I learned this morning that Reclaim the Records won a lawsuit to provide access to the BIRLS records for our veterans. Their new BIRLS website allows you to search and submit a FOIA request for the C-File (Veterans Claims File).
From their website:
The Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) database was originally created and maintained by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (the VA). It provides an index to basic biographical information on more than 18 million deceased American veterans who received some sort of veterans benefits in their lifetime, including health care, disability or life insurance policies, educational benefits (the GI Bill), mortgage assistance (VA loans), and more. The BIRLS database includes people who served in all branches of the US military, including some branches that no longer exist, such as the Women’s Army Corps (WACs) and the Army Air Corps, as well as a few associated non-military groups and government agencies, such as NOAA. It even includes files for some non-US nationals, including veterans of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Scouts and Guerillas, who served prior to and during the Second World War.
When you prepare the forms to submit the FOIA request, there are many bullet points to read to make sure you understand the type of data you may receive. This may include mental health, sexual health, sensitive medical information, and other details. The form ends with you, the requestor, needing to acknowledge by checking a box that you understand the following:
You, the FOIA requester, therefore understand that these files might contain all sorts of information which might be considered sensitive, objectionable, upsetting, disparaging, invasive, or otherwise cause you or the veteran’s family members or heirs distress. If you are not okay with the possibility of learning this kind of information, then you should not make a FOIA request for this kind of file, and you should hit the cancel button now.
Once the request is submitted they send you an email with further information. It will likely take 6-8 weeks for the VA to even respond. There is also information provided throughout the process on what to do if you get an overly redacted file or they say they have nothing.
When we understand through the research, our veteran’s service experience and the VA File, their medical and mental health treatment, we may find more empathy or compassion for those who served. Let’s hope this provides families with more answers so we can begin to tell the stories, preserve the memories, learn lessons, and heal our families and ourselves.
If you would like to start a research project, email me at info@wiirwc.com and let’s set up a free phone consult to discuss your project.
2025 is a big year. We have the 80th Anniversaries of the end of World War II in Europe and the Pacific. Many families, organizations, museums, radio and television shows, podcasts, and genealogy societies will be seeking stories about the veterans who fought and died to preserve our freedom. Have you written your story or book? Are you ready to share your veteran’s story? If not, I can help.
The World War II Research & Writing Center along with the other side of my business, the Ancestral Souls Wisdom School is here to help you write and publish your book. Unlike other military research firms who provide records only, we can also help you tell your story.
Preserve and honor the remarkable stories of yourself, your ancestors, veterans, and the legacies they’ve left behind. We understand the importance of capturing and sharing these unique narratives that span generations. Our mission is to guide you through the process of unearthing and documenting your family’s rich history, while also providing a supportive environment to explore and heal from generational and war trauma. Depending on the type of writing project you choose, we have PDF guides to help you stay on track.
Want to publish your veteran or family member’s story but you’re not a writer? Let me help you! I ghost write book content for people. Your name appears as the author on your published book.
Veteran Chronicles
Pay tribute to the brave men and women who served their country by capturing their invaluable experiences. We specialize in collecting family accounts, photographs, and genealogical and military records to create comprehensive narratives that honor their sacrifices. By sharing their stories, we ensure their bravery and resilience will forever be remembered.
Family Storytelling and Memoir
Unlock the hidden chapters of your story or your family’s past as skilled genealogists, military researchers, and storytellers work diligently to piece together the puzzle of your ancestry. Through meticulous research, personal interviews, genealogical tools, and archival exploration, we’ll reveal the untold stories and forgotten details, connecting you to your roots and heritage.
Trauma Integration
Generational and war trauma can have a profound impact on individuals and families. We are here to guide you through the process of identifying, understanding, and healing from these deep wounds. By incorporating trauma-informed approaches into the storytelling process, we strive to create a safe space for exploration, reflection, and growth.
Publishing Services
Once your family story or veteran chronicle is complete, we offer a range of publishing services to help you bring your narratives to life. From editing and book design to printing and distribution, our experienced publishing team will assist you at every step. We’ll ensure your family’s stories receive the recognition they deserve.
Developmental Editing
Developmental editing is a comprehensive and collaborative process designed to enhance the overall structure, content, and impact of your manuscript. You can expect a meticulous examination of your manuscript. We will delve deep into the heart of your story, analyzing its strengths and weaknesses. We focus on big-picture elements such as plot, character development, pacing, tone, and thematic consistency, ensuring your story resonates with your target audience. We provide valuable insights and suggestions to help you strengthen your manuscript.
Raising Awareness for a Belgian Family & a Valuable Museum
Have you heard of the Remember 39-45 Museum? My guess is probably not unless you’ve visited Belgium and someone told you about this World War II museum near the ABMC cemetery Henri-Chapelle. It is a small museum, visited by appointment only.
I visited this museum over a couple of days in October 2015 after hearing about it from some Dutch World War II grave adoption friends. It is run by Marcel and Mathilde Schmetz, The “M&M’s”.
The M&M’s have an incredible story and their life mission for decades has been to honor our soldiers who liberated Europe. They also have a special place in their hearts for the 1st Infantry Division and those soldiers who stayed at the Schmetz farm during the fall of 1944.
When I visited, Mathilde and Marcel told me about the history of the museum and many stories they have saved over the years. Marcel built the museum and made by hand, many things it contains. Together, the couple gathered photos and stories, artifacts, books, documents, and vehicles, to preserve for future generations. They host veterans from all branches and wars and keep the memories of our World War II soldiers alive.
In their cozy kitchen, they have a Bench of Honor where the soldiers sat during the war. Today, all visitors get to sit on the bench. Sitting on that bench enjoying warm soup on a rain day, Mathilde told me they had no legacy plan. Meaning when they passed away, there was no plan for the museum to continue. Fast forward to today and there still is no plan, but one man, Tom Stein, is trying to change that.
Mathilde Schmetz and Jennifer Holik on the Bench of Honor, October 2015.
Tom Stein, a retired Army Doctor, visited the M&M’s multiple times while he was stationed in Germany. He made it his mission to tell their story and is also attempting to get an American foundation to fund and run the Remember Museum when the time is right so the stories, photos, and all of Marcel’s hard work, are not lost to history. To help achieve his goal, he spent countless hours interviewing M&M and local Belgians in order to write a book called, Gratitude is Not Enough.
Having visited the museum and met the M&M’s I was particularly interested in Tom’s book. I read it before going to Cantigny, where the 1st Division Museum is, in Winfield, Illinois last week.
Tom told the audience the story of World War II in Belgium in general and as it related to the Schmetz family. We learned about each of the Schmetz family members and the traumas they endured during the annexation of their part of Belgium to Germany. He told us about local citizens he had interviewed.
We also learned about the 1st Infantry Division and their stay at the Schmetz farm in the weeks that preceeded the Battle of the Bulge. The audience also learned of the love story between Marcel and Mathilde and the start of the Remember Museum. While I knew the story, reading the book and listening to Tom speak did make me shed a few tears. It’s vital we remember those who fought to liberate Europe. Tom is helping do this.
Have you heard of the Remember 39-45 Museum? My guess is probably not unless you’ve visited Belgium and someone told you about this World War II museum near the ABMC cemetery Henri-Chapelle. It is a small museum, visited by appointment only.
I visited this museum over a couple of days in October 2015 after hearing about it from some Dutch World War II grave adoption friends. It is run by Marcel and Mathilde Schmetz, The “M&M’s”.
The M&M’s have an incredible story and their life mission for decades has been to honor our soldiers who liberated Europe. They also have a special place in their hearts for the 1st Infantry Division and those soldiers who stayed at the Schmetz farm during the fall of 1944.
When I visited, Mathilde and Marcel told me about the history of the museum and many stories they have saved over the years. Marcel built the museum and made by hand, many things it contains. Together, the couple gathered photos and stories, artifacts, books, documents, and vehicles, to preserve for future generations. They host veterans from all branches and wars and keep the memories of our World War II soldiers alive.
In their cozy kitchen, they have a Bench of Honor where the soldiers sat during the war. Today, all visitors get to sit on the bench. Sitting on that bench enjoying warm soup on a rain day, Mathilde told me they had no legacy plan. Meaning when they passed away, there was no plan for the museum to continue. Fast forward to today and there still is no plan, but one man, Tom Stein, is trying to change that.
Mathilde Schmetz and Jennifer Holik on the Bench of Honor, October 2015.
Tom Stein, a retired Army Doctor, visited the M&M’s multiple times while he was stationed in Germany. He made it his mission to tell their story and is also attempting to get an American foundation to fund and run the Remember Museum when the time is right so the stories, photos, and all of Marcel’s hard work, are not lost to history. To help achieve his goal, he spent countless hours interviewing M&M and local Belgians in order to write a book called, Gratitude is Not Enough.
Having visited the museum and met the M&M’s I was particularly interested in Tom’s book. I read it before going to Cantigny, where the 1st Division Museum is, in Winfield, Illinois last week.
Tom told the audience the story of World War II in Belgium in general and as it related to the Schmetz family. We learned about each of the Schmetz family members and the traumas they endured during the annexation of their part of Belgium to Germany. He told us about local citizens he had interviewed.
We also learned about the 1st Infantry Division and their stay at the Schmetz farm in the weeks that preceeded the Battle of the Bulge. The audience also learned of the love story between Marcel and Mathilde and the start of the Remember Museum. While I knew the story, reading the book and listening to Tom speak did make me shed a few tears. It’s vital we remember those who fought to liberate Europe. Tom is helping do this.
Everyone has a story inside them. Most people die without ever telling those stories. Particularly the traumatic, intense, emotional, unprocessed stories. The stories that they feel no one will ever understand.
As a professional military researcher, countless people have told me when we talk about a project or they hear me teach, ‘My dad/uncle/grandpa….never talked about the war. I heard whispers, rumors, uncovered a secret and have more questions than answers. How could I possibly write a story?’
It is possible to write a story or book even if the veteran never spoke of his or her experience. But you absolutely must do the research first and obtain military records. Then, don’t overlook the small details that will make for a story worth reading and honoring the veteran’s service.
Tip #1: Obtain the military records.
It is so important you do the military research. I cannot stress this enough. It’s not enough to rely on whatever someone has put online and say that’s the story, especially if they don’t list sources. I see this on many websites and in many groups that are writing stories. They use what someone else wrote, whether it is right or wrong, and go with it. For most writers, only online research is done and you never really know if a story is accurate.
Now let’s go a level deeper. You know if someone puts bad/incorrect data on an Ancestry family tree and everyone copies it without thinking – that bad data is now out there not just on one tree but countless trees? The same is happening with military stories. Sites like Fold3 work with other sites like TogetherWeServed, to pull in what was written there – which may not be accurate either. Only once it’s on Fold3 it’s difficult to get anything edited so most people don’t ask or try.
Then when you have people pulling together research or writing stories, that just take what’s there as fact, even if it isn’t, you continue to spread the incorrect data. This happens on many websites. Copy and paste without thinking or verifying. It’s really important to verify rather than spread bad information.
For those who are writing about someone who died in war, getting the Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) is vital. I can’t stress this enough. If you don’t obtain this file you are missing out on information that is going to answer at least 75% of your initial research questions and the potential personal and family data, letters, and official documents that are included. To learn more about the IDPFand access, read my article at the WWII Research & Writing Center.
I realize not everyone has taken classes and learned how to research. We don’t know what we don’t know. I realize there are myths that all the records burned or you have to be a relative or immediate next of kin to get records. This really isn’t true today. There are so many options to obtain answers, you just need to educate yourself on how. If you’d like to learn how to research and write the stories, I have a six-webinar program with a private coaching session available called Honoring Our Heroes.
Tip #2: Discover & research the collaterals.
When you research the people who served with your veteran, you may uncover facts that will help your research. You may discover a wealth of information you didn’t know existed. Learn about new records you had not encountered. Find photos and contact info for others searching your veteran or the unit.
About 10 years ago I was working on a book, The Tiger’s Widow,and researched a co-pilot on a bomber that crashed 2 November 1943 in Austria. Fred Davis was the co-pilot. After a search online I found very little on him but when I searched the pilot’s name, I came across a website (that was taken down years later) that had an 800 page book about this mission and every plane and crew that flew. Documents, photos, plane details, death details. Everything. This author had exhausted American, German, and Austrian archives to write this book. He never published because he didn’t have rights to all the photos but he did give me a copy. It helped me expand my research.
Today as I’m writing a book for a client whose father was a Japanese POW for three years, I obtained the Individual Deceased Personnel Files (IDPFs) for a few of his commanding officers and those in the prison camps with him that died while a prisoners. The details I discovered about how our POWs were treated, what they ate, what camp life and prison life was like, will expand what I can write in the client’s book.
Tip #3: Create a timeline and spreadsheet.
Timeline. Always create a timelime that contains at least three columns of information. Date (of the document you are looking at); Unit/Station (the unit someone was in at that date and where they were in the world if you have it); and Notes with a source.
I document what was on the record I’m looking at in the Notes field and add a footnote with a source so I know exactly where I got the information. Sometimes I make a mistake in creating my notes. Sometimes the record has the error. Sometimes multiple documents give different details and you have to figure out which is correct or most correct. Having a source will save you frustration and time when issues arise. Plus, for those who read your story or look at your research, they will know where you got the information and can seek it out themselves. Your sources may educate someone else on this work.
Spreadsheet. For some projects, particularly book projects, I’ll also create a spreadsheet that has information on the collaterals. My POW sheet has columns for first and last name (for ease of sorting); unit; death date; IDPF (yes or no or N/A or requested); The name of the file/document I got the information from; Notes.
Creating a spreadsheet has helped me better organize all the names I’ve seen in the records, letters, photos, and scrapbook pages the client sent me. Not to mention all the military records I’m using. The spreadsheet allows me to see more clearly who was part of this POW’s experience and when and know exactly where I saw that information.
Tip #4: Use the “small” details & think outside the box.
When I mentioned above that I obtained IDPFs to learn more about the men who served with this veteran and how they died, I was able to learn so much more. Read the snippet below from the IDPF of Ralph B. Praeger.
The above is from a six-page letter that a Thomas Jones wrote to Ralph’s widow after the war. Not every IDPF has letters like this that provide so much personal detail about a person, their experience, or death. It is solid gold.
While Praeger was only in my client’s father’s war experience a brief time, both were in Japanese prisons and camps. The details about food, daily life, and torture was similiar across all prisons and camps. Those details can be used to provide context in a story rather than just write something like, Ralph was aboard hellship xyz and at prison camp #4 from this date to this date. It’s more interesting to read what his life was like. Those details make people think, process, and heal.
Tip #5: Take time to process, grieve, integrate, then write some more.
Military research and writing is not easy work. It is emotional and often triggering, even when it isn’t your own family. I often tell my clients to consider taking time to process the information they or I uncover. To allow the information to integrate. To take time to feel all the emotions rising, including grief. Great healing can take place if we allow this, not only for us but our veteran whether they are alive or not. Healing ripples out.
When I wrote my books, Stories of the Lost and The Tiger’s Widow, I shed a lot of tears. Felt an enormous amount of pain and love. I cried so much during all the writing and moreso during The Tiger’s Widow. For me it was cleansing. As I wrote I learned that I never knew you could love someone so much that you had never met in this life. But that’s how I felt about my ancestors who died in war. I also felt the pain of clients and their families as I researched for them and sometimes wrote their stories. Being an empath, this happens often, which requires constant energetic cleansing and self-care.
This work can trigger old traumas, pain, thoughts, feelings, and it may feel overwhelming at times. The pain or grief you feel may be decontextualized, meaning you don’t know why exactly you are so sad or crying but there it is. Just allow it to move through. Sometimes we come to this work exactly to heal ourselves, even if we don’t consciously realize it.
Take all the time you need to process this even if it means walking away from your project for a while. In the end, you will be healthier on all levels and probably write a better story because you will see things from a different perspective once you have taken space.
Regardless of how you research and write, take time to process, I can guarantee you will be a different person at the end. This work changes lives.
Are You Ready to Start a Project? I can help!
Are you ready to learn the bigger picture of your family member’s military service? We are taking new clients and can help you find the answers and tell a deeper story about your family member. Email me at info@wwiirwc.com to set up your free phone consultation today to discuss project options, fees, and time.
A lot of people get confused with all the acronyms in military research. Especially when it comes to personnel files. So let’s clear this up shall we?
I wrote an article about theIndividual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) which contained information on how to request it, what it contained, and how to share information with organizations who honor our war dead. Several people were confused about the difference between the Official Military Personnel File (OMPF), also known as the military service file and the IDPF. This article will clarify what those files are, where they are located, what they contain, and how to obtain copies.
Difference between the two files:
OMPF: Created for every single service man or woman in every branch of the military.
IDPF: Created for only those who were unrecovered and still considered Missing In Action or those who died in the war.
Official Military Personnel File (OMPF)
What: Also known as the military service file, the OMPF is the record of a soldier’s service from enlistment and induction until discharge or death. Some files are quite lengthy if a soldier was in service for many years. Other files are short because the soldier was inducted during the war years and served a very short time, or was Killed In Action.
These files contain, but are not limited to the following:
Birth, marriage, and death certificates for the soldier, sailor, or Marine and sometimes members of his family. I have even seen adoption records in a file.
Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Merchant Marine OMPFs have photographsof the sailor or Marine taken upon after induction. These photographs are also found in the IDPF if the man or woman died in service or is still Missing In Action.
Next of kin information can be found through vital records, insurance papers, beneficiary papers and next of kin designation papers. This is great information if you are a grave adopter in Europe and are trying to locate living relatives.
Educational records and letters of recommendation.
Training information.
Medical and dental information.
Service information: Training places and dates; type of training received; scores for tests and training; dates of service overseas; medals and citations earned.
Death information if the soldier died while in service.
Often the files contain handwritten letters from family members, especially fi the soldier died in service.
Where: The OMPF is held at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri. These files are available to anyone if a soldier died or was discharged on this date 62 years ago. So at the time of this article posting on my website, this means any OMPF for soldiers who died or were discharged by 17 July 1954, is available to anyone to request.
History and Confusion: There is a lot of confusion of the OMPF – does it exist or did it burn? In 1973 there was a devastating fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri. Approximately 80% of the Army, Air Corps/Army Air Forces/Air Force, and National Guard (under the authority of the Army during WWII) burned. Is that the end of the story? NO!
NPRC gets thousands of requests for OMPFs and other records every week. The facility holds records from WWI, WWII, Federal Employee Records, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and other records. The service files are not the only thing held there. Many researchers receive letters that say, “All the records burned.” Sometimes that really isn’t the case. I have copies of complete files and some files which are burned around the edges (or have mold or water damage.) Some files I have are partial and contain only bits of information.
Obtaining Records: If you work with a researcher, you have a much better chance of getting information out of NPRC. We are able to request and stay on top of whether or not there is a service file. My team is also able to ensure we at some point see a file that does exist. Case in point, last year my researcher at NPRC requested a Navy file for a client. NPRC found it, processed it and sent it to the wrong department in May. It was November before we saw the file and that is only because we stayed on top of the progress of locating it. Anyone who would have requested it by mail would never have received it most likely or it would have taken much longer than 7 months. NPRC also sometimes pulls the “right name but the wrong file.” This happened a couple years ago and my researcher caught the error and was able to save me hundreds of dollars in copy fees. We are also able to locate Morning Reports, Monthly Reports, Payroll, Air Force Award Cards and other records held there.
You do have the option to go to NPRC in person to conduct research. And you can send in Form 180 to request a copy of the OMPF. When you send this form in, the OMPF is the only thing they will sear€ch for you. Often you will pay $25 for a Final Payroll Record and a sheet that says the soldier served. This is a far cry from the available information there if you go there or work with a researcher.
Types of File Codes if the File was Affected by the Fire:
“P” File is a Final Payroll File. These are typically what NPRC charges you $25 for. You get the Final Payroll Record which has little information on it and usually a sheet stating the soldier served.
“B” Burned File. This file means the file is partially in existence and has damage. You never know exactly what remains until you see the file.
“R” Reconstructed File. This file means a few pieces of information were located to reconstruct enough information to prove service. If the soldier has an IDPF, often some of those papers come from this. I’ve also seen Final Payroll, and items family members sent to NPRC (newspaper articles, copies of letters, copies of the Separation and Discharge Papers, etc.)
Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF)
The IDPF is a file created for every soldier, sailor, or Marine who was listed as Missing In Action (MIA) and never recovered or who died in service. These files were never at the NPRC in St. Louis and therefore not part of the 1973 Fire and were not destroyed. These files are currently held by the National Personnel Records Center.
This is the first file you should request if you are researching someone who died while in military service. To learn more, please read the postabout the IDPF to learn the specifics on this file.
Sharing Information:
There are many researchers seeking information on our deceased soldiers and many organizations and foundations which use the files to honor service men and women. One such foundation, the Stichting Verenigde Adoptanten Amerikaanse Oorlogsgraven(Foundation United Adopters American War Graves,) runs the Fields of Honor Database in the Netherlands. The Fields of Honor Database has a mission to compile information and photographs, in their free online database, for all those buried or listed on the Wall of the Missing at ABMC cemeteries in Margraten, Netherlands, Henri-Chapelle, Belgium, and Ardennes, Belgium. You can help them accomplish this mission by contacting them and sharing your soldier’s information.
Books To Guide Your Research:
If you live in Europe and have adopted a soldier’s grave or his name on the Wall of the Missing, this foundation is also selling my research book, Faces of War: Researching Your Adopted Soldier.
If you live in the U.S. and need assistance researching, check out my books, Volumes 1 and 2 of Stories from the World War II Battlefield, which are the only ones available which teach you step-by-step how to do WWII research. Need more assistance? Contact me to discuss a project. I am taking new clients at this time and there is no wait list.
Still confused or have questions? Please email info@wwiirwc.com to discuss a research project or writing project. We are taking new clients.
Writing a book about a veteran or your family history isn’t just about sitting your butt in the chair and letting words spill onto the page. It requires a lot more that may surprise you.
The last few days I’ve been focused on writing a client book about a famous World War II fighter pilot. I first did the research on this veteran, the family provided copies of photos and documents they had and the last two months the writing has commenced.
I’m also been working on another client book but in a different capacity, that of developmental editor. A few years ago I did the research for a client who wanted to write a book about his World War I and World War II aviator grandfather. The client is writing the book and I was developmental editor. Once my colleague did a final edit, I began book layout and will help the client publish the book on Amazon.
Another client just started working with me on her father’s Japanese POW story. This is a story I’ve never written for a client and I have a sense it will be life changing for not only the client and anyone who reads the book, but also me.
As I was writing all weekend, I was reminded that it is not all about sitting my butt in the chair over and over but many other things have to happen to produce a good story or book.
Step 1: Do the research
It’s vital that before we really dive into writing we do the research, especially if you want to publish for public consumption. People will want to know where you got your information.
Step 2: Sit your butt in the chair and write
A story or book cannot be written if you don’t sit down and do the writing.
Step 3: Take breaks & take care of you
Writing is great but did you know that amazing insight, inspiration, and questions can arise when you take a break? Yesterday after spending several hours writing, rewriting, creating questions to ask the client, I decided to leave the house and grab a coffee. I’m currently a Starbucks iced Americano with blonde espresso lover so headed out for a coffee and change of scenery.
The sun was out and the leaves on the trees shimmered as I drove past on my way to the coffee shop. I was reminded I had not been outside enough the last week as the leaves have changed and for my own well-being I needed to get out for a walk with my boyfriend in the afternoon. As I drove, this happened…
Self-care when writing these emotive stories is vital to your well-being. Make sure to get out and enjoy nature and ground your energy. Get to the gym and exercise and release those emotions. Talk to others who can understand or empathize with this work. Also make sure you get enough rest so your mind and body can flow more easily with the emotions that may rise.
Step 4: Listen to the whispers (and have paper and pen on hand!)
As I was driving, my brain was no longer focused on the writing. It was free to roam and check out from that, but yet….. Ideas and questions began to flow from my guides and ancestors. I had to pull over near Starbucks and write down all the things I didn’t yet write in the book. I also had to write all the questions and concerns coming through I had to ask the client.
When our minds are distracted from the writing or we are doing something meditative like folding clothes, washing dishes, walking, or staring at the squirrels play outside, information is more easily able to come through. We need to write what shows up on paper. So keep paper and pen nearby. I’ve often found that the best ideas flow when I’m walking in nature or exercising at the gym. But of course there are those that show up when I drive and don’t have a recorder handy.
Step 5: Sit your butt in the chair and write
When you are finished with your break, go sit in the chair and write if you can while these thoughts and questions are fresh. It will save you a lot of time and frustration later when you can’t remember all that came through.
Even if you write notes, try to at least dump it into your document(s) so you don’t lose all context. Trust me, this will help when you pick the writing up again later.
Do you have any other tips for people writing stories?
Are You Ready to Start a Project? I can help!
Are you ready to learn the bigger picture of your family member’s military service? We are taking new clients and can help you find the answers and tell a deeper story about your family member. Email me at info@wwiirwc.com to set up your free phone consultation today to discuss project options, fees, and time.
WARNING! Military research may unearth dark family secrets. Things you’ve only heard whispered about. Subjects that may alter your perception of who a relative was, as you knew them. Bring to the light things that contributed to generational trauma or toxicity. These “dark” things may help you better understand who you are and why your family is the way they are as far as beliefs, behaviors, patterns, and repeating situations.
I was reminded once again yesterday that military records, particularly the Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) and Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) may contain family secrets. I received a huge B-file (burned OMPF) from my researcher for a client. The client had provided me with some of the pages his son originally received years ago, 126 pages to be exact. Yesterday I received 484. Sometimes it is better to work with a researcher who can make sure you get all available records.
Skimming the file I learned many new things about our military during WWII and for Regular Army after the war. I wonder if the client knows the things contained in the file or if this will come as a shock.
What You Might Discover In the OMPF or IDPF
Over the last 15 years of military research, there are many things that would shock people, or perhaps break down a brick wall, that I’ve discovered in these military files. Here is a brief list.
Mental Hospital Commitment Paperwork for a parents of a veteran
Family letters filled with grief, anger, hatred, drama
Adoption Paperwork
Lots of family drama contained in letters to military
Detailed explanations of cause of death of veteran or other graphic battle reports
Financial documents including debt notices sent to the military
Divorce Papers
Custody documents
Probate or other Estate Documents
Vital Records (birth, marriage, death) of the veteran. Sometimes his parents. On occasion birth records for siblings.
This also includes the marriage record of a widow of a veteran who died in war, thus shifting the legal NOK back to the veteran’s parents.
Birth records for children born to veterans while in service
Photographs (rare)
Requests for information from other people or family members. It’s all held within the OMPF.
While most people don’t talk about the types of personal and family information contained within these military records, I think we need to be. The information contained in these types of records and more may open old family wounds. They may shift how you view someone who served. They may shift how you view those who told you the “lies” and “stories” which may turn out to be untrue. And for some who are empathic or on a spiritual journey to heal their ancestors, it may trigger a lot of feelings which may be decontextualized but need to be felt, acknowledged and released so you can heal and the family can heal.
I always say, you never know what you’ll find in these records. They may change your life and research.
Want to know more about this topic or learn why this new shocking information may cause cognitive dissonance? Read my article The Things We Choose To Believe.
Are You Ready to Start a Project? I can help!
Are you ready to learn the bigger picture of your family member’s military service? We are taking new clients and can help you find the answers and tell a deeper story about your family member. Email me at info@wwiirwc.com to set up your free phone consultation today to discuss project options, fees, and time.
One question I often get is Why isn’t my Naval grandpa on all the Navy Muster Rolls? I have looked and can’t find him on any. I also get questions from people who find their sailor on a few rolls but nothing else.
Military research is complex and the Navy and Marine Corps made finding all the answers about service a bit more difficult than the Army and Army Air Forces because of how they created their personnel files and other records. You really have to start at the beginning and put a timeline together of everything you think you know. Then add the facts you can document from a personnel file plus all the other available records to really get a full picture.
The research also requires you to also retrieve unit records, deck logs, histories, photos, maps, and so many other records. This article gives you some basic tips and information and is by no means the end all be all of Navy research.
Did You Know?
Author’s Grandfather Joseph Holk
First, you can search Navy Muster Rolls at Fold3.com. The site describes the series as: These records include detailed muster rolls listing all personnel assigned to ships, stations, and activities for the U.S. Navy, 1939-1949, as well as reports of changes for sailors transferred to other ships or locations, and those discharged, deserted, hospitalized, missing, or dead. Passenger lists for nonenlisted personnel are also included.
Pay special attention to the reports of changes. Just like Army Morning Reports, your veteran will not appear unless there is a change in job, duty, health, rank, MIA, POW, KIA, wounded, etc. statuses.
Next, before I answer the question Where Is My Sailor, did you know that someone did not have to be on a ship to be listed on a Naval Muster Roll? There are rolls for stations. Stations are Naval facilities located on land. This might have been a Naval Base in the U.S. or a location somewhere else in the world, perhaps an island in the Philippines.
Research Tip! Keep in mind that military records may not exist because the ship they were carried on sank, was damaged by fire and water, or some other form of devastation destroyed the records. I have seen unit records and histories specifically state records from X month to X month, year, were destroyed by a fire on the ship in the records room. Additionally, not all records may have been digitized. What you find online is a small fraction of what is actually available to tell your service member’s story for WWI, WWII, Korea, or Vietnam.
The Simple Answer
The simple answer is, unless he was a sailor on a ship all the time, and there were changes to his health, job, rank, transfer to a new ship or station, etc., you might not find him listed very often. Now, in addition to the usual Muster Rolls we see which is broken into two parts, top and bottom, there are also ship rolls that only list every soul on a vessel.
Let’s examine a Muster Roll I broke it into two pieces. The top of the Muster Roll provides the individual’s name, service number, rating (rank) and date of enlistment. All important information to trace him through future rolls especially if he has a common name.
The bottom part of the form shows what is happening (transfer, change for any reason, etc.) Find your sailor on the top – let’s say he’s Jack Amoroso line 9 – then go to the bottom of the document and find line 9 to see what his status was.
The More Complex Answer
If your family member was not on one or two ships the entire time he was in service, but moved between stations (on land) and ships (sometimes only to be transported), he may not appear on many rolls.
This means when a ship transported your Navy Seabee grandpa to one of the Pacific Islands, he is likely to appear on a ship’s Muster Roll until he gets to the island and transfers off that ship. He may be found on a station roll for that island but maybe not. This is where using his OMPF (Official Military Personnel File) comes in handy to help trace where he was.
Naval Armed Guard
One option many people do not consider is that their sailor may be serving on a Merchant Marine Vessel and therefore, not be listed on a Navy Muster Roll. Or perhaps he was on a Naval vessel and then is transferred to Armed Guard duty, as a gunner or commander. Essentially he is “lost” for a period of time.
How would you know if he was on a Merchant Vessel if you didn’t have family stories, letters, photos, or documents? You would need to obtain his OMPF to reconstruct his service to see on what vessels and in what stations he served.
How do you locate information on Naval Armed Guard members? This is a bit more tricky and I will write a separate article on this, but here is a short answer. While you may find your sailor, like my grandpa Joseph Holik, on a Muster Roll for a Naval Vessel or Station, once he is moved to a Merchant Vessel to serve as Armed Guard, he is lost from those rolls. So what can you do?
Obtain the OMPF.
Create the Timeline of Service.
Locate Muster Rolls for possible ships and stations.
Contact NARA for Armed Guard Deck Logs and Reports.
Your Homework
Explore what I’m sharing by attempting to locate this officer who first is found on a Naval Muster Roll and later is moved to a Merchant Vessel to serve as Armed Guard.
Where do you begin to search for him if this is all the information you have and you are waiting for his OMPF? Well, we know at the time of this report, submitted 15 August 1942, John was aboard the Merchant Vessel SS John Lykes. We know in 1942 he was a Lt. (jg). Without a service number, you may think he’s harder to track. But explore the Muster Rolls on Fold3 and see if you can find him. I’ll give you a few hints since I’ve done some research on him.
His middle name started with F. He is listed as a Lt. (jg) on board a Navy vessel in 1942 with a note that he’s being transferred and eventually to Armed Guard service. Can you find him? Then do you find him when he’s off the SS John Lykes?
Armed Guard duty may explain “missing time” on Navy vessels or stations. Don’t rule it out if you haven’t seen the OMPF.
What Do I Do Next To Find More Answers?
If you have not already obtained the OMPF, this is a must have document. These are held at the NPRC in St. Louis, MO. These records contain so much information on each form, it can be confusing to sort out. If you need help, we can obtain the file and start a research project with you. Learn how below.
After you have created a timeline and sorted out the entire OMPF and know exactly where your Naval family member was and what he or she was doing, you can start investigating unit records at NARA and Naval History & Heritage Command, among other places. You may find histories, deck logs, vessel histories, war diaries, photos, and more.
Learn how to write your veteran’s story in my class Words That Heal.
Are You Ready to Start a Project? I can help!
Are you ready to learn the bigger picture of your family member’s military service? We are taking new clients and can help you find the answers and tell a deeper story about your family member. Email me at info@wwiirwc.com to set up your free phone consultation today to discuss project options, fees, and time.
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