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. 

     Among the many free websites offering a growing number of names of veterans who served in the U.S. armed forces is:
http://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/

     One of the first such online databases is from the National Park Service featuring brief data on veterans from the U.S. Civil War. If you find a name with initials and want to know more, try googling that name with keywords +Civil War and/or +Confederate or +Union. There are TONS of databases available of various Civil War units. 

http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/soldiers-and-sailors-database.htm

     My dad served in the Army and was stationed in Korea during that war--I mean, "conflict." Until recently, there were not many websites devoted to those veterans. Some that I just discovered are:

http://www.butlercenter.org/koreanwarproject/  This admirable site is for Arkansas Korea War veterans.

and West Virginia's: http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvmemory/wvvetmem.html

     The National Archive (NARA) has several Korean War links:

http://www.archives.gov/research/military/vietnam-war/casualty-lists/index.html 

     And Pennsylvania has a Soldiers and Sailors Museum in Pittsburgh? I wonder how many states have similar museums.

http://soldiersandsailorshall.org/

     Fold3 offers the best in military research, should you want to subscribe/pay. Many large libraries make it available to their subscribers. https://fold3.com/   Fold3 has many other databases, too. And until recently it was the best go-to place for the Native American Dawes Applications, files ("packets"), and to see actual Dawes rejection documents. Many of those same are now on Ancestry dot com, which I believe also owns Fold3. I've spent untold number of hours reading those fascinating docs, as this white chick loves her Indian Territory history. 

     Nice seeing you here. Thanks for reading!