Where has my M38 been?

groundhog · Post by **groundhog** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 5:51 am

Is there a way to find out where my jeep has been in it's past history, if I don't have ordinance info, but only the serial number? My serial number is MC14037. Thanks

Post by **wesk** » Sat Nov 01, 2014 8:24 am

Hi Ron,

First off, the military kept records of their wheeled vehicles by their registration number and not their serial number.

Unfortunately when the military declares a vehicle surplus to it's needs they only retain the records on that vehicle at most 6 months. So using the serial number on your jeep is no help. The only clue to your jeeps whereabouts during it's life are what you find in and on the jeep. In rare instances if you were lucky to have found remnants of your jeeps registration numbers you can search the internet and museums for old photos hoping to see your registration number. If you found unit ID numbers under those layers of paint on your jeep then you have a small chance to discover where your jeep may have been.

groundhog · Post by **groundhog** » Mon Nov 03, 2014 2:17 pm

O.K. I know that I don't have much to go on, and it isn't necessary to find that out, but I just thought that it would have been interesting to know. Thanks for your help.

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Tue Nov 04, 2014 9:23 am

If your vehicle has been titled, you might be able to
backtrack owners and the first to title might let you
know where it came from. It's a small chance, but
look at us!

Jim in Darkest Arkansas

Post by **wesk** » Tue Nov 04, 2014 9:43 am

When released as surplus the jeep would have been transferred on a SF97 form. That form will only ID the DRMO office that effected the sale and not necessarily the last military unit that had possession. The DRMO's (Defense Re-utilization and Marketing Office's are regional. One office will serve as an outlet for surplus from several dozen bases and government agencies. For example the northern plains DRMO at Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City SD serviced all agencies in ND, SD, Neb, WY, and part of MT. So if you find your jeep was released on an SF 97 by the Ellsworth DRMO that does mean it was used by Ellsworth, AFB.