Research the History of Your American Ancestors in WWII for VE Day

Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day) is commemorated in the United States on May 8 to mark the formal surrender of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II in Europe in 1945. This year marks the 81st anniversary of the historic moment when President Harry S. Truman announced the victory to a nation that had endured years of sacrifice.

While V-E Day marked the end of the struggle in Europe, it was followed by Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day) on August 14, 1945, which signaled the total conclusion of World War II. Millions of American families were forever changed by these events, with ancestors serving on the front lines, supporting the “Arsenal of Democracy” at home, or awaiting the return of loved ones. Today, MyHeritage provides the tools to uncover these American wartime stories through a vast collection of historical records.

Key takeaways of U.S. military genealogy

• V-E Day offers a dedicated time to explore the personal impact of World War II on your American family history.
• MyHeritage hosts billions of records, including enlistment files, draft cards, and casualty lists, to help trace U.S. service members.
• Draft Registration Cards (the “Old Man’s Draft”) can provide physical descriptions and employment details of ancestors.
• Navy and Marine Corps Muster Rolls allow you to track the exact ships and stations where your relatives served.
• Newspaper archives on OldNews.com can reveal local accounts of a soldier’s homecoming, promotions, or even letters sent from the front.

Discovering enlistment and draft records

To start you off on your search, MyHeritage offers the United States, World War II Army Enlistment, 1938–1946 collection. This collection contains over 9 million records that reveal an ancestor’s Army Serial Number, enlistment date, and even their civilian occupation and education level.

Another essential resource is the United States, World War II Draft Registrations, 1940-1947, which covers men born between 1897 and 1921. These cards are a genealogical goldmine, often featuring the ancestor’s handwritten signature, place of birth, and physical characteristics such as height, weight, and eye color. The latter collection contains fascinating example records of men who served America like the Hollywood actor Charles Bronson. Born Charles D. Buchinsky, Bronson enlisted in 1943 and served as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress aerial gunner with the Guam-based 61st Bombardment Squadron, which conducted combat missions in the Japanese archipelago. He flew 25 missions and received a Purple Heart for the wounds he sustained in battle.

First page of draft registration card of Charles Bronson 

Tracing naval and marine service

For those whose ancestors served at sea, the U.S. World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938–1949 are invaluable. These records track personnel as they moved between ships and stations, providing a chronological map of their service. You might find details of an ancestor’s presence on a specific battleship during a major Pacific campaign or their transfer to a naval hospital.

Reserve corps

During World War II, the U.S. Army Organized Reserve provided roughly one-quarter of all Army officers. The World War II Reserve Corps Records collection recounts the era between 1938 and 1946 and comprises records of thousands of men and women who enlisted in the United States Army, including the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, which was the first U.S. Army unit to allow women to serve in non-combat roles. These servicewomen served as clerks, drivers, and cooks to free up men for combat.

Prisoners of war

During World War II, over between 130,000 to 140,000 U.S. Army and Army Air Forces personnel were captured, with nearly 94,000 of them held in Europe. The collection US World War II Prisoners of War, 1941 – 1946 includes information about U.S. military officers and soldiers as well as U.S. and some Allied civilians who were prisoners of war between December 7, 1941 and November 19, 1946. Using copies of reports from the International Committee of the Red Cross, the records in this collection contain priceless information about captured American servicemen, like serial number, branch of service, grade, race, state of residence, and place of capture.

Honors, awards, and the fallen

Many American service members were recognized for their bravery. MyHeritage includes collections such as United States, Index of Navy and Marine Corps Awards, 1925-1994, which can highlight specific citations and medals earned during the conflict.

For families who lost a loved one, several collections help preserve their memory:

• American Overseas Military Burials, 1917-1974: Documents the service and sacrifice of Americans who served in World War I and World War II, who are interred in American military cemeteries on foreign soil.
• Arlington National Cemetery: Headstones from Arlington National Cemetery, located in Arlington County, Virginia, close to Washington, D.C., are included in this collection. American veterans and a few members of their families have mausoleums and burials in the cemetery. The deceased’s complete name, date of birth, date of death, date of burial, branch of service, and military rank are all included in the records. Section, grave, court, column, and niche numbers are examples of information that may be provided concerning the grave.

Newspapers and daily life

Wartime research isn’t limited to military files. OldNews.com and MyHeritage’s newspaper collections can add rich detail to your family tree by uncovering casualty notices, promotion announcements, or local stories about life on the home front or even after returning to civilian life. These articles often capture the local atmosphere of V-E Day celebrations in American cities, from conga lines in Washington, D.C. to prayers in small-town churches. One example of this are the multiple mentions of Charity Adams Earley, the first African-American woman to become an officer in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps and the highest-ranking African-American woman in the army by the completion of the war.

Newspaper snippet mentioning Charity Adams Early on OldNews.com

This Victory Day, take the opportunity to connect your family’s military legacy with the broader story of the United States. By building a family tree on MyHeritage, you can organize these discoveries and ensure that the sacrifices of your “Greatest Generation” ancestors are never forgotten.

FAQs about U.S. military genealogy

How can I find American military ancestors on MyHeritage?

MyHeritage offers access to a wide range of military historical records, including enlistment records, draft cards, and award indexes. Searching by name, birth year, or location can help uncover details about an ancestor’s wartime experiences.  

What military records are available for World War II research?

Collections include Army enlistment records, Navy and Marine muster rolls, military honors and awards, and wartime newspaper collections.  

Can I find information about medals and military honors?

Yes. Collections documenting recommendations for military honors and awards can reveal official distinctions awarded during and after the war.  

What is the “Old Man’s Draft”?

This refers to the 1942 draft registration for men born between 1877 and 1897. It provides a snapshot of men who were recruited at the outbreak of the war, including their addresses, occupations, and birth dates.  

Can I research prisoners of war records on MyHeritage?

Yes. MyHeritage includes collections documenting prisoners of war held during World War II. These records may include camp locations, regiments, and internment details. 

How do I start building a family tree for military research?

Starting a family tree on MyHeritage helps organize discoveries and connect military ancestors to the rest of your family history. You can build your tree while exploring related historical records and newspaper collections. 

Maor Malul started his career at MyHeritage by joining its DNA Support team at MyHeritage at its inception in 2016. An informatics engineer passionate about Sephardic history and culture, he onboards and manages the growing community of contributors at the MyHeritage Wiki. Since 2005, he has been a regular contributor to the Wikimedia movement, having written over 2,000 articles in different Wikipedias (Spanish, English, Portuguese, Ladino, Wayuunaiki, Hebrew) and is currently an advisor to the Affiliations Committee of the Wikimedia Foundation. Apart from being a certified teacher of Ladino, Maor’s short stories have been published on Sephardic magazines and journals and he is working on his first novel, all in this language.