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.
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