Originally Posted By: GLS
I don't think DNA was taken in the civil war, George, or even in the Vietnam area. Best they could get was blood type and finger prints for us. DNA identification for military evolved in the first Gulf War.


Doing a quick search, it would appear that the above is the correct answer: DNA samples weren't collected before 1991. If you served subsequent to that time, DNA was supposed to be collected upon enlistment, reenlistment, or prior to deployment. Bot Active and Reserve. I was in the Army Reserve until 1998. But as an officer, I neither enlisted nor reenlisted during that period. My unit was alerted for Bosnia, but we didn't go and never began actual preparation for deployment. So it looks like they missed me.