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Jennifer Holik

Learn How to Start Writing Your Veteran Book

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Just added to my teaching calendar – a refresh on my veteran story/book writing program, Words That Heal.

Wednesday, July 29 at 7:00 p.m. CST

Have you considered writing a veteran book but aren’t sure where to begin. Are you ready to start honoring the heroes who fought in World War II by writing their stories? It’s time to capture and share the stories of bravery, sacrifice, and resilience.

Have You Shared Your Veteran Stories?

If not, fear not! Our exclusive program is designed to help you effortlessly and swiftly bring your veteran stories to life. Join us for an enlightening 75-minute webinar on writing your veteran stories. This is your chance to embark on a journey of self-expression and healing.

What the Program Includes

75-Minute Webinar

   – Gain insights and inspiration during an engaging live webinar that guides you through the art of crafting compelling veteran stories.

30-Minute Private Coaching Session

   – Receive personalized guidance and feedback from an experienced coach to enhance the depth and impact of your narratives. This session must be scheduled and used within 30 days of the program or you lose it.

500+ Writing Prompts Book

   – Unleash your creativity with a comprehensive book of over 500 writing prompts tailored specifically for capturing the essence of veteran and civilian experiences.

PDF Guides

 – Navigate the writing process seamlessly with our detailed PDF guide, packed with tips, Do’s and Don’ts, writing themes, outlines, and more.

 – Military Service Questionnaire.

 – A guide on the emotional toll of research and writing.

BONUS!

Webinar & Worksheets – Breakdown! Unspoken Effects of Genealogy & Military Research

   – Have you heard of Compassion Fatigue? Are you or have you been a caregiver? Have you experienced anger, grief, loss, shame, guilt, etc., as a result of your research? Have you become depressed or anxious? Join me to explore the ways our research & professional work can impact our mental health & resources to help us keep our energy high.

Why Join the Program?

– Transformative Experience. Rediscover the therapeutic power of storytelling as you embark on a journey of healing through the written word.

– Honoring Heroes. Pay homage to the brave men and women who shaped history by immortalizing their stories for future generations.

– Guidance Every Step of the Way. Benefit from expert insights and personal coaching to ensure your narratives resonate with authenticity and emotion.

– Information You’ll Find Nowhere Else. My WWII Research & Writing Center military firm is the only professional military research business providing book writing classes and writing books for clients. I have 16 years’ experience in writing, ghost writing, developmental editing, book layout, cover design, and publishing for private or for-sale projects. 

If you are ready to learn the basics to start writing your veteran stories and books, register for the program, Words That Heal.

Would You Like to Learn More?

Join my newsletter list at my online course site and grab a free copy of my new PDF The Research Roadmap. This will guide you through the information you need to start a project and which classes to take to move your research forward.

If you would like to learn how to research, click here to see upcoming small group coaching sessions to learn how to use Fold3, NARA Catalog, research Army, Army Air Force, Marine Corps, Merchant Marine, Coast Guard or Navy service, find POW records, and more. These sessions come with extensive workbooks, plenty of Q&A for attendees, my 2-part research strategy and the replay. Need a researcher? I am taking research and book clients – email jennifer@ancestralsouls.com to set up a free consult to discuss your project.

© 2026 WWII Research and Writing Center

Locating Army Air Force Photos

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If you’re researching a World War II Army Air Forces veteran, fallen, unit, aircraft, or airfield, photographs can add incredible depth to your understanding of their service. They can also add incredible detail to the narrative you write, especially if you publish a book. People love photos and images will keep them reading.

Go into any Facebook group and you will see requests for photos from family members, European grave adopters, and those who write stories of veterans or the fallen. For some families, even being able to obtain one photo would be an incredible gift. So where do you begin to attempt to locate photos from World War II for the Army Air Forces?

Please note – these are a few suggestions but there are more online and in archives so go explore!

Start with the holdings of the National Archives, where Record Group 18 (Army Air Forces) contains thousands of official photographs documenting training, combat operations, aircraft, personnel, and air bases around the world. Some of these are digitized on NARA Catalog using the link above. Others are still sitting in the NARA at College Park, MD. You might also discover photos at the Library of Congress, the Air Force Historical Research Agency, and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

Don’t overlook local historical societies, university archives, and state archives, especially if your veteran trained or served at a specific installation. Additionally, if your veteran attended college or university after the war, it is possible the archives have a photo or some documentation. Then back up in time a little and check for high school yearbooks. If your service member died in the war or was Missing In Action, post-war school yearbooks may have memorials and photos to the war dead.

Other Options

1. Fold3 has a Publication called Military Yearbook Collection. Also you can search Fold3 to see if anyone has uploaded a photo – or if he was part of a bomb crew there could be photos.

2. You can search NARA Catalog by the name of the person, his ASN, or unit and see what turns up.

3. You can search Military Yearbook project

4. You can search for the AAF unit he was part of and see if they have/had a Reunion Association Group and website with photos and records.

5. You can look at another yearbook site – Army Air Force Collection.

6. If you know who he flew with – search for those names because often when we search collaterals – the people someone served with – you might hit gold. About 10 years ago I searched for the Pilot of a bomber that was shot down 2 Nov 1943 – my person of interest was the co-pilot. Searching the pilot took me to a website where someone had extensively researched that day’s mission and every crew and person and wrote a book complete with photos. He gave me a copy. So always research collaterals – people, units, places, ships…..

7. Visit the UNWRITTEN RECORD blog – NARA’s blog for an article on locating photos.

Again, these are just a few places you might explore but don’t forget to check offline places like libraries, ethnic museum, high schools, colleges, overseas museums and libraries, archives at various levels and locations and be sure to check locally to see who in the community might have additional information.

Would You Like to Learn More?

Join my newsletter list at my online course site and grab a free copy of my new PDF The Research Roadmap. This will guide you through the information you need to start a project and which classes to take to move your research forward.

If you would like to learn how to research, click here to see upcoming small group coaching sessions to learn how to use Fold3, NARA Catalog, research Army, Army Air Force, Marine Corps, Merchant Marine, Coast Guard or Navy service, find POW records, and more. These sessions come with extensive workbooks, plenty of Q&A for attendees, my 2-part research strategy and the replay. Need a researcher? I am taking research and book clients – email jennifer@ancestralsouls.com to set up a free consult to discuss your project.

© 2026 WWII Research and Writing Center

Accessing Individual Deceased Personnel Files (IDPFs)

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Over the last 16 years, the ability to obtain copies of the World War II Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) has changed often. You can track a lot of those changes through my website by searching ‘IDPF’ as I have articles dating back to 2015 when I first launched this specific website. You may also find information I wrote on other websites, in articles and blogs that show the history of access and movement of these files. As a reminder, whenever you find information on accessing military records online, you need to Check the Date.

While there has been a lot of frustration over access, lengthy delays, and at times, the inability to even obtain these files, now you can get them without having to hire a researcher. However, if you need additional records, then hiring a researcher is a good idea because we can access things faster and obtain information you may not know exists.

The IDPF is the first file you should be accessing if you are researching someone who died while in military service. This file exists for World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. If you are researching someone who died in World War I – you need the Burial File. Several options exist to obtain these files.

Access the IDPF through NARA Catalog

As of the date of this article, 8 July 2026, you will find just shy of 7,000 IDPFs available on the NARA Catalog. These contain some of the files from surnames A-C.

Individual Deceased Personnel Files, 1939–1953

Access the file through a private website

Many unit Reunion Associations, private researchers, and genealogists along with non-profits, host IDPFs on their websites. Use your favorite search engine to see if the file is online somewhere.

For example, the 7th Armored Division is one Association site site that has digitized all records for that Division, except for the OMPFs (service files). If your fallen served with the 7th Armored – his IDPF will be on their website.

Request the IDPF from the NPRC

Finally, the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis has all the IDPFs. To request, send an email to stl.archives@nara.gov Don’t request more than five names at a time. Be sure to provide full name, service/serial number, birth and death dates and unit/ship if you have it for additional clarification. Military records and databases do contain errors so the more information you can provide, the easier it will be on the archivist searching for the files you need.

Would You Like to Learn More?

Join my newsletter list at my online course site and grab a free copy of my new PDF The Research Roadmap. This will guide you through the information you need to start a project and which classes to take to move your research forward.

If you would like to learn how to research, click here to see upcoming small group coaching sessions to learn how to use Fold3, NARA Catalog, research Army or Navy service, discover more about military death records and the IDPF, find POW records, and more. These sessions come with extensive workbooks, plenty of Q&A for attendees, my 2-part research strategy and the replay. Need a researcher? I am taking research and book clients – email jennifer@ancestralsouls.com to set up a free consult to discuss your project.

© 2026 WWII Research and Writing Center

An Invitation to Aspiring Military & Genealogy Professionals

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Be your authentic, magical, amazing self.

If you’ve known me for a while, you know that I’m an intuitive empath and medium. I sense energy on every level and pay attention to the signs – both warnings and gifts. Last week I noticed some blue jeeps either following me, or somewhere nearby, which did not feel random at all. I hardly ever see blue jeeps, but here was one on Wednesday and three on Thursday as I was on my way to my energy healing session to work on some specific things for my business.

When you are leveling up in any area of your life – people will come for you (usually not directly either) – test you – trigger you – try to sabotage you – copy you – berate you…..have you noticed this?

I got the sense that I’m being watched again – or that Archangel Michael (royal blue color) was showing up to remind me I’m protected and guided. Could be both but this morning I received confirmation other professionals are watching me again and are not happy.

To me that is a clear sign I’m stepping again into somewhere new – something that is needed on the planet – and I’m meant to keep going. And I shall.

The big questions I have for you – aspiring new professional are… Are you creating what needs to be added to the world and doesn’t (or barely) exists? Or are you copying or piggybacking on someone else’s work? Are you being your authentic self? Or do you need someone to promote you before you will promote yourself?

Starting a Business

We all start somewhere. Here is the short version of my story.

After being a genealogist for almost two decades, taking the classes and my kids starting kindergarten, I started a genealogy business in 2010. That business was modeled off of the genealogy businesses at the time, I was mentored by someone well-known in the community at that time, and took all the “required” education programs like ProGen and attended and spoke at conferences. I wrote one WWII book that year and my entire business changed to 99% military and 1% genealogy. I went from only taking research clients to also research and writing and publishing books for clients – genealogy and military.

I developed the 2-part research strategy to research any veteran from WWI – Vietnam even if the records burned. I wrote the books and started teaching classes. I married a Dutch man and was living between Chicago and Amsterdam for many years while continuing my work and expanding to many experiences around military and healing in Europe. His illness, his late mother’s WWII trauma, and his eventual death led me to study anticipated grief, grief & loss, war trauma, inherited trauma, family patterns, and related subjects. I did this in part to save myself and not die with him, but my military clients were also asking for this. I added ancestral healing and war/inherited trauma resources to my business in various forms and people are showing up for it.

And you know what – no other military or genealogy research firm was or is doing all this. Which has been both a blessing and a curse.

Me with my cousin and ancestral guide, James Privoznik. His story is in my book, Stories of the Lost. 1 May 2015, Luxembourg.

The Blessing and the Curse

The work I do is deep soul work and not everyone is at a place they can understand that on an energetic level. Everyone is on their own journey. Everyone has their own life lessons to learn and things to do in this lifetime.

Many of my readers are those in their families who are here to break the cycles. Find the truth. Stop the repeating toxic patterns. Heal the family and personal trauma. Bring to the world what doesn’t exist. You get it. Other’s don’t and that is OK! You are here for a different mission.

When you are someone who is different, magical, intuitive, empathic, shine too brightly, are “more” than others, etc., you may be cast out, judged, and hated for the gifts you bring to the world, your work, or your family. But you know this and keep working on yourself and leveling up. You continue to bring to the world what doesn’t exist. What is needed. You see what others do not. However, this can feel very isolating.

As someone who has been able to see what doesn’t exist, see the patterns others can’t, and have the drive to create what is needed – I can say it is downright lonely at times. There isn’t always someone to bounce ideas off of who will “get it”. There aren’t books or classes to take to help you move forward – you have to go create that. I think you get the idea.

The question is – are you up for this challenge and the isolation and judgment that comes with it? I promise you – there are people who will show up to support you, guide you, and hold space with you, but only if you are brave enough to stand alone and shine.

The Why for this Article

This might trigger some readers and if so – good. Look at what this information is triggering and consider doing some inner work to let that go.

We all carry baggage, fears, trauma, and inherited ancestral trauma. This impacts us in all areas of life – work, relationships, personal, hobbies, travel, you name it. Some of us choose to work through those layers and heal to level up. Others remain stuck or go at a much slower pace. Again – everyone is on their own path and healing timeline. And, it is a choice to do the inner work or not. But the more you are your authentic self, do the inner work and raise your frequency, the easier it becomes to see where others have not.

It will also attract new clients to you who match your frequency and what you are here to offer.

In 2014 when I released several of my genealogy and family war books, and my WWII Research book series, another professional emailed and yelled at me for not including them as a researcher in my books. At that time I had never heard of this person or the business, so why would I include someone in books that took me four years of thousands of my own dollars and unpaid research and writing hours to create and publish these books? No one else was doing this work. My response was that I didn’t know this person existed and had not worked with them so included only those I had worked with. That did not make this individual happy. I moved on and kept doing what I was here to do.

Recently this individual made comments about me again online – but only after someone else introduced this person to the forum in which the conversation was taking place. Apparently I’m still triggering people after 12 years. That is their inner work to do, not mine.

You know what I became aware of thinking about all this? First, I know other professionals have been using my work for inspiration and to downright copy what I’ve created. This has been happening for more than 12 years. Imitation is the best form of flattery they say – but also a sign of insecurity, laziness, and the inability to think for oneself perhaps.

Second, this particular individual is always attaching themselves to others who have created something larger than what they have done. Or in this case – they have someone introduce them so they can chime in. It’s a pattern that I’m sure others are seeing.

As a professional – new or seasoned – you have to consider if you are behaving in such a way – how will others perceive you? Will they hire you because you can get what they need at a cheaper rate than someone else? Or will they walk away because they see the games you play and that you don’t have the knowledge someone else does?

How are you presenting yourself to the world? And if you are playing games now and then – ask yourself why. Address those triggers and whatever is creating that in your reality and let it go. Rise. Continue what you are here to do. We all fall back into old patterns now and then but when you are consciously working on yourself and creating new in this world, you will recognize it and stop much faster.

Create What YOU are Here to Create

The invitation I have for you after all this is to look at what YOU are here to create. It doesn’t matter if it upsets another professional or triggers them. If no one is doing what you were designed to do – go for it.

I should clarify that over the years I have been triggered, questioned myself and what I was put here to create over the years when people criticize or copy me because they only see one way to be a professional. Let me tell you – there are many ways. If you really want to stand out – be different, use your intuitive gifts, create what others are not, and get loud in a kind way.

Humanity is shifting every day. Timelines are merging, collapsing, and pushing us to be the better version of ourselves in this NOW moment. More people are waking up and starting their healing journey, seeing the beliefs, behaviors, patterns, and stupid in their worlds (personally and globally). More people are questioning themselves and the world. This allows professionals to bring all this knowledge, experience, and healing to the professional table and share it with others. That genealogy or military client who is struggling with something may come to you because you are sharing your stories of struggle and healing.

Now is the time for professionals to start showing up in bigger ways with their unique gifts. Now is the time for us to get louder and share what we were born to. Are you up to the task? It takes courage to stand alone and shine and speak and create what others will not.

We are all on our own journeys with our own unique gifts to bring to the world. Is it time for you to start shining in a new way?

Would You Like to Learn More?

Join my newsletter list at my online course site and grab a free copy of my new PDF The Research Roadmap. This will guide you through the information you need to start a project and which classes to take to move your research forward.

If you would like to learn how to research, click here to see upcoming small group coaching sessions to learn how to use Fold3, NARA Catalog, research Army or Navy service, find POW records, and more. These sessions come with extensive workbooks, plenty of Q&A for attendees, my 2-part research strategy and the replay. Need a researcher? I am taking research and book clients – email jennifer@ancestralsouls.com to set up a free consult to discuss your project.

© 2026 WWII Research and Writing Center

Check the Date

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In military research, dates are important for reasons you may not know

One of the most important things you can do when researching World War I or World War II is pay attention to dates. That may sound obvious, but I’m referring to more than just the dates found on military records. You should also check the publication dates of the articles, blogs, websites, and research guides you use. Information about records access changes over time, and older resources may no longer reflect what is available today.

Take a website, for example, like my WWII Research and Writing Center, which has been online since 2015. Over the years I’ve added and occasionally updated articles as new records have been digitized, archives have expanded access, and my own research has uncovered better methods and sources. If you don’t pay attention to publication dates—or whether an article has been updated—you may rely on information that was accurate years ago but is no longer current.

Checking dates will also help you share more accurate information with others in social media groups. There is so much misinformation spread daily in these groups, in part because people believe all the records burned and don’t bother to learn anything new. But also because no one considers that records access may have changed and new information is available. It’s important to take a moment to verify when information was written. This may prevent outdated advice from continuing to circulate. Good military research depends not only on historical dates but also on knowing whether the guidance you’re following is current.

Dates on Military Records

Every military record contains a date somewhere. At least one date. Sometimes multiple dates. Let’s consider an Army Company Morning Report for example. This will have a date of the report at the top of the page. Then within the changes for individuals listed on the report, you may have additional dates. A Navy Muster Roll will have the date at the top of the Roster or Report of Changes and then for each individual you will also find an enlistment date (usually) and dates of changes. These dates are critical to the Timeline of Service you create to show the ships or units and places your veteran served.  

While you are paying attention to dates on military records, keep in mind that whomever wrote or typed that report you are reading may have made a typo. Sometimes it isn’t necessarily a typo but other records for your veteran provide different dates. At that point it is up to you to amass the information through multiple sources and create a case for why one date is “better” or “more correct” than another. Always add source citations to back up your theories so others can follow in your footsteps.

The FOD

The FOD or Finding of Death is an important date to know about if you are researching someone who was MIA or Missing In Action during World War II. If someone was MIA for one year plus one day then the military issued the FOD. The FOD is the official, legal death date of the individual which means the family can then go handle the estate and receive death benefits. This FOD often confuses people when they research because records on Ancestry, Fold3, and NARA Catalog, to name a few sites, will have the FOD. Be sure to verify the actual date of the MIA status. If someone was part of a bomb crew that was shot down and not recovered or turned up as a POW, chances are good they died the date of that mission. That mission would be the likely official death date but the FOD could have been issued if the remains had not been recovered in the timeframe allotted by the military.

Records Access and Dates of Articles, Blog Posts, and Websites

Publication dates matter just as much. Since 2020 when the NARA system closed for two years, many changes too place. More records were digitized and came online. Access to some non-digitized records changed (more often than we’d like). New rules were implemented about access for on-site and email research. And the changes have not stopped since. For a couple years I tell clients and students when asked about access – to call the repository or look at their website and see what the current rules are as they plan a trip. There are too many archives and too many changes to keep up with it all.

Military records collections continue to grow as archives digitize new material, uncover forgotten collections, and improve online access. We have seen a dramatic increase in the number of digitized records available on NARA Catalog in the last two years alone. This includes a huge Army Company Morning Report collection. Although at the time I write this (July 5, 2026), we are still waiting for 1945 to be placed online.

If you were to search my WWII Research and Writing Center website for Army Morning Reports or Individual Deceased Personnel Files (IDPFs), many article results would appear dating back to 2015. Each will have different information and talk about access changes. This might lead you to question which article do you need?

My answer – read them all because I talk about different things in each of them. You will learn something new or review something you may already know. Seeing it in a new light by someone else may give you the ah-ha moment you need to move research forward.

BUT – while you read the older articles, remember than an article written five or ten years ago may accurately describe what was available at the time. Those articles or websites may no longer reflect the records available in one format that may have changed today. Those articles may also have changes to how researchers can access records today. Before relying on research advice, always check when the article was published to determine whether newer records, databases, or finding aids have since become available.

The same goes for military websites – you know the ones that go on and on and one in one long page and have tiny text? Those may have been created 10+ years ago and had “current” information back then. It may be completely outdated now.

Moving Through the Records and Dates

The best military research combines records with the historical context. Verify both the dates within the historical record and the publication dates of the resources you use to help you find answers. This will save time, money, and frustration.  

Good research is not only about finding records, it’s about knowing when those records were created and where they were held. It’s about learning how access has changed, (what has disappeared), when they became accessible in various formats. What you couldn’t access five years ago may now be available.

By paying attention to the dates in records and the resources we use to find them, new discoveries can be easier and less frustration. Those new records we discover may even change what we know about the past.

Would You Like to Learn More?

Join my newsletter list at my online course site and grab a free copy of my new PDF The Research Roadmap. This will guide you through the information you need to start a project and which classes to take to move your research forward.

If you would like to learn how to research, click here to see upcoming small group coaching sessions to learn how to use Fold3, NARA Catalog, research Army or Navy service, find POW records, and more. These sessions come with extensive workbooks, plenty of Q&A for attendees, my 2-part research strategy and the replay. Need a researcher? I am taking research and book clients – email jennifer@ancestralsouls.com to set up a free consult to discuss your project.

© 2026 WWII Research and Writing Center

July 2026 Military & Ancestral Healing Classes

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Here is a peek at what’s currently on tap for military research classes at my online course site, the Ancestral Souls Wisdom School. Visit to learn more about each program. Are you already a newsletter subscriber? If not – grab a freebie and subscribe today.

Ancestral Souls Cafe (free networking event) Wednesday, July 8, at 7:00 p.m. CST

WWII Cafe (free networking event) Thursday, July 9 at 11:00 a.m. CST

Army Records Small Group Coaching New format! Each branch coaching session is now two sessions so students have time to process the vast amount of information provided between sessions. Session #1 Thursday, July 9 at 7:00 p.m. CST. Session #2 Thursday, July 16 at 7:00 p.m. CST

Army Morning Reports Small Group Coaching Friday, July 10 at 11:00 a.m. CST

WWII Navy, Merchant Marine & Coast Guard Small Group Coaching New format! Session #1 Wednesday July 15 at 7:00 p.m. CST Session #2 July 22 at 7:00 p.m. This is one program, two sessions.

Fold3 and NARA Catalog Small Group Coaching. Friday, July 17 at 11:00 a.m. CST

WWII Cafe (Free networking event) Tuesday, July 21 at 7:00 p.m. CST

More classes to be schedule for July soon!

Would You Like to Learn More?

Join my newsletter list at my online course site and grab a free copy of my new PDF The Research Roadmap. This will guide you through the information you need to start a project and which classes to take to move your research forward.

If you would like to learn how to research, click here to see upcoming small group coaching sessions to learn how to use Fold3, NARA Catalog, research Army or Navy service, find POW records, and more. These sessions come with extensive workbooks, plenty of Q&A for attendees, my 2-part research strategy and the replay. Need a researcher? I am taking research and book clients – email jennifer@ancestralsouls.com to set up a free consult to discuss your project.

© 2026 WWII Research and Writing Center

Why Military Research & Education Aren’t Free

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Anyone Can Search. Not Everyone Can Research or Teach.

This will probably ruffle some feathers. If it ruffles yours, I’d invite you to sit with WHY.

When you’ve been a genealogist as long as I have – thirty years so far – and a military research expert for 16 – you will see on a cyclical basis the outrage in the genealogy community about why anyone has to pay for anything. This comes up both in records research and availability and also for those of us who speak and teach.

Every so often, even the genealogical speakers get up in arms over how little they are paid to speak by societies. But nothing ever changes because I don’t think enough people say, ‘Pay my worth or I won’t speak.’ They just continue to accept what is offered rather than standing in their power and worth – so things continue as they have. Additionally, rather than a professional suggesting they break a complex topic into two programs – they skim the surface leaving people perhaps with more questions than answers. Genealogy societies and libraries will book you two months in a row or do a half-day program if you explain WHY you can’t do it all in one hour. I know because I teach my 2-part strategy this way and won’t teach it if I’m not booked for both parts.

New and intermediate researchers who just dabble in family or military history – likely have no idea the immense time and money that advanced researchers, or professionals like me, have spent in education and records. Because of our knowledge and expertise, we professionals charge to speak or teach or to conduct research. We run a business and this is how we pay our bills and do the work we are meant to do.

Let’s be honest – most researchers believe it should all be free. That those of us with in-depth knowledge should just give it all away. That all records should be online. And somehow the knowledge some of us have spent years accumulating, that no one else has, should be offered out of the goodness of our hearts.

You will pay a plumber or electrician or car repairman for their knowledge and expertise, but you won’t pay for an expert’s class or research even when it will answer your questions and break down your brick walls. Interesting. I have a huge heart but giving away all my knowledge and doing your work for free won’t pay my bills. I know other professionals feel this way as well.

The 2020 Explosion

When 2020 hit and archives closed and people were forced to stay home more, the number of new genealogists exploded. Gone are the days when new genealogists seek actual education. At least that’s how it appears from the curb. You can see it in Facebook groups and on other social media sites. More records started coming online as well which added to the problem. Strictly from a WWI and WWII standpoint – research in 2026 is much easier to start than it was in 2020. That said, not everything is online and never will be.

With the explosion also came a huge group of people who want it all now, for free, online, and usually done by someone else for free. New Ancestry trees go up and people are upset if they can’t add a military record to it because they can’t find it online. That’s because it isn’t online and if you have the paper copy you’d have to scan and add it to the tree. See – back in the day through education and offline research we knew to scan a document and upload it.

Gone is a lot of the education we used to have in person. Most of it went online and people got so comfortable with free genealogy classes that skimmed the surface of a topic that most genealogists see zero value in paying for anything of depth. Therefore the old myths of military research continue. “All the records burned.” “Fold3 has all the military records.”

Not true.

Paying for Knowledge, Expertise, and Skills

Let me start by saying that military research is not the same as genealogy research. There is a completely different set of records and strategy. You cannot just attach one or two docs to your Ancestry tree and call it done. It isn’t.

I created a 2-part research strategy 16 years ago to research any veteran from World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam even if the records burned. I know for a fact answers exist far beyond those two records you added to your tree and probably have no idea what they really mean. I have gone deeper into the records than other military research firms. I wrote the books, I teach the strategy and I’ve invested thousands of my own dollars and hours into developing and refining the strategy, teaching, writing.

Many military records are available to the public, but access to records is only one small part of the research process. The real value lies in knowing the strategy which tells you where to begin, where to look for additional records, which collections to search, how to recognize missing or conflicting evidence, and how to reconstruct a service member’s story from dozens—or even hundreds—of scattered records.

Professional military research is built on years of study, thousands of hours spent working with archival and online collections, and the development of proven research methods. What may appear to be a simple answer is often the result of extensive experience that allows a researcher to identify sources and connections others might overlook.

This is what most genealogists don’t understand. That short answer I just gave you on Facebook or in an email is the result of 16 years and thousands of hours of my own exploration. Refined down into an answer a new researcher can understand. There is tremendous value in my knowledge, skill, expertise and depth.

What You Pay For

Classes or Speaking

Paying for a professional genealogical or military research speaker provides society or library attendees with new knowledge. Sometimes knowledge no one else is sharing. In my case, as of 2026, I teach classes every month on the research strategy and related military research topics.

I’m not gatekeeping how you can reconstruct service and find answers. I provide extensive workbooks, video replays, and plenty of Q&A even after the class is over. My fees are also reasonable and probably too low for what I provide students. But I try to balance cost and making the classes accessible with making a living. No other military research firm is doing this. The rest only pull records. Nowhere in the country will you find this depth of knowledge provided in a class, conference, or institute.

When I teach for a library or genealogical society, I also provide extensive materials and give people more than surface level information. Because of my knowledge, what I provide students, and all the “little” things I know, I expect to be paid for my time and knowledge. This is how I make my living.

Additionally, my students are often surprised at the “little” things I discover as I’m working on other projects or class preparation and send to them because I know they need it. When you work with me through classes or private coaching, you are getting much more than you paid for.

Jennifer Holik teaching WWII research in the Netherlands

Research

Paying for professional military research means investing in accuracy, efficiency, and expertise. An experienced researcher understands the differences between record groups, recognizes common clerical errors, knows how to verify photographs and documents, and can place an individual’s service within the larger context of a unit, campaign, or historical event. I do this using my 2-part strategy and always find answers.

Rather than you spending weeks or months searching unfamiliar collections, my clients benefit from a research strategy that has been refined through years of practical hands-on records exploration experience. That experience can save time and money, reduce frustration, and produce a more complete and accurate reconstruction of military service.

Professional research is not simply about retrieving documents. Anyone can copy records. Professional military research is about interpreting evidence responsibly and preserving history with care. Every research project reflects years of learning, continual education, and a commitment to historical accuracy.

When you hire an experienced military researcher or speaker, you are paying not only for the time spent on your project but also for the knowledge, analytical skills, and research methodology developed over many years. Those qualities cannot be downloaded, copied, or replaced by AI or a simple database search, and they are what transform individual records into a meaningful and well-supported military history.

Would You Like to Learn More?

Join my newsletter list at my online course site and grab a free copy of my new PDF The Research Roadmap. This will guide you through the information you need to start a project and which classes to take to move your research forward.

If you would like to learn how to research, click here to see upcoming small group coaching sessions to learn how to use Fold3, NARA Catalog, research Army or Navy service, find POW records, and more. These sessions come with extensive workbooks, plenty of Q&A for attendees, my 2-part research strategy and the replay. Need a researcher? I am taking research and book clients – email jennifer@ancestralsouls.com to set up a free consult to discuss your project.

© 2026 WWII Research and Writing Center

Wait…Who’s in This Photograph?

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Verify Everything: Photographs and Records in an OMPF or IDPF Must Never Be Accepted at Face Value

One of my military research students asked a question about a photo of a sailor he is researching. The name listed on the photo, obtained from the NPRC in St. Louis had a name that was slightly misspelled – or was it? The service number on the photo was also different than one he found online through a story someone posted on Fold3. This led to him questioning – is the photo of the person I’m researching? Is the Fold3 entry accurate?

Long story short – I did a little digging and discovered the photo with service number is the person he is researching. The surname had a typo in it. The Fold3 entry also has a typo – the writer put a ‘5’ instead of a ‘6’ at the start of the service number. This is why we verify everything – especially if someone else wrote it and published it online. Errors happen by humans – whether we type them online or a military record contains them.

The Big Mistake

One of the biggest mistakes family historians and military researchers make is assuming that every document and photograph found in an Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) or an Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) is automatically accurate. It is also assumed every document contained in those files actually belongs to the individual we think they do. However, when we assume instead of going through every photo and document with a fine-tooth comb – we miss things. We tell the wrong story.

While these records are among the most valuable sources available for reconstructing a veteran’s military service, they were created by people in stressful and horrific circumstances. People on a good day make mistakes. People in combat or near combat, in a hospital, or dealing with war and death on a daily basis can make mistakes.

Clerical errors, filing mistakes, typographical errors, misidentified photographs, and documents accidentally placed in the wrong file all occur. In 16 years of doing this work, I’ve seen a lot. I’ve also made my own mistakes by thinking I had the right photograph or information – until I took a closer look.

In some cases, researchers like myself, have even discovered photographs of the wrong individual included in a personnel or death file, creating confusion that can be repeated for generations if left unverified.

Evaluate and Verify the Information

Every piece of information in an OMPF or IDPF should be evaluated alongside other records based on military branch. Compare names, service numbers, serial numbers, dates of birth, units, locations, casualty reports, morning reports or muster rolls, payroll records, unit histories, burial records, and other contemporary documents to ensure the information tells a consistent story.

Photographs deserve the same level of scrutiny. Ask where the image originated, whether it is identified on the reverse, whether it matches the individual’s age, rank, insignia, service number, uniform, and time period. For verification against family photos – ask the family whether other family photographs exist to support the identification. A single photograph, no matter how convincing, should never be treated as definitive proof of identity without corroborating evidence.

I Too Have Gotten It Wrong

In 2013 when I was writing my first set of WWII research books, I requested dozens of IDPFs. Back then they were so easy and quick to get and I could use them as a start point for research. They were invaluable in helping me to create my 2-part research strategy to research any veteran even if the records burned from WWI – Vietnam.

William F. Cowart or Richard Courtleigh?

One Marine came forward from the other side – William F. Cowart. He was killed on Tarawa in November 1943. I requested his IDPF. Back then I don’t know who originally scanned the file but it was short and I was given a photo. A photo I assumed was him until later when I looked at the service number and realized – it was not William F. Cowart. I was able to find that service number in Marine Corps Muster Rolls and identify the Marine as Richard Courtleigh.  

I re-requested Cowart’s IDPF and OMPF. I also requested Courtleigh’s IDPF. When I received the files, Cowart’s IDPF was much longer and contained not one, but TWO photos. One was Courtleigh and the other was Cowart.

Courtleigh’s IDPF contained no photo. It was stuck in Cowart’s and no one has bothered to put it into his.

USS Oklahoma Sailor or an Army Soldier?

A few years ago I was looking at the IDPF for a sailor who died aboard the USS Oklahoma during the Pearl Harbor attack. Included in these files are lists of personal effects. Imagine my shock and surprise when I saw a list of items that were recovered like paper, wool clothing, books, photos, etc. Ummmm that ship was partially submerged so how did this all survive?

It didn’t. That personal effects list was for an Army soldier. Graves Registration put the sheet in the wrong file. Both men had a surname in the letter ‘C’. Now when you know some WWII context – like the ship was underwater so how did this stuff survive – it will make you look at the form to verify WHO is listed. But we should be verifying every document in a file actually belongs to the person we are researching first.

Richard Courtleigh, USMC

Your Invitation

Good military research is built on verification, not assumptions. The goal is not simply to collect documents but to reconstruct an accurate account of a service member’s military experience. Using the 2-part research strategy and verifying the information you receive in a file is accurate is the foundation on which you will build your veteran’s story with accuracy.

Take your time questioning inconsistencies and resolve the conflicting information. Seek out help when needed. Verify every document and photograph you receive to protect the integrity of your research. This allows you to tell the correct story.

The most rewarding discoveries often come from investigating the records that don’t quite fit, because those apparent errors can lead to a deeper understanding of both the individual and the historical record itself. Plus you might just tell the story of someone who has been forgotten in time. When you share that story – you may help someone else add to their family history.

Would You Like to Learn More?

Join my newsletter list at my online course site and grab a free copy of my new PDF The Research Roadmap. This will guide you through the information you need to start a project and which classes to take to move your research forward.

If you would like to learn how to research, click here to see upcoming small group coaching sessions to learn how to use Fold3, NARA Catalog, research Army or Navy service, find POW records, and more. These sessions come with extensive workbooks, plenty of Q&A for attendees, my 2-part research strategy and the replay. Need a researcher? I am taking research and book clients – email jennifer@ancestralsouls.com to set up a free consult to discuss your project.

© 2026 WWII Research and Writing Center

The ‘Helper’ Files

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The National Archives Catalog contains far more than the well-known Army Morning Reports, Casualty records, photographs, maps, movies, and unit records. What most genealogists and military researchers do not know is that hidden among millions of digital records are what many researchers call ‘Helper’ files.

These are records that provide context, supporting evidence, unsent letters, newspaper clippings, and official military documents for American airmen, airplane crews, and soldiers, who found themselves behind enemy lines. In some cases these ‘helpers’ treated wounds or illness and then had to turn the Allied ‘enemy’ over to the Germans. In other cases, they helped these individuals return to safety behind Allied lines.

The ‘Helpers’ were found in most European countries and some of their records have been digitized on NARA Catalog. In these you may find official military reports, correspondence written by Allied airmen and soldiers which went unsent, casualty lists, operational documents, and administrative files.

These records may shed some light on family stories that other records could not prove true or false. They may uncover personal information the family never received. Researchers may also discover context to that period of time where an airmen was taken care of in secret and was not documented, or no longer exists, in American military records.

The document above is part of the Norway-Sweden-Denmark-Switzerland File Unit within Record Group 498: Records of Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, United States Army (World War II)

Series: Records Relating to Polish, Swiss, Danish, Yugoslav, and German Helpers

NARA Catalog ‘Helper’ Files

Here are a few of the ‘Helper’ files, which can be found in RG 498: Records of Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, United States Army (World War II)

Case Files of Belgian Helpers, 1945–1947

Correspondence and Related Records Pertaining to Hungarian Helpers, 1945–1946

Case Files of Luxembourg Helpers, 1945–1947

Final Interrogation Reports, 1945–1946

Reports About Helpers and Betrayers, 1945–1945

Are You Ready to Explore?

NARA Catalog contains a wealth of information for researchers willing to explore beyond a name search and the basic genealogy sites. I am constantly amazed at what I discover there. Remember, much of what is held at NARA College Park has yet to be digitized. Can you imagine the depth of information still sitting on shelves at the archives?

By combining these ‘Helper’ files with personnel records, Individual Deceased Personnel Files (IDPFs), Army Morning Reports, Escape and Evasion Reports, Prisoner of War Records, and other archival sources, researchers can build a far more complete and accurate picture of a veteran’s World War II story than any single file can provide. Plus, you may just find answers to family stories or whispers about experiences your veteran would not talk about but changed his life…and eventually yours.

Would You Like to Learn More?

Grab a copy of my 5 PDF Researching WWII Toolkit for even more NARA Catalog resources.

If you would like to learn how to research, click here to see upcoming small group coaching sessions to learn how to use Fold3, NARA Catalog, research Army or Navy service, find POW records, and more. These sessions come with extensive workbooks, plenty of Q&A for attendees, my 2-part research strategy and the replay. Need a researcher? I am taking research and book clients – email jennifer@ancestralsouls.com to set up a free consult to discuss your project.

© 2026 WWII Research and Writing Center

June and July 2026 Military Research Classes

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Here is a peek at what’s currently on tap for military research classes at my online course site, the Ancestral Souls Wisdom School. Are you already a newsletter subscriber? If not – grab a freebie and subscribe today.

Thursday, June 18 at 11:00 a.m. CST Circle of Influence (learn about family patterns and what influenced your ancestors’ lives and your own!)

Thursday, June 18 at 7:00 p.m. CST Fold3 and NARA Catalog Small Group Coaching

Wednesday, June 24 at 7:00 p.m. CST Army Morning Reports Small Group Coaching

Thursday, June 25 at 7:00 p.m. CST WWII Cafe (Free networking event)

Friday, June 26, at 11:00 a.m. CST Ancestral Cafe (Free ancestral healing event)

Tuesday, June 30 at 11:00 a.m. CST WWII Cafe (Free networking event)

Thursday, July 9 at 11:00 a.m. CST WWII Cafe (Free networking event)

Army Records Small Group Coaching.

New format! Session #1 Thursday, July 9  at 7:00 p.m. CST. Session #2 Thursday, July 16 at 7:00 p.m. CST

Friday, July 10 at 11:00 a.m. CST Army Morning Reports Small Group Coaching

WWII Navy, Merchant Marine & Coast Guard Small Group Coaching.

New format! Session #1 Wednesday July 15 at 7:00 p.m. CST Session #2 July 22 at 7:00 p.m. This is one program, two sessions.

More classes to be schedule for July soon!

Would You Like to Learn More?

If you need help with your WWI or WWII research, reconstructing Army or Army Air Force service, or writing a book, I do take clients.

If you would like to learn how to research, click here to see upcoming small group coaching sessions to learn how to use Fold3, NARA Catalog, research Army or Navy service, find POW records, and more. These sessions come with extensive workbooks, plenty of Q&A for attendees, my 2-part research strategy and the replay. Need a researcher? I am taking research and book clients – email jennifer@ancestralsouls.com to set up a free consult to discuss your project.

© 2026 WWII Research and Writing Center