In the world of genealogy and military research there are a couple primary types of researchers. Those who only pull records then hand them to the client and say ‘good luck!’ Then there are those who pull records and provide reports with context to explain what it all means.
Both are necessary in the research world. The type of researcher you need depends on your level of comfort understanding the results. I’ve written articles about this before but recently I feel the need to remind people why you need to consider what you need before hiring someone.
Record retriever: Someone who will copy or scan specific records requested by a client, usually based off an ‘Add to cart’ option of specific, non-flexible record requests. You receive only what you pay for – whether your veteran appears in the records or not. This person may or may not have any idea how to reconstruct military histories because they specialize in pulling specific records only. Usually they do not provide context for the records or explain what they mean. Their job is to obtain records for a client only.
Full service researcher: Someone who obtains various records, customized to a client’s specific needs, questions, concerns, and project, to reconstruct military service. This type of researcher provides a fully sourced research report with the documents that show military service. Everything is explained – especially the confusing pieces of the story. You will be able to easily share the reports with family and everyone will understand what it all means. These researchers should provide you with a contract for work that outlines what is being done, your fees, and time estimates at the bare minimum.
Based on some recent projects and consultations – let’s discuss why it is so important to consider what you need before you hire someone.
The Information is Confusing
I recently completed a project in which I followed the 2-part strategy I created to research any veteran, even if his OMPF burned. This veteran’s OMPF did in fact burn so I was left with Army Morning Reports to move through to reconstruct service. Usually not a big deal. In this case – it was a big deal.
Reconstructing service is pretty straightforward once you know how to do it. However, when the unit throws you for a loop – it is challenging, even for those of us who have spent thousands of hours in this work.
The issue: This veteran, and many others, were transferred into a Parent Unit. From there, for almost a year, they were attached to x Unit for rations, admin. Attached to x unit for lodging and rations. Attached to x Unit for this, that and the other.
This made writing a timeline of service and a report, a challenge. Where was this guy really? What work was he doing?
The solution (?): Normally when you encounter issues, contradictions, and confusion in Part 1 of the research process, you can usually find the answers in unit records (Part 2 of the process). However in this case, only a few unit records existed and whoever wrote them – wow. Can we say vague?
The Morning Reports told me, in part, that this veteran was a firefighter and likely also did engineering work due to the units in which he was stationed. There were four firefighting sections in Italy where he was stationed. No list existed in Morning Reports or unit records to say which man was stationed in which section and therefore, village.
Additionally, the only unit history for the Parent unit available was vaguely written. I felt like some of it was also missing – for reasons I cannot explain. Not everything comes back from war and not everything at NARA is actually put away where it is supposed to be.
So in this project – the unit records – the solution – was not so great.
What’s Next? Well, this is where an experienced researcher who can put puzzles together, sees what’s not written there, reads between the lines, and can spot patterns, is required.
After reviewing the reports again, and reading the unit history multiple times, I realized it was likely written from the 2nd Section’s Clerk. And the veteran I was researching was listed in this report a couple times near the end. Also, the way it was written led me to believe this was the 2nd Section. What wasn’t included reinforced that belief.
So what do you do with all this ‘possible’ information? You write the report and explain it this way. You lay it out where the veteran was and who he was attached to. You get the unit records for those attachments and build the story. You explain why you think he was part of 2nd Section and stationed in this village and therefore, those fire calls were his likely experience.
Someone who only pulls records and never has time to go deep into context would miss this every time.
Where Do We Go From Here?
If you need help with your military research project, ask yourself what you truly need.
- Someone to just pull records?
- Someone to explain to you what it all means, what may be missing, and what may still be out there?
- Someone to write the report so you can share it with family?
- Someone to review the work you’ve done to make sure you got it right?
You always have options. Definitely consider your knowledge and skill at deciphering the records, patterns, and lingo. Those like me, who have dedicated thousands of hours over the last 15 years to study these records, do the client work, write the books, and teach, may be just what you need.
Would you like to learn more? Read my article at my WWII Research and Writing Center website on When NOT to Hire a Genealogy or Military Record Retrieval Person.
If you are ready to start a research or writing project, or would like to brush up on your WWI, WWII, Korea, or Vietnam research skills, visit my online store and sign up for one of the upcoming Small Group Coaching sessions – specific to your military branch. You can also reach out for a free research consult to jennifer@ancestralsouls.com
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