Steve:
A person not a descendant of a veteran can obain the veteran's service record from the National Personnel Service Center. The record contains abbreviated information.
Here is the Center url:
http://www.archives.gov/facilities/m...l_records.html
and there note this text:
"This site is provided for those seeking information regarding military personnel, health and medical records stored at NPRC (MPR). If you are a veteran or next-of-kin of a deceased veteran, you may now use vetrecs.archives.gov to order a copy of your military records. For all others, your request is best made using a Standard Form 180. It includes complete instructions for preparing and submitting requests."
I did this for a veteran to whom I was not related and whose capture paper appeared on this forum more than a year ago. I received a response, however, it took 11 months for the response to arrive. To see the resulting partial record, look on this forum under "All P-08 Military Lugers." Go to the second page of threads under this title and you will see the title, "ok gents... here it is, a vet bring back" and then on the second page under this thread view the "tudorbug" entry dated 03/15/05.
Hope this is small help. If you have more questions, please ask. I'll be happy to respond.
David
David