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We all start at a different spot. Some of us were lucky enough to grow up with our 65th Infantry Division veteran sharing stories, photos and memories. Others lost their veteran when they were very young, while still others find that they have a 65th veteran in their family tree. No matter the way you came to research the 65th Infantry Division veterans, there are usually questions that there are not answers for and stories we want to unfold.
The 65th Infantry Division website is packed full of history, stories and photo albums. You can pore through it and learn a lot. The veterans wrote books of their personal stories and as we identify them, we'll include them on the website. Veteran Historian Robert Cardinall compiled many stories shared by the veterans themselves. You can find a link to purchase them on our Merchandise page.
Want more?
Our first recommendations include utilizing online resources...
Useful links regarding the preservation of your family history:
Sites from the National Archives have some great tips for preservation. Click here
and, for WWII archives. Click here
NOTE: You may be told (or have been told) that your family records burned in the infamous St. Louis records fire at the St. Louis National Archives. While that is certainly true, there have been thousands of records that were saved, but still burnt. Over the last several years, as preservation techniques have advanced, those records are being restored, though some only partially. Our recommendation is to request every few years. You might just be surprised!
A free site, FamilySearch, to compile your family history, do research and great resources for digitizing and protecting your family history. As with Ancestry, once you begin to populate your family history FamilySearch will send you hints about records in their files and they are digitizing records at a rapid pace. Click here
Useful links to begin your research:
www.Ancestry.com and their military division (partners with the National Archives. www.Fold3.com
Step 1: Ask your family members for memories, photos and any personal letters or mementos of your 65th Infantry Division soldier.
Step 2: After recreating as much family history as possible, contact the National Archives and Records Administration at www.archives.gov
Understand that this process may take multiple requests. If, at all possible, go in person to make the request. Otherwise, it may take a while for a response. Records "pulls" take a while and come sometimes come back with "no records" or "records were destroyed" as there was a fire some years ago at the facility where personnel files were stored. HOWEVER, some family members have reported that after multiple requests they finally received records.
Step 3: If the Archives record search and online record search becomes unsuccessful, you may need to get creative. Search local newspaper files for the hometown of your veteran. Request different types of records. For instance, request General Orders, citations or activity reports that you know your veteran was involved in.
You can also hire a professional Genealogist. One company, Golden Arrow, has a reputation for military history research and is featured on the National Archives website, but there are others.
Lastly...
COME TO A REUNION!!
Read all the materials that you can find from the bookstore of the association. Take time to look at other family members photos. You may find your veteran's face in them and can share their stories.
Do you have tips or helpful hints for researching military history for a 65th veteran? Please share what worked, what didn't and what you found.
These books were compiled by 65th Infantry Division Veterans from stories shared by hundreds of veteran members.
The books, as they were compiled by the veterans, are now available from Amazon.
By Emil F Beck
259th Infantry Regiment
HQ
By Joe Windham
260th Infantry Regiment
3rd Platoon of I Company
By Oscar B. Ladner
260th Infantry Regiment
G Company
By Delbert King
259th Infantry Regiment
By Charles J Eason
260th Infantry Regiment
By Jack J Hersch
Jack is a 65th Infantry Division honorary member. He has presented his father's story at reunions. His father credits the 261st as having given critical aid to him as a survivor of the Holocaust.
By Jim Noles
Jim Noles writes about veteran Edward C Cristl Jr, West Point graduate and 65th Infantry Division veteran killed in action.
868th Field Artillery Battalion
Featuring Veteran Donald Johnson, Matthew Nash's grandfather
365th Medical, B Company
This is the story of a son's last chance to understand the war experience of his father, John Amm, a veteran of "C" Company of the 260th Infantry Regiment, 65th Infantry Division
Have you read a good WWII book? Seen a good WWII based movie?
Go to our Facebook page and add your recommendations to the conversation. If someone else has listed it, share on their post what you thought about the book or movie! (Movie List coming soon!)
We've pinned the post to the top of the 65th Facebook page so you can go back, add to the conversation and find new books or movies to discover.
If you don't have a Facebook account, you can still view the list. Want to add your own favorites but don't want to create a Facebook account, just email the Social Media team and we'll add it for you!
Just email us at Contact@65thDiv.com with the Subject "Books or Movies to Add"
Be sure to let us know the name of the book or movie and why you enjoyed it or what you learned.
We have begun to collect divisional records. Most have been donated by families of 65th Veterans, others by the veterans themselves. Sharing them saves time for families and gives us a library for research surrounding the 65th Infantry Division.
We'll list the ones we have digitally. Help us fill the collection.
Kinds of reports generated by typical WWII era Army divisions are Morning Reports, General Orders, After Action Reports
Have more to share? Email us at Contact@65thDiv.com; Attn: Records to Share or Records Request
We have begun to collect divisional records. Most have been donated by families of 65th Veterans, others by the veterans themselves. Sharing them saves time for families and gives us a library for research surrounding the 65th Infantry Division.
Have more to share? Email us at Contact@65thDiv.com; Attn: Records to Share
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Submit a story to the Halbert magazine. A favorite story of your veteran, book review or WWII story from your local newspaper.