Category: Military

Beyond Rosie: Women in Wartime

Women can do it...because they always have! From the Revolutionary War to WWII, learn the various, surprising ways women in wartime served our country.

Document Detective: DD-214 Forms

Uncover your ancestor's military service with DD-214 forms.

How DNA Will Help Identify Korean War Remains

The U.S. recently received 55 boxes from North Korea believed to contain the remains of service members lost in the Korean War. Learn how DNA will play a vital role in identifying these remains and returning them to their awaiting families.

Unusual Records: State-Specific Military Records

Countless immigrant ancestors joined the Army of their newfound homeland. In fact, beginning in the Civil War, alien soldiers with honorable Army discharges could be fast-tracked to naturalization. (Marine Corps and Navy veterans were able to “fast-track” beginning in 1894, and nearly all World War I soldiers were exempted from many of the residency and […]

Document Detective: Military Headstone Application

Headstone and medallion application forms can provide excellent information for your family research. Here are some tips for accessing them.

How to Research Vietnam War Military Service

As Ken Burns’ gripping documentary provides a personal look at the Vietnam War, here’s how to learn more about the experiences of your relatives who served.

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Understand Ranks and Insignia Across US Military Branches

Genealogists often seek out their ancestor's military records not only to learn about their time in the service, but also for details on marriages, pensions, and much more. Understanding the various ranks across the branches can be helpful to your research, and we're here to help you do just that.

4 Ways to Honor Your Military Ancestors

Whether your ancestor served in Virginia, South Carolina, Normandy or Iwo Jima, the veterans in your family have a tale worth telling. This Memorial Day, honor military ancestors in your family with these four strategies.

How to Read Your Veteran Relative’s DD 214

A DD 214 or discharge paper, can be confusing with military acronyms and jargon. Start deciphering the form to learn more about your veteran's service.

How to Find Your Ancestor’s US Military Records

Track Down Your Ancestor’s Military Service Records The further back you can trace your American ancestors, the more likely it is that at least some served in the U.S. military and may have seen action in one of the wars or conflicts that happened during their time. The good news for the family historian: military […]

The Evacuation of Dunkirk

Discover the significance of the evacuation of Dunkirk and why it matters when researching British and Irish ancestors in World War II.

Request Your Ancestor’s Military Discharge Papers

US military records such as the DD 214 aren’t in online databases, but they can be requested from the National Archives and Records Administration. Learn how you can get a copy of your ancestor's discharge papers.

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