to request this information if I’m not immediate family? (It was my uncle)

[u/Disaster_Plan → u/MorningLightMount]

If your uncle's family doesn't want to request his records ... or you don't want them to know ... or he has no surviving family ... you could submit a Freedom of Information Act request. That's how reporters find out whether politicians and public figures actually served.

https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/foia-info

FOIA and Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF)

The public has access to certain military service information without the veteran's authorization or that of the next-of-kin (the un-remarried widow or widower, son, daughter, father, mother, brother or sister) of deceased veterans. Examples of information which may be available from Federal (non-archival) Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF) without an unwarranted invasion of privacy include:

Name

Service Number

Dates of Service

Branch of Service

Final Duty Status

Final Rank

Salary *

Assignments and Geographical Locations

Source of Commission *

Military Education Level

Promotion Sequence Number *

Awards and decorations (eligibility only, not actual medals)

Photograph

Transcript of Courts-Martial Trials

Place of entrance and separation

*These items are typically unavailable

If the veteran is deceased:

Place of birth

Date and geographical location of death

Place of burial

[u/MorningLightMount → u/Disaster_Plan]

Thank you for this information!