Before I Forget

I've just spent an hour viewing these links below. Some contain a FAVORITE sentence of mine: 
"To view a digital version of this item, click here."  Ahh, access!

Veterans Administration Master Index - via FamilySearch Historical Records:
https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/United_States,_Veterans_Administration_Master_Index_-_FamilySearch_Historical_Records

U.S. National Archives, Military Records, 1885-2004
https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/United_States,_National_Archives,_Military_Records,_1885-2004

I bookmarked this site. Once again, FamilySearch is free to those who register:
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2968245

This link connects you to what is inside the Granite Mountain Record Vault buried deep in Utah. #TornadoProof
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/4092378?availability=Family%20History%20Library


My Dad served in Korea during the war. Years ago we ordered and received his military file from NARA (National Archives) and also his father's records from the Great War. 

I thought I had exhausted the many online military databases available regarding my Grandfather's service in World War I. But upon signing on to FamilySearch today, it suggested a record I hadn't seen before.

It was a simple card showing his enlistment and discharge dates. Full legal name, address, DOB. Yes, I already knew those dates from other records, but hey! It's another source. Secondary proof! Proof I might obtain when learning of a distant cousin whose birth date is unknown. 

An added bonus was seeing yet another (miss)spelling of Grandpa's middle name. A three-syllable word that I've not seen with any other person. This rendition appeared to be typed phonetically:  Sulvenious.  #SMH

It was a reminder to allow for misspellings when searching databases by keyword. 

Familysearch.org/ continues to be amazing with the number of databases they continue to upload. Three and a half billion records so far. With Memorial Day coming up, many of the PAID genealogy sites offer limited free access to veterans' records. But FamilySearch has many of those same records available for free 24/7. Or they might link to ancestry.com/ (a paid site) with whom they recently partnered on some databases. Curious about your Civil War ancestors? Familysearch has made it easier to locate their military docs.

"There are a lot of Civil War-related collections that don't say 'Civil War' on them," FamilySearch spokesman Paul Nauta said. The average person won't think to look at those. We've aggregated all these collections together online so a novice can go and see the broad spectrum of selections to see if they can find their ancestors."

Have a look at FamilySearch's database and its wiki article below. Don't know your ancestors' names? If you know your grandparents' full names and/or the names of your great-grands, you can trace backwards via the U.S. Census. Holler at me for more.

          https://familysearch.org/civil-war#wiki_articles