World War II or Korean War Bonus Records Request

For this service library staff will look for a World War II or Korean War Bonus Record for a service member who was a Minnesota resident at time of enlistment. 

Note for World War Two records
The microfilmed copies are often blurry, out of focus, and hard to read. Staff are unable to improve the legibility of the records.

Price 
$10 - this fee covers research and scans of records. Refunds will not be issued after research has commenced.

Processing fee
The price of this service includes a non-refundable processing fee of $5. This is not an additional charge; however, if your order is cancelled for any reason, the Minnesota Historical Society will retain that amount.

Delivery 
Via email. Scans are made at 300 dpi and sent as PDFs.

Turnaround 
Research is usually completed and sent within three to four weeks, but in some circumstances it may take as long as twelve weeks.

About this research service:
In 1949 the Minnesota legislature authorized bonus payments to Minnesota residents who served honorably in the U.S. armed forces for at least 30 consecutive days between December 7, 1941 and September 2, 1945, or to their beneficiaries. The initial deadline for bonus applications was December 31, 1950, but it was eventually extended to December 3, 1953. 

Bonus files may include information on the applicant's military service, residence, and proof of honorable discharge. Bonus records are typically two to four pages long. Beneficiary files, for family members applying for the bonus payment of a deceased service member, may include additional supporting documents.

More information on World War II records held by the Minnesota Historical Society can be found on the Military Service Records Research Guide.

Please see below for an example of what some of these records look like: