Allen County, Indiana Genealogy

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2. 1973 National Archives St. Louis Fire
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8. Veterans Memorial Bridge
9. War Veteran Stories

This gilt-edged leather-bound copy of “Decisive Battles since Waterloo: The Most Important Military Events from 1815 to...

Posted by Lincoln Collection on Friday, March 27, 2015

Friday, March 27, 2015 post by the Lincoln Collection on Facebook:

This gilt-edged leather-bound copy of “Decisive Battles since Waterloo: The Most Important Military Events from 1815 to 1887” by Thomas Knox was printed in 1900. Four Civil War battles – the Monitor and Merrimac, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and Five Forks – have chapters in the book, but otherwise there is no connection to Lincoln in the text. However, when the pages of the book are displayed in just the right way, Lincoln appears. The illustration of Lincoln’s life, from the cabin to the White House, is a fore-edge painting, hidden from view until the pages are correctly seen. Fore-edge paintings first appeared on books as early as the Middle Ages, but became especially popular in the late 19th century.

July 25, 2014 post by Family Tree Magazine on Facebook:

*Like* this chart!

Your ancestor’s birth date tells you what wars he may have fought in.

November 10, 2023 post by the U.S. Census Bureau on Facebook:

#ICYMI: The 1840 Census was the first count of our nation's veterans. However, women veterans were not counted until 1980.

Read #AmericaCounts to learn how data collection of #veterans has evolved over time to better understand the changing needs of those who serve in America’s armed forces.

1840 Census Was First to Collect Data on Veteran Status and Only Men Were Considered Veterans Through Most of the Nation’s History

#VeteransDay #CensusData

May 12, 2023 post by the Genealogy Center on Facebook:

Have you explored 'Our Military Heritage' database?

Our Military Heritage includes images of books, pamphlets, government documents, original letters, diaries, biographies, photographs, videos, unit histories, and rosters as well as service and pension records. A project of The Genealogy Center, this collection of data files offers materials from the Colonial era through the Afghanistan and Iraqi Wars. Contributions of additional data are most welcome! 

Start exploring here: https://www.genealogycenter.info/military/

November 11, 2015 post by Historic Fort Wayne on Facebook:

Roughly 7% of the US population has served in the military. There are an estimated 20 million veterans alive today. Today has been set aside to remember and celebrate veterans - men and women of uncommon valor and shared purpose, people who have selflessly devoted themselves to patriotism, love of country and sacrifice for the common good. Our deepest thanks and prayers are with you for your service.

 

America’s War History: How Many Years Has the U.S. Been at War? at Washingston's Blog.

November 11, 2023 post by the Mary Penrose Wayne Chapter, NSDAR on Facebook:

Did you know? 16.2 million is the number of military veterans in the United States in 2022, representing 6.2% of the total civilian population aged 18 and over. Thanks to all!

Did you know? 1.7 million is the number of female veterans in the United States in 2022, representing 10.3% of the total veteran population. Thank you, ladies! 

November 11, 2023 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Allen County has been home to numerous military veterans. They have served in our country’s many conflicts, ranging from the American Revolution to the present day. Staff Sergeant Arno Riedel was from New Haven, Indiana and was born in 1917. He served in the 700th Bomb Squadron, 445th Bomb Group of the Eighth Air Force. Arno Riedel died in service in Hanau Germany, December 12, 1944. His plane was shot down over Hanau and His death and original burial site remained a mystery and was not discovered until later. His body was exhumed from the original gravesite in Germany and returned to New Haven. He is buried at Lindenwood Cemetery. He earned the following awards which were given to posthumously to his sister: Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with one Bronze Service Star for battle participation in the Rhineland Campaign; Second Class Gunner Badge with Aerial Gunner Bar, Aerial Gunner Aviation Badge, and Army Air Force Technician Badge with Turret and Sight Specialist Bar. He was also awarded the Air Medal "for meritorious achievement in accomplishing with distinction several aerial operational missions over enemy occupied Continental Europe." Today the History Center honors all of the Allen County Veterans. #sociallyhistory

Indiana Archives Digital Index Records

May 26, 2023 post by Indiana Archives and Records Administration on Facebook:

Just in time for Memorial Day - we’ve added new records to the Research Indiana Indexes.

Now you’ll be able to search for WWI and WWII Deceased military members.

Search the Index here: Indiana Archives Digital Index Records

 

Website: Military Records

In March 1925 the Indiana legislature passed a law making it a responsibility of county recorders to keep a record of the discharge of soldiers in their area. The details of each discharge were to fit on one page and no fee was to be charged. Veterans are encouraged to file a copy of their separation from the military (known as a DD 214) with the county recorder where they are a resident. The Indiana State Archives also has copies of some DD 214s (see http://www.in.gov/iara/2871.htm for more information). Friday Fact December 13, 2013 on Indiana Genenealogical Society.

Military History of Fort Wayne

Google map showing  Military History of Fort Wayne Location of Battles and Forts in the area of modern day, Fort Wayne. Published on November 28, 2021 from a post September 5, 2021 on Facebook. Website: Fort Wayne Indiana History.
We have more information on many of these locations on our various pages for Kekonga, La Balme, Hardin, Harmar, 5 Forts of Fort Wayne, Little Turtle, General Anthony Wayne, Chief Richardville, William Wells, and even the Old Apple Tree.

Veterans Day M41 Tank Rededication by Daniel Baker at Riverview Cemetery posted 11 November 2013 on flickr.
D.O. McComb and Sons Funeral Home provided a beautiful spot for the memorial at their cemetery on Carroll Road. I photographed the tank this past summer near Johnny Appleseed Park not knowing it was to be moved. The memorial was uninspired, aged and out of the way. This is so much better.

Honor Flight Northeast Indiana: Honoring a Generation a WFWA TV39 PBS Fort Wayne Special | 59m 18s This hour long documentary tells the story of how Honor Flight Northeast Indiana grew from humble beginnings in 2008 and how, by October 2014, it had transported over 900 northeast Indiana World War II veterans -- free of charge – to visit the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Aired: 11/06/14 Rating: NR. Honor Flight Northeast Indiana: https://www.hfnei.org/, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HFNEI1/.

Allison DePrey Singleton, Genealogy Services Manager – Our Military Heritage October 10, 2022 post by The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indianaon Facebook.

A November 17, 2022 post by The Bones of Kekionga on Facebook with photos states: We were kind of excited last Monday as we got back on a field suspected as a campsite for armies of Harmar, Wayne or Harrison and within minutes found musket balls, a lead block with '4th' engraved in it, perhaps used by a printer. Later that morning, a chewed lead ball with teeth marks was found perhaps used by an anxious infantryman or one that had been suffering from an injury or illness. But the positive Coup De Grace was finding what we are 95% sure is a decorative tombac button that would have been sewn on a cuff worn around the wrist of late 1700s or early 1800s American soldiers. An old spigot perhaps used for a barrel of whiskey? The search for more proof will continue at a later date. 

Genealogy Series-Civilians at War: Records of Participation in U.S. Military Conflicts (2023 May 3) May 3, 2023 US National Archives on YouTube
2023 Genealogy Series, Session 1 of 6: Civilians at War: Records of Participation in U.S. Military Conflicts by Claire Kluskens Claire Kluskens is the Subject Matter Expert for Genealogy/Census Related Records and a Digital Projects Archivist from the National Archives in Washington, DC

2023 Genealogy Series - Basic Military Records at NARA: Revolutionary War to 1917 (2023 May 10) May 10, 2023 US National Archives on YouTube
2023 Genealogy Series, Session 2 of 6 - Basic Military Records at the National Archives: Revolutionary War to 1917 by John Deeben
John Deeben is an Archivist from the National Archives in Washington, DC

Genealogy Series - Nat. Archives at St. Louis: 1973 NPRC Fire & Genealogical Research (2023 May 17) May 17, 2023 US National Archives on YouTube
2023 Genealogy Series, Session 3 of 6 - National Archives at St. Louis: Understanding the 1973 NPRC Fire and Its Impact on Genealogical Research by Eric Kilgore
Eric Kilgore is an Archives Specialist from the National Archives at St. Louis

1. 20th Century Allen County Veteran's Honor Roll on ACGSI.org
2. 21st Century Allen County Veteran's Honor Roll on ACGSI.org
3. Our Military Heritage website with Manager Curt Witcher and Genealogy Librarian Sara Allen at The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indianaon PrimeTime39 - September 22, 2017 Season 2017 Episode 1432 | 28m 34s This area's only in-depth, live, weekly news, analysis and cultural update forum, PrimeTime 39 airs Fridays at 7:30pm.
4. Our Military Heritage continually adds new pages at The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
5. Register of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914 - in eighty-one microfilm reels are available at The Genealogy Center or can be accessed online at Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org. From Melissa Shimkus - January 31, 2013 Genealogy Gems ezine at the The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indianawith an Archive of online Genealogy Gems articles.
6. U.S. Mexico War 1846-1848 - list of Names from Indiana from the National Parks Service that ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on February 2, 1848.
7. Veterans Administration Pension Payment Cards - Microfilm - 2,544 items from The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indianaat the Internet Archive.
8. We pause in reflection Memorial Day 2014 Honor Roll of those from the area who have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq published May 27, 2014 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.

1973 The National Archives St. Louis Fire

July 7, 2023 post by the US National Archives on Facebook:

In 1973, a disastrous fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) destroyed between 16 and 18 million Official Military Personnel Files. We're marking the occasion with a three-part series on the fire and its aftermath.

On July 12, 1973, shortly after midnight, a fire was reported at the NPRC’s military personnel records building at 9700 Page Boulevard in St. Louis, MO. Within minutes, fire trucks arrived on the scene. The firemen tried to enter the sixth floor, where the fire had started, but the extreme heat prevented them. Their focus turned to fighting the fire from outside the building. Unfortunately, the partial collapse of the roof made their efforts difficult. Over the next 24 hours, numerous fire departments from the surrounding counties came to assist.

During this time, experts from the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and the Public Services Building came to the site to save as many documents as possible. Since the fire was concentrated on the south side of the building, people were still able to briefly enter the facility. The staff was aware that the fire was concentrated on the sixth floor, where Army and Air Force records were held, and they made it a priority to retrieve boxes of microfilm that held morning reports for the two branches. These reels helped staff reconstruct records that were lost in the fire and are still heavily used to this day.

The fire was finally put out on July 16, and control of the building was returned to the government. The priority was on saving the records that could be salvaged. When staff were allowed onto the sixth floor, they were pleasantly surprised to discover that some of the records on the floor had survived. Records were removed from the affected areas and brought to the parking lot, where tents were set up and employees sorted through the records.

Learn more about the NPRC fire on the Pieces of History blog

National Personnel Records Center Fire Series: The Fire

Image: Building 100 during the 1973 fire at the Military Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO, 1973.

Photograph of the South Side of Building 100 Looking to the South East Corner During the 1973 Fire at the Military Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri

#NPRC1973

1. Burnt in memory: Looking back at the 1973 St. Louis fire at The National Archives Prologue: Pieces of History blog.

2. A “fly over video” of a burned record: In previous postings the St. Louis Preservation Lab shared information about the specialized camera equipment used for imaging burned records. We included images that demonstrate our ability to recover content from charred records, providing access to information previously thought unrecoverable. In the last five months we delivered over 11,000 document page images (from heavily damaged records) to our customers. For this post we share with you a short video showing the video taken of a charred edge of a burned document in both conventional imaging and infrared. We are always looking to improve our processes. There are two camera sets we use for burned record imaging in our lab; right now, one of these sets is dedicated to testing. This week we are testing LED infrared lights to supplement the strobe lights we currently use when imaging in infrared. More updates will be provided about the technical details of our imaging work in St. Louis in future posts.

   Posted by Preservation Programs at the U.S. National Archives on Friday, February 26, 2016

   February 26, 2016 post by the inactive Preservation Programs at the U.S. National Archives on Facebook:

   A “fly over video” of a burned record:

   In previous postings the St. Louis Preservation Lab shared information about the specialized camera equipment used for imaging burned records. We included images that demonstrate our ability to recover content from charred records, providing access to information previously thought unrecoverable. In the last five months we delivered over 11,000 document page images (from heavily damaged records) to our customers. For this post we share with you a short video showing the video taken of a charred edge of a burned document in both conventional imaging and infrared.

   We are always looking to improve our processes. There are two camera sets we use for burned record imaging in our lab; right now, one of these sets is dedicated to testing. This week we are testing LED infrared lights to supplement the strobe lights we currently use when imaging in infrared. More updates will be provided about the technical details of our imaging work in St. Louis in future posts.

   Update on burned record scanning: In previous postings the St. Louis Preservation Lab shared information about the...

   Posted by Preservation Programs at the U.S. National Archives on Wednesday, July 29, 2015

   July 29, 2015 post by inactive Preservation Programs at the U.S. National Archives on Facebook:

   Update on burned record scanning:

   In previous postings the St. Louis Preservation Lab shared information about the specialized camera equipment used for imaging burned records. As an update to this, we are pleased to report that in July 2015 we went into full production, supplying digital versions of the highly damaged burned records that are used for reference requests.

   What makes this process truly unique is the information recovery component and the speed with which we are able to capture images (both visible and infrared) on one set.

   Records are typically many pages long and in most instances include fragments. In this example, a pair of fragments from the same document were aligned by a technician prior to imaging. While the information loss is nearly 100% in the visible shot, a good deal of information was recovered in the IR image.

3. Archives Recalls Fire That Claimed Millions of Military Personnel Files by Kerri Lawrence published July 23, 2018 in the National Archives News.

4. August 7, 2022 post by Today's Document on Facebook:

   On 8/7/2012, a conservator at the National Archives’ National Personnel Records Center works with records damaged by the 1973 fire that destroyed over 16 million Official Military Personnel Files.

   https://catalog.archives.gov/id/184341469...

   Series: Central Digital Photographic Assignment Files Documenting Events, Officials, Facilities, and Operations, 1/3/2006 - 12/19/2013

   Record Group 64: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789 - ca. 2007

   Image description: A conservator wearing blue nitrile gloves separates pages from a block of papers that are curled, singed, and crumbling around the edges. A rusty Acco fastener holds part of the file together.

5. Reconstructing the Past: The National Personnel Record Center Fire of 1973 by Michael Strauss posted September 28, 2022 on Fold3.

6. July 11, 2023 post by the US National Archives on Facebook:

   “It's been 50 years since the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) fire, and the National Archives and the nation are still recovering from the ashes. I’ve seen firsthand the extraordinary lengths our staff in St. Louis go to every day to piece back together the records our veterans and their families need. It's a sobering reminder of both how important and how fragile our mission can be,” said Dr. Colleen Shogan, Archivist of the United States.

   On the anniversary of the NPRC fire, the National Archives has created a new Special Topics page sharing its most comprehensive effort to document the history and resources available to understand the NPRC fire, its aftermath, and the changes it led to in policies and procedures. The new page contains records and resources related to the fire, including an extensive ongoing oral history project from the National Archives Historian, images from the St. Louis Preservation Lab of how staff work with burned records, a one-page fact sheet, and a quick access link to requesting veterans’ records online.

   Learn more about these new resources on the Remembering the 1973 NPRC Fire Special Topics Page:

   https://www.archives.gov/.../2023-nprc-fire-anniversary

   Image: Records on the 6th floor being recovered months after the fire, in 1973.

   https://catalog.archives.gov/id/218517992

   #NPRC1973

7. July 12, 2023 post by Today's Document on Facebook:

   On July 12, 1973, a fire on the sixth floor of the National Archives’ Military Personnel Records Center destroyed over 16 million Official Military Personnel Files.

   https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7386462

   Record Group 64: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration
   Series: Photographs Relating to the Fire at the Military Personnel Records Center in 1973

   Image description: A long, six-story building. The window frames on the sixth floor are bent and warped from heat, and smoke is coming out of some of the openings. Fire truck ladders are reaching up to aim water at the fire.

8. July 13, 2023 post by the US National Archives on Facebook:

   Go behind the scenes to see the National Personnel Records Center's new state-of-the-art preservation lab. In 1973, a fire in NPRC's former building destroyed an estimated 16 to 18 million military personnel files. Six million more were recovered with varying degrees of fire and water damage. As individual files are requested, preservation technicians painstakingly treat the documents for damage and mold.

   Preservation Lab at the National Archives, St. Louis video on YouTube

   #NPRC1973

9. August 21, 2023 post by the US National Archives on Facebook:

   The disastrous fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in 1973 not only destroyed millions of military personnel records, but the after-effects had long-term repercussions on the facility and the National Archives staff.

   Despite employees being permitted to return to the building after two months, the facility had undergone significant changes due to the fire. Personnel reported that the building still smelled like a fire long after it had been cleaned. The sixth floor suffered considerable damage and was demolished, with a new roof built in its place. As a result, there was less storage and office space than before.

   A 1977 General Services Administration (GSA) study revealed that many other facilities had similar risks as the NPRC. The report detailed how these other locations could mitigate the risks of a fire. Unfortunately, there is no way to completely stop the risks and in 1978 a fire broke out in one of the vaults at the Washington National Records Center in Suitland, MD, destroying 12 million feet of newsreel.

   In 2011, The NPRC moved to a new facility in St. Louis. Staff relocated over a hundred million records from the old facility, including burnt records. Even though the location has changed, there are dedicated teams assigned to answering requests for records that were damaged in the fire.

   Learn more about the aftermath of the 1973 fire on the Pieces of History blog:

   National Personnel Records Center Fire Series: The Aftermath

   #NPRC1973

Fort Wayne men who served with Colonel George Armstrong Custer in 1876

Private John Noonan is shown second from right in this public domain photo with Colonel George Armstrong Custer from the page Bloody Knife . He was an American Indian who served as a scout and guide for the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment. He was the favorite scout of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and has been called "perhaps the most famous Native American scout to serve the U.S. Army." The bear Custer shot and later said to be his greatest hunting achievement was during his Black Hills Expedition (1874) both on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

On June 25, 1876, exactly 144 years ago today, Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer led the 7th Calvary into the Battle...

Posted by The History Center on Thursday, June 25, 2020

Thursday, June 25, 2020 post by The History Center on Facebook:

On June 25, 1876, exactly 144 years ago today, Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer led the 7th Calvary into the Battle of the Little Bighorn, an event known to the ages as “Custer’s Last Stand.” Amongst the nearly 700 men of the 7th Calvary were 19 young men from Indiana, including Private George A. Bott and Corporal John Noonan of Fort Wayne. In May 1876, 12 companies of the 7th Calvary left Fort Abraham Lincoln in Dakota Territory and marched to the Yellowstone River. On June 15th, Corporal Noonan of Company L was detached to the Yellowstone Depot and thus he survived the Battle of Little Bighorn. Private Bott of Company A participated in the actual fighting and emerged unscathed. Little is known about Bott’s later life; however, Noonan’s life is better documented.

John Noonan (3rd from the left) was born in Fort Wayne in 1847; though not much is known about his early life in our community, he did enlist in the U.S. Army in 1865 in Fort Wayne and served until 1868. Noonan reenlisted in 1872 and would eventually serve with the 7th Calvary for four years. In 1873, John Noonan married Mrs. James Nash, a laundress and midwife at Fort Lincoln. On October 30, 1878, Noonan’s wife passed away while he was out in the field. On her deathbed, Mrs. Noonan requested that she be quickly buried and in the same clothes that she died in. Disregarding these wishes, the deceased was given to the women of the fort in order to prepare her body for burial. During preparation, it was discovered that Mrs. Noonan was a man. As one historian described: “When the truth was finally known, Noonan became the butt of many uncomplimentary jokes. Eventually it was more than he could handle.” After enduring weeks of insults from his peers, on November 30, 1878 John Noonan shot himself and died of this self-inflicted wound. Both Mr. and Mrs. Noonan were buried in the post cemetery and upon the closure of Ft. Lincoln were moved along with the rest of the cemetery’s residents to the Custer National Cemetery in Montana. #sociallyhistory

George A. Bott a private was born in 1853 Fort Wayne, it is unknown when or where he died, and John Noonan (John McKinney) a corporal born in 1846 Fort Wayne, committed suicide November 30, 1878, at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory. His suicide is explained in the article Noonan’s Last Stand “We was flabbergasted” written by Paul Andrew Hutton was published December 01, 2005 in True West Preserving the American West magazine. Both men served in the Seventh U.S. Cavalry under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer. On June 25, 1876, Custer’s troops were defeated at the Battle of Little Big Horn in Montana. The Indiana Historical Society has a three page paper the List of Indiana Soldiers Who Served with Custer in the Seventh Cavalry, Extracted from Men with Custer: Biographies of the 7th Cavalry in 1876, edited by Ronald H. Nichols (2000) by Paul A. Carr and Melinda Moore Weaver. Biographies for these men are found in the book Men With Custer: Biographies of the 7th Calvary, June 25, 1876, edited by Ronald H. Nichols (Hardin, MT: Custer Battlefield Historical and Museum Association, 2000).

The Men Who Won 'Custer's Last Stand' video about David Humphreys Miller from Van Wert, Ohio while a high school student traveled to South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, interviewed and painted portraits of the the survivors of the 1876 Battle of the Little Big Horn by Eric Olson published March 23, 2017 on 21AliveNews.com .

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Allen County Military Information

November 14, 2023 post by the Allen County Recorder's Office on Facebook:

Last week Recorder Nicole Keesling was joined by Allen County Commissioner Rich Beck, Allen County Veteran Services Officer Joe Wasson, Allen County Surveyor Mike Fruchey, and Prosecutor Mike McAlexander from the Allen County Prosecutor's Office for a press conference on the services that are available to the over 22,000 veterans that live in Allen County.

21Alive

Allen County Veterans’ Service Office assists veterans and their families: “It is our turn to help them.”

The Journal Gazette

County prosecutor gets veteran rewards card from recorder's office

1. American Legion Post 241, 7605 Bluffton Road, on Facebook.
2. American Legion - Fort Wayne, Indiana Post #499, 2202 West Main Street, on Facebook.
3. Disabled American Veterans Chapter#40 Allen County, Indiana on Facebook.
4. Military History of Fort Wayne on Facebook.
5. VFW Jim Eby Post 857 Organizationwas originally Chartered on January 13, 1922. It is the 2nd oldest. 2202 West Main Street, on Facebook.

October 8, 2019 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Since the founding of the first American fort at the Three Rivers on October 22, 1794, there has been a continuous American military presence in our community. During the month of October, the History Center celebrates our military heritage by sharing artifacts covering the last 225 years. Today we share some artifacts from our collection representing the military presence in our county from the 20th century. #sociallyhistory

1. Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services, 1841 Allen County in the State of Indiana lists 3 names: Michael Crance 97 Wayne, Charles Weeks 79 Perry, William Berry 76 Cedar. (Source: Internet Archive)
2. List of Pensioners on the Roll January 1, 1883  on page 4-8 from Allen County, Indiana
3. History of the 160th Ind. vol. infantry in the Spanish-American war, with biographies of officers and enlisted men and rosters of the companies.. by George B Bowers on Archive.org.
4. GE’s WWI memorial merits care A memorial to GE workers who served in World War I was erected by fellow employees on Nov. 11, 1924, has hundreds of names on it, all GE employees who served in World War I. Included are the names of six GE employees who died in the war. By Frank Gray published November 20, 2012 in The Journal Gazette newspaper. General Electric Company Donates WWI Memorial to City on City of Fort Wayne Indiana Parks & Recreation. On May 24, 2013, the City of Fort Wayne rededicated it at its new location in McCulloch Park from GE Donates World War 1 Memorial to Fort Wayne, Indiana by PB Cora published May 29, 2013 on WWI Centenail Network America Remembers the Great War.
5. The Purple Heart by Nancy McCammon-Hansen posted January 7, 2015 on the History Center Notes & Queries blog.

August 30, 2023 post by the City of Fort Wayne Government on Facebook:

A tribute to our veterans.

Residents are invited to attend a dedication ceremony for the new Fort Wayne Veterans Memorial Bridge on Sunday, September 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Read more: COMMUNITY INVITED TO FORT WAYNE VETERANS MEMORIAL BRIDGE DEDICATION

John McGauley

War Veteran Stories

1. Legacies of WWII were published by The News-Sentinel newspaper online but disappeared when the site went offline in October 2023. Articles should be on newspaper microfilm at the The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
2. LEGACIES OF the KOREAN WAR and HONOR FLIGHT stories also went offline.
3. Honor Flight Northeast Indiana always in search for more volunteers and veterans - May 11, 2018 - In J.M. Flagg's infamous recruiting poster released in the thick of World War I, Uncle Sam's emphatic finger point with the phrase "I Want YOU for the U.S. Army" was ingrained into the memory of the generations of people that fought in World War I and World War II.
4. HONOR FLIGHT: Marine artilleryman Ken Bosworth can still recall horrific carnage of battle on Okinawa - May 9, 2018 - This is the third in a series of stories on local veterans that took part in the Honor Flight Northeast Indiana trip to Washington D.C. on April 25. 
5. HONOR FLIGHT: Dewey Price finds a serene retirement in Nappanee after serving in Vietnam, Bosnia and Iraq - May 8, 2018 - This is the second in a series of stories on local veterans that took part in the Honor Flight Northeast Indiana trip to Washington D.C. on April 25.
6. HONOR FLIGHT: After seven decades, memories of Okinawa still fresh for Huntertown’s Walter Hansen - May 7, 2018 - It has been 73 years since Huntertown resident Walter Hansen fought on Okinawa, yet the vivid memories and emotions are as if it happened yesterday. Hansen does not shy away from speaking about the majority of his experiences in World War II.
7. American Veterans Show is a YouTubeof local veterans posted since January 2012 by Dale Parish filmed by Fort Wayne Public Access at the Allen County Public Library.
8. Homeless veteran to receive military burial: Area groups honor a man whose life remains a mystery by Rosa Salter Rodriquez published March 30, 2016 in The Journal Gazette newspaper now on Internet Archive Wayback Machine. Photos of the Funeral of John Pawlowski were published March 31, 2016 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
9. An ocean away, Fort Wayne native Brandon Parrish serves in U.S. navy, lives in Europe, supports NATO mission 2012 South Side High School graduate and Fort Wayne native by Brian T. Glunt publilshed August 11, 2018 in The News-Sentinel newspaper.

10. October 26, 2022 post by Kayleen Reusser Media on Facebook:

    Army vet Mike Blough greets Army vet Fritz Bultemeyer and Air Force vet Dr. Al Brothers. Mrs. Bultemeyer, also an Army vet, looks on. Whew! The book launch for Voices From Vietnam: Stories of War in my hometown of Bluffton Indiana is over! A great group of people showed up at the Wells County Public Library to meet and talk with some of the 18 men featured in this book....

    Book launch for ‘Voices From Vietnam: Stories of War’ Is in the Books! at Writing of Kayleen Reusser blog.

Indiana Military Information

November 24, 2023 post by Indiana Historical Bureau on Facebook:

#OTD in 1889, veterans arrived in Marion to help construct the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (NHDVS). At the end of the Civil War, the U.S. undertook care of disabled Union veterans in a system of homes known as the NHDVS which provided members health care, training, work, and recreation events.

In 1920, the Marion branch was converted into a neuropsychiatric hospital for World War I veterans. As part of the VA Northern Indiana Health Care System, the facility continues to care for veterans. Learn more about the NHDVS with our Indiana state historical marker: Marion Branch NHDVS

The image below, showing the grounds of the Marion NHDVS, is from the Indiana State Library Genealogy Collection.

1. 1812 Burials in the State of Indiana compliments of Society of the War of 1812 in the State of Indiana
2. Finding Indiana Records by the Indiana Historical Society states: Military Records National Archives: www.archives.gov Compiled military service records, individual pension records, and bounty land records, many can now be ordered online or by mail. Some are also searchable on their website. Indiana State Archives: http://www.indianadigitalarchives.org.
3. Indiana Military Records wiki at FamilySearch.org.
4. Indiana Military Records on INGenWeb
5. Indiana State Library World War II Servicemen Database Index is an index of Indianapolis newspapers (News, Star, and Times) for notices of casualties, missing military personnel, prisoners, and decorations of Indiana servicemen and women.
6. Indiana Soldiers & Sailors Children's Home
7. Record of Indiana Volunteers in the Spanish-American War 1898-1899
8. Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's Home
9. Indiana Veterans of World War I
10. Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975 About this collection Following the conclusion of the French Indochina War in 1954, Vietnam was divided into communist North Vietnam and noncommunist South Vietnam. In the late 1950s, North Vietnam activated communist cadres in the South in an effort to take the country by force. Concerned that these actions might trigger a wider war in the area, America pursued intervention eventually committing armed forces in March 1965. Hoosiers volunteered and/or were drafted to serve in all military capacities during what became a controversial conflict at home (known in America as the Vietnam War). In 1973, the Paris Peace Accords were signed. U.S. troops were withdrawn and many prisoners of war were repatriated. North Vietnamese forces overran the South Vietnamese army by 1975 and created a unified, communist Vietnam. At We Do History online digital collection by the Indiana Historical Society.

United States Military Information

1. 1812 Poetic Poem To the Generous Patrons of the Argus on Library of Congress.
2. War of 1812 Pensions http://go.fold3.com/1812pensions/ Preserve the Pension donations http://www.fgs.org/cstm_PreserveThePensions.php
3. American Battle Monuments Commission - government site commemorates armed forces
4. America's Wars - how many served in each war from Department of Veteran Affairs
5. The Badge of Military Merit / The Purple Heart explains the history of the Purple Heart medal originating from August 7, 1782 when General George Washington devised two new badges of distinction for enlisted men and noncommissioned officers on the U.S. ARMY CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY website.
6. Clues for Discovering Military Service by Amy Johnson Crow

7. November 11, 2022 by US National Archives on Facebook:

   History Hub - Are you searching for Navy deck logs or Army unit histories? Records from the Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard?

   Get started researching your family's military service history with #HistoryHub's Military Records Community this #VeteransDay. Military Records.

8. History of Veterans Day from United States Department of Veteran Affairs
9. How did “Taps” originate? by Elizabeth Nix published April 15, 2016 on History.com.
10. The 1973 Fire, National Personnel Records Center at The National Archivesat St. Louis. On July 12, 1973, a disastrous fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) destroyed approximately 16-18 million Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF). The fire destroyed 80% of records for Army personnel discharged November 1, 1912 to January 1, 1960 and 75% of Air Force personnel discharged September 25, 1947 to January 1, 1964 (with names alphabetically after Hubbard, James E.).
11. Memorial Day History at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
12. The National ArchivesVeterans' Service Records and Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773 - 2007
13. National Cemetery Administration at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
14. The Remarkable and Complex Legacy of Native American Military Service Why do they serve? The answer is grounded in honor and love for their homeland by Alicia Ault Museums Correspondent November 11, 2020 in Smithsonian Magazine. See our Indians - Native Americans page.
15. Ordering a Headstone, Marker or Medallion for a Veteran Buried in a Private Cemetery at United States Department of Veteran Affairs - The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 38.632 "Headstone and Marker Application Process" became effective on July 1, 2009. This regulation describes the processes required to apply for a Government headstone and marker, as well as request a new emblem of belief be added to the list of emblems available for inscription on headstones and markers. ... If someone other than the NOK is applying for the headstone, marker or medallion, the application package must include a written statement signed by the NOK or decedent authorizing that person (the applicant) to apply for this benefit. A notarized statement is not required for these purposes.
16. United States, Veterans Administration Pension Payment Cards, 1907-1933 - on FamilySearch.org
17. Veteran History Project - The Library of Congress - the American Folklife Center collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war.

18. September 2, 2019 post by GenTracer on Facebook:

    Describes the removal and conditions of our treatment of Enemy Aliens (Japanese, German, and Italian) during World War II. Presented 21 February 2019 at Cafe Grand Prix in Salt Lake City, UT.

    [ starts with World War I Alien Camps ]

19. May 20, 2023 post by Amy Johnson Crow on Facebook:

    What does "No man left behind" truly mean? For Megan Smolenyak, it means working to identify service members from past conflicts, finding their families, and bringing them home in the process of military repatriation.

    She and I discuss Army Repatriation - a perfect topic with Memorial Day approaching. It’s time to continue to honor our fallen soldiers - and help them finally return to their families.

    Learn more here: https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/army-repatriation.../

20. January 10, 2024 post by WANE 15 on Facebook:

    During Governor Eric Holcomb’s final State of the State address, the widow of a fallen marine was honored. He recognized Lauren Tomkiewicz's efforts to create a new design for license plates for Gold Star Families.

    Governor Holcomb honors Fort Wayne widow during State of the State

21. February 1, 2024 post by VFW Jim Eby Post 857 Organization on Facebook:

    FEBRUARY 1 is known as Blue Star Mother's Day!

    To all mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, foster mothers, and female legal guardians who have children serving in the military, guard or reserves, or children who are veterans. They support each other and their children while promoting patriotism.

    Thank you!

    VFW Post 857

AncestryPaths.com has several pages with links to Archive.org or Google ebooks - they all are searchable and freely available

1. Official Army Register for the United States - United States Army register 1813 to 1969. Early years are clustered around war years.
2. DAR Lineage Book first 60 volumes of the DAR Lineage Books.
3. DAR National Directory 1896 to 1911 containing names, addresses and national member numbers for over 50,000 DAR members.
4. Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine 29 volumes spanning 30 years (1893 to 1923).
5. Medals of Honor 1862-1923 four volumes
   
6. Official Register of the United States 90 volumes of the Official Register of the United States 1816 to 1959. Include names and salaries of all civil servants and in some cases members of the military as well.
7. Register of the Department of State Persons employed in the department and diplomatic, consular and territorial service. 38 volumes cover 1870 to 1950 showing staff names and salaries.
8. Society of Colonial Wars over 85 books covering the officers and members of the Society of Colonial Wars written between 1893 and 1921. National membership level and State level.
9. Sons of the American Revolution over 130 books published between 1889 and 1930, details about the membership, including the National Society and State level societies.
10. Sons of the Revolution links to 150 books published between 1884 and 1923 with details about the membership, including the National Society and State level societies.
11. United States Revolution Military pensions interesting collection of books covering the Revolutionary War Military Pension lists and property rights for soldiers.