March 13, 2026
Over sixteen million American men and women served in the military during World War II. Because of this, most genealogists today will have a parent, grandparent, uncle, aunt or cousin who served during this time. Many of us will have several relatives who served.
Because the second world war ended in 1945, many of its veterans were still with us until recently. Finding out about our relatives’ service was as easy as talking to them; however, over eighty years have passed since the war ended, few veterans are still alive.
Home sources are still an important source of information about the lives of these ancestors. Check for discharge papers, medals, pictures and other memorabilia to learn more about your ancestors’ service. If older relatives who knew the veteran are still around, talk with them about their memories.
Search for wartime journals and diaries an ancestor may have kept. Don’t forget that many local historical societies and universities sponsored oral history projects featuring World War II vets. Check with the state archives in the state of interest to find out what may be available.
After WW II, soldiers were asked to file their discharge papers with the local county courthouse. Some of these courthouses still have these papers. Discharge papers can provide you with information for further research since they include rank, unit, service number, date and place of birth as well as discharge date and place.
The National Archives (https://www.archives.gov/veterans ) is the repository for military personnel records. You can request copies of a veteran’s military records from them. Unfortunately, due to a major fire in 1973, 80% of World War II era military records for members of the army and army air force were lost. It is still worth requesting these records because many have been reconstructed, at least in part.
To find out more about researching World War II ancestors, the Family Search Wiki (https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Finding_a_World_War_II_(1939-1945)_Veteran%27s_Records ) is a great starting place. The article provides an overview of what types of records are available and where they may be found.
Remember that the World War II era was only a brief portion of a veteran’s life, but it probably impacted his or her life in long-lasting ways. For example, my father was drafted into the army at the age of nineteen in 1942. He served until 1945 and lived until 2013. He was never directly involved with the army again after the war, but there are many records detailing the effects of his service.
My parents bought their first home using the VA loan program. A few years later, my father returned to college to finish his degree. He paid for much of his education with his VA benefits. When he was elderly, my father needed specialized residential care. He entered a VA nursing home because of his service nearly seventy years earlier. Finally, when Dad passed away, my siblings and I applied for a military headstone for his grave.
All these events created records. Check with the nearest office of the U.S. Veteran’s Affairs Office for more information.
Carol Stetser
Researcher
Larimer County Genealogical Society