Can we talk for a moment about the reality of Fold3 and military records? I’ve observed in a number of Facebook genealogy groups that people have no idea what Fold3 really contains or how it can help with your research. Additionally, most people have no idea how to actually research WWI or WWII military service.
The most common responses I see to a WWI or WWII research question in genealogy groups is “Fold3 has military records.” “All the records burned so good luck.” “Go to Fold3 they have everything you need.” It’s time to set the record straight.
Researching World War I and World War II Service
There is an actual strategy to researching 20th century military research. It’s something I developed 15 years ago and anyone can use it and find answers to reconstruct service, even if the records burned.
Part 1 – Locate individual and ship/company details to reconstruct ships/stations or units through which someone moved. Records to assist with this include but are not limited to: Official Military Personnel File, WWI Burial File, WWII Individual Deceased Personnel File. Army/Army Air Force Morning Reports. Rosters and Payroll Records. Naval Muster Rolls. Marine Corps Muster Rolls. Merchant Marine personnel files. Aviation Accident Reports.
Using the above files and more you can create a timeline of service to reconstruct and compile the puzzle pieces. Remember – everyone is reconstructing service even with a full service file. OMPFs or service files provide puzzle pieces but little context to the actual experience. This is where Part 2 comes in.
Part 2 – Find the context. This means you want to know what the veteran experienced while in service. You will find this in unit/regimental histories, Journals, Diaries, Maps, Photographs, Messages, Action Reports, and so many more records.
These records will tell you about the battles, sometimes in graphic details. They may tell you about wounds or deaths. You will be able to piece together the experience.
The Reality of Fold3
While Fold3 has military records from the Revolutionary War to the late 1900s. If we are focusing strictly on World War I or World War II records, you are going to find the Part 2 – contextual records on this website. That said, there are some individual records to help you create your timeline of service. But in general – you aren’t going to search Fold3 and find your veteran’s service history. Even if you discover someone has written a Memorial – make sure you do the work yourself to verify what is there is accurate. So many memorials are thrown together with basic online only details and leave a lot out or are incorrect because the researcher doesn’t know how to research.
Records You Might Use on Fold3
This is not an exhaustive list but common records people seek to find individual details and context.
- Draft Cards
- Hospital Admission Indexes
- Red Cross Nurse Files
- WWII War Diaries
- European Theater Records
- Ship or Army Transport manifests
- Death indexes and cemetery lists
- Donated Unit Records from various WWII Reunion Association Groups
- Missing Air Crew Reports – MACRs
- World War I Army Morning Reports
- Naval and Marine Corps Muster Rolls
And so much more. Fold3 also provides excellent details about each record set they publish so be sure to read that.
The bottom line is – yes Fold3 can provide some great resources but it is not the end all be all for your military needs. Much of what you still need is sitting in an archive or buried in NARA Catalog.
If you’d like to learn how to better search Fold3 and NARA Catalog or learn my 2-part research strategy, I am teaching small group coaching sessions. Each session is focused on a specific military branch like the upcoming Army Records Small Group Coaching in May 2026. You will learn the 2-part strategy, how to build a timeline, and find context specific to Army records. Want to learn how to search WWII Morning Reports with ease on NARA Catalog – register for my Army Morning Report small group coaching.
I also have general WWII Q&A sessions, POW sessions, and WWII Death Record sessions. Explore all at my online course site Ancestral Souls Wisdom School and be sure to visit the FREEBIE page to join the newsletter. Every week I send out reminders of upcoming programs, discounts on classes, and tips, websites, and resources to help you move your research and writing forward.
As always, I take research clients and book clients. I ghost write books for private and for-sale family projects. Email info@wwiirwc.com to set up a free consult to discuss your project.
© 2026 WWII Research and Writing Center
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