Veteran Stories

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. Either way, 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. Want more? When the book store comes back online, you can order any of the many books written and collected by veterans themselves.

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.