Utah County (Utah). County Recorder Military discharges, 1924-1971.

Since 1923, Utah Code has provided that upon presentation, the county recorder shall record honorable discharges from the military, naval, or marine service of the United States , and any honor relating to a person while in the military service of the United States. County recorders' copies are considered evidence with the same effect as the original (Utah Code, 17-21-14, 2000). Military discharge records include extensive personal information as well as military service and discharge information. Discharges were filed in the order they were brought in for recording without regard for actual date of discharge. World War I discharges are not only included in the first book, but are peppered throughout the series.

Discharge records kept by the Utah County recorder include a variety of forms, but their content is similar. Personal information usually includes name, date and place of birth, race, marital status, occupation, education, character notes, physical description, immunizationrecords, notes on personal marks or identifications, and notes on general physical condition at the time of discharge. Military and discharge information includes such things as date and place of induction, military serial number, grade, rank, branch of service, evaluation of military skills, military decorations, citations and awards, military campaigns participated in, and wounds received in battle, date, reason, and location of discharge, home address or other destination, travel allowance, pay and insurance data, and the signature of a discharging officer. Early Utah County discharges are typed transcriptions of the information on the discharge (Book 247). After 1945, (all subsequent books) the county recorder filed photocopies of original discharge papers.