The Archives Might Be Closed But....
There is a lot you can do to start or continue your military research today!
Do you have a relative who served in World War I or World War II, but you're not sure how to uncover their story? Are you interested in learning more about their military service and discovering the history behind it? If so, this is for you!
This program consists of two programs plus workbooks and downloadable records. Recorded live 1 November 2025.
I will help you answers questions like:
- How can I find records when the archives are closed?
- Where did my father/grandfather/uncle/mother serve?
- What kind of combat did he experience?
- Who did he serve with?
- On what ships did he serve?
- How can I learn more if his service file burned?
- What battles or campaigns did my veteran participate in?
- What happened when my veteran was taken as a POW? Wounded? Killed In Action? Died of Wounds?
- What kind of records will help me understand the trauma my veteran experienced?
- Where do I begin to write the story?
Program 1Â Research a Veteran
Exploring the Basics of Military Research
All the records DID NOT burn. Answers can be found and stories written no matter what anyone tells you. There is a strategy to correctly research 20th century military service, regardless of branch. In this session you will learn:Â
Lesson 1: The Research Strategy Overview
Lesson 2: Locate Puzzle Pieces
Lesson 3: Timeline of Service
Lesson 4: Request Service Records
Lesson 5: Overview of the OMPF
Lesson 6: Overview of the IDPF
Lesson 7: Records Created in the Field Archive Materials - World War I
Lesson 8: Records Created in the Field Archive Materials - World War II
Exploring the Greatest Generation
Adding Context to the Veteran's Story
Contextual records are everywhere, not just the National Archives! Once you have established what units your service member was in and where they served, it is time to explore unit-level records. In this program you’ll explore:
Lesson 1: From Timelines to Context
Lesson 2: Army and Army Air Force Unit Records
Lesson 3: Navy & Marine Corps Unit Records
Lesson 4: Coast Guard & Merchant Marine Records
Lesson 5: Prisoner of War Records
Lesson 6: Contact the Specialists
These records help you write the narrative to your stories. They will also help you understand why your veteran was who they were after service, and probably bring up more questions for you to consider.
I'm Jennifer Holik
More than 10 years ago, I developed a 2-part military research strategy that makes it possible to discover the story of any veteran from WWI through Vietnam — even if the records burned. This grew out of a journey I began nearly 30 years ago, guided by my military ancestors. What started as genealogy quickly expanded into a full military research, writing, and speaking business shared through the WWII Research & Writing Center.
My work is rooted in both fact and spirit. I’ve walked battlefields, stood at graves, and listened to the echoes of soldiers and families whose stories still long to be told. Living between Chicago and the Netherlands, I absorbed history, culture, and the weight of inherited war trauma. My own path through PTSD and ancestral healing deepened my ability to see repeating patterns, connect dots across generations, and help others uncover truths hidden beneath silence and loss.
At the Ancestral Souls Wisdom School and WWII Research & Writing Center, I bring together research and soul work, helping you not only recover your family’s military history but also transform the patterns and pain it left behind. This is where history, healing, and story meet.
