As interest in World War I and World War II American service member research grows, we are now offering Research Coaching Packages. The processes and education you receive in these packages will allow you to research any branch of the military with greater ease.
Elite Research Coaching Package
We’ve been told all the records burned, but in reality, many records exist to help you tell your World War I and World War II service member’s story. The questions many people ask themselves is, ‘How do I access these records? Now that I have them, what do they mean?’
Are you ready to research your World War I and World War II family member’s service in-depth and have no idea where to start?
Do you have many people you would like to research, across different service branches?
Did you know the records are similar and if you know how to conduct research on one branch, you can apply those skills to any branch?
Are you ready to take your WWI or WWII research to the next level? If so, this coaching package is for you!
Over the course of four to six months, I will:
- Facilitate the research and analysis process to help you discover personal and contextual information for one of your service member’s story, through seven phone or Skype calls, email, and written notes.
- Provide you with the tools to take that research deeper.
Coaching clients will receive access to full files to use as examples, checklists, written analysis notes, and suggested next steps.
When you complete this coaching session, you will have the tools to take your military research to the next level on your own and easily research any World War I or World War II service member.
Contact us to receive detailed information about the package, fees, and processes.
Standard Research Coaching Package
We’ve been told all the records burned, but in reality, many records exist to help you tell your World War I and World War II service member’s story. The questions many people ask themselves is, ‘How do I access these records? Now that I have them, what do they mean?’
Are you ready to research your World War I and World War II family member’s service to learn the basics, and have no idea where to start?
Do you have many people you would like to research, across different service branches?
Did you know the records are similar and if you know how to conduct research on one branch, you can apply those skills to any branch?
Are you ready to take your WWI or WWII research to the next level? If so, this coaching package is for you!
Over the course of one to three months, I will:
- Facilitate the research and analysis process to help you discover personal for one of your service member’s story, through four phone or Skype calls, email, and written notes.
- Provide you with the tools to take that research deeper using contextual records.
Coaching clients will receive access to full files to use as examples, checklists, written analysis notes, and suggested next steps.
When you complete this coaching session, you will have the tools to take your military research to the next level and research unit records on your own. You will easily be able to research any World War I or World War II service member.
Contact us to receive detailed information about the package, fees, and processes.
One Day Research Coaching Package
Do you have research materials and are unsure how to decipher and analyze them? Would you like a personalized session to review materials, ask questions, and learn how to move forward with your research or writing?
Schedule a one day coaching session which includes:
- A one hour consultation prior to our meeting (phone, Skype, or email.)
- Up to six hours of in-person meeting time.
- A one hour post-meeting consultation (phone, Skype, or email.)
Contact us to receive detailed information about the package, fees, and processes. European meetings can be scheduled. Inquire about possibilities.
© 2017 World War II Research and Writing Center
Yesterday I was interviewed and filmed for the business, in Chicago at the Pritzker Military Museum and Library. People strolled in and out of the building while we were filming and one young woman listened to the stories I told as Scott asked questions while he filmed. She and I had several short conversations about the work I do, the History degree I have (Bachelor only) and the adventurous, inspirational, traveling, healing, love-filled life I have created with my business. She too has a history degree. It reminded me that several years ago I gave a talk at my alma mater, The University of Missouri-Rolla – now Missouri S&T, to the history club about thinking outside the box. I’d like to share a few thoughts with history majors around the world and let you know, there are many other choices available besides going for your Masters or Ph.D. and teaching or being a scholar. ANYTHING is possible if you choose it.
comes next?
Maastricht, the most southern city of the Netherlands, was liberated on the 13th and 14th of September 1944. The Ninth Army established its headquarters in Maastricht and stayed there for about five months.
About 800 American soldiers were in Maastricht and surroundings, in part preparing for Germany. They were also protecting the area and Antwerp harbour (all the American supplies were there) from V1’s and V2’s, launched from Germany.
127th AAA and 131st AAA Gun battalion had their gunpits in Maastricht and in the neighbourhood. It was their responsibility to protect the whole area from attacks by planes and bombs. The soldiers belonging to these units were the ones who took down enemy planes and the so called Buzz-bombs. In many cases they succeeded as reports show and Antwerp harbour was “safe”.
In the meantime the coldest winter of the 20th century arrived and the soldiers had to do their duty under extreme circumstances. In the days around Christmas it was minus 32F, extremely cold, and some had to sleep in their tents. An American chaplain, Father Dobrzynski, together with some Brothers of the Immaculate Conception of Maastricht, thought about how to give the boys a kind of Christmas Feeling in these days. They knew of a cave, the Schark cave, which was very safe, and where a Mass could be held on Christmas Eve.
The cave was prepared. Sal Barravecchia, one of the soldiers, created a beautiful mural in which he showed how Freedom was guarded from all sides. About 260 American soldiers attended Mass. After Mass they had coffee and donuts. Most of the soldiers were staying Maastricht, and some came from the Ardennes, where the fighting in the Battle of the Bulge was raging on. They were taken to Maastricht by their trucks.
After Mass they all wrote their names on the wall with charcoal. This wall is still preserved.
Not all the names on the wall can be read, because sometimes people swept their coats along the walls or tried to touch the names. We, the SHAK board, would like to know whether there are families who know that their grandfather attended Mass in 1944. Are there sons, daughters, grandchildren or other relatives who could help us in completing the list of names?
Should you be interested, the list of names is presented on our 
Many research clients have wandered into my life the last seven years. Some create more of a connection than others due to the type of project we work on together. There are clients who want the facts and only the facts. Then there are others who seek to heal things within themselves and their family, often without realizing that is one reason they hired me. When those clients show up, often, a vulnerable exchange takes place between us both. When that happens, we are both affected and both healed, whether we are conscious of it or not.
Chichester Cathedral is large. Not as large as Canterbury Cathedral, but still large. It is a place where you can find serenity and a bit of yourself around each corner or hidden within a sunlit prayer room. Like any cathedral, everywhere you look there is something intricate and beautiful to see. There are paintings, tombs, stained glass, arches, floors, signs, candles, flags and banners for military regiments, and people wandering through it all. Of course there were places to light candles, which I always do. Often to Mother Mary as she guides me, but also to Archangel Michael when possible, or military shrines. I was able to light candles for the 30th Division soldiers, who were definitely there with me in the cathedral. I guess I wasn’t as alone as I thought I was.
I learned I love nature more than I thought! I’m not a woman who likes to go play in the dirt and get her hands all dirty. That’s never been me. A few months ago I learned I had the capacity to communicate with trees, plants, and the earth. Sitting in the Bishop’s Garden felt so joyful. I even wrote about it in my journal.
We then walked along the airfield (Duxford is still in use as an airfield and you can arrange a flight in a vintage plane) to the American Air Museum part, the main reason for our visit. On the way we stopped by the B17 Memphis Belle/Sally B that was parked along the runway. Good photo opportunity with two planes in one.
First of all, the grounds, the building and the entrance are very impressive. Two big naval guns dominate the view and make it instantly clear you are about to enter a War Museum, not an Art exhibit or anything else.
To begin with, the Main Hall. The exhibits in this hall change from time to time and, to be honest, the items that I remember being there were more impressive than whet there is now. Hanging above you are still the Spitfire used in the Battle of Britain as well as V1 (buzzbomb) and a Harrier jet. On the ground there is a wreck of a car used as a bomb in Iraq and a V2 and, slightly tucked away, a Russian tank.
On to the WWI exhibit. I remember the very impressive Trench Experience but that is gone as well. Another disappointment. The amount and quality of the WWI items on display are impressive and the explanations are very well done but WWI is the only conflict they have done that for. No such thing for WWII. Also the explanations on certain WWII items are very sketchy and not complete.
It’s a beautiful day in the Netherlands. Our staff at the WWII Research and Writing Center have been busy creating new things. We can’t wait to share!