Have You Checked for Fold3 Memorials?

In my presentations about Fold3, I demonstrate how to search the 39 million Memorial pages devoted to veterans and others, not just from the US but from other countries as well. (NOTE: Fold3 is owned by Ancestry, which also owns FindaGrave. It acquired the UK-based Forces War Records last year, merging it into Fold3.)

Some local and state libraries (and some FamilySearch libraries) offer free access to Fold3, which is also available with an all-access Ancestry subscription. Or you can start a free 7-day trial here. Sign in to begin your search.

Start from home page

To check for any ancestors who might be represented in the Memorials, start at the bottom of Fold3 home page, where you'll see a red banner to Search all Memorials. (Shown in image at top.)

On the search page that comes next, you can select a country or US state, a war, and filter by name of your ancestor. If you just want to get a sense of what a Memorial looks like, browse the full list and select one to view.

Lt. James Vernon Goss

I viewed the Memorial for US Army Air Corps Lt. James Vernon Goss, who died when his plane was hit by enemy fire during WWII. Here's what his Memorial looks like, including a photo of Lt. Goss in his uniform. Details of his service are in the timeline at left.

I labeled a source link at right, which takes you to the Find a Grave page of Lt. Goss. 

Also on the right is a section called "Partners" where a nonprofit is listed: Stories Behind the Stars, which encourages volunteers to research and write the stories of military men and women who died in the service of their country. I've bookmarked this site to explore later!

Getting in touch

The "owner" of Lt. Goss's Memorial, below the Partners heading, is a Fold3 member with the user name HideandSeek69. 

She added the photo and info on the page, and she is the only person authorized to add to the Memorial. 

Since her user name is blue, it's clickable. Go ahead and click!

Her member page shows all her contributions to Fold3. Over the years, she has written brief bios for dozens of service members and posted them on Fold3, with photos when available. 

Now notice the red "contact me" button that's located below the member's name and start date. This is how you can get in touch with a member if you recognize one of the service members and want to exchange info. 

Check for your ancestors

Follow this process to check Fold3 for any Memorials honoring your ancestors. Review the life events and photos posted, review any photos, and pay attention to the "owner" or authorized contributors so you can try to get in touch. 

A Fold3 Memorial page might serve as cousin bait, as well as a very good way to memorialize an ancestor fallen in the line of duty.

V Is For Veteran

Although Veterans Day has come and gone, I'm still submitting edits or making edits on Find a Grave to designate the veterans in my family tree. It's a way of honoring my ancestors who served in the military, memorialized on a site that is free, searchable, and accessible worldwide. 

At top, the edit screen for my cousin Harry Pitler's Find a Grave memorial, which I created and maintain. To edit, I moved the veteran designation to indicate Harry was a veteran. Once I clicked "save changes," the memorial showed a tiny V next to his name, as in the screen capture directly above.

For memorials I don't manage, I submit edits. Below, the "suggest edits" screen for my cousin Michael Marks. I moved the designation marker to indicate that Michael was a veteran and clicked "save suggestions." This edit will be sent to the person who maintains Michael's memorial on Find a Grave. Since Michael's gravestone lists his military service, I'm sure the veteran designation will be quickly approved and visible on his memorial page. UPDATE: Less than 24 hours later, this and all other "veteran" designation edits I submitted were approved!

When you have a few minutes, why don't you take a look at the Find a Grave memorials for your ancestors who served in the military. If they are not designated as veterans, you can submit edits to add the V for Veteran on their memorials, as another way to honor their service to country. 

The WWII Veteran Who Enlisted at Age 45

Looking at my hubby's family tree, I noticed something unusual about one World War II enlistment: my husband's 2c1r, Fred A. Rinehart (1897-1986), enlisted in October of 1942 and wasn't discharged until mid-1946 (see image at right).

This is the first time that I've researched anyone in the 20th century who joined the US Army at age 45, and served until he was nearly 49 years old.

Digging deeper, I located Fred's obit in the Sacramento Bee in January, 1986. Mystery solved.

Fred was a US Army Chaplain during World War II. He was the son of a minister but didn't become a minister himself until after he was married. (His brother Hugh S. Rinehart also became a minister, by the way.)

From painter to minister

Fred's WWI draft registration card shows him working for a body company in Cleveland, Ohio, supporting his parents. In the 1920 US Census, his occupation was "painter." He was supporting both his wife Lucille and his mother-in-law, Dora. His occupation changed after that Census.

In the 1930 US Census, his occupation was "pastor, village church" in Moorefield, Ohio. Also in the household were his wife and his 10-year-old daughter. In the 1938 city directory for Cincinnati, Ohio, Fred was listed as pastor of two Methodist Episcopal churches. 

In the 1940 US Census, he and his wife and 20-year-old daughter were living in Cincinnati, and his occupation was "minister." Fred's 1942 WWII draft card showed him living in Ohio, working for the Methodist Conference in Cincinnati. 

In the 1950 US Census, Fred and his wife and his daughter plus two granddaughters were living in California, where his occupation was "minister." City directories for various places in California show Fred as a clergyman from the 1950s through the 1970s. By 1981, his occupation in the city directory was listed as "retired."

Reverend Rinehart, Army chaplain

Fred's name appears in a detailed history of the 80th General Hospital unit in the Philippines. He served as a chaplain there from March to May of 1945, when the hospital was involved in evacuation activities and dealing with an overload of patients. I'm still hoping to learn more about his service before and after his time in the Philippines. 

In January 1986, Fred was laid to rest in Fairmont Memorial Park, Fairfield, Solano County, California. His obit mentions not only his decades of ministry but also his membership as a Mason and in the Order of the Eastern Star. He was survived by his wife, daughter, two granddaughters, and five great-grandchildren. In all, he served 48 years as a minister, including nearly 4 years as an Army chaplain.

It's my honor to write about Fred's dedication to service in peace and in war, keeping his memory alive for the future as Veterans Day approaches.

This week's #52Ancestors genealogy prompt, by Amy Johnson Crow, is war and peace.

Honor Roll: Part 5, Korean War Veterans from Bethlehem, Connecticut

This is my final post transcribing names of military veterans from memorial plaques on the historic green of Bethlehem, Connecticut. The first post in this series explains the purpose of the Honor Roll Project, originated by Heather Wilkinson Rojo and hosted here. 

Roll of Honor

Dedicated to the men and women of the town of Bethlehem who served their country during the Korean War, June 25, 1950-January 9, 1955 - Erected by the Citizens of Bethlehem, May 30, 1982

Glen C. Adams, Sr.

Richard O. Anderson

Curtiss Bate

Hugh L. Bronson

Raymond W. Brown

Frank Bosko

Robert H. Box

Elbert V. Box

Roger Clark

Frank L. Convard

Dolores A. Dauch

Robert J. Dauch

Edward D. Everitt

Gordon J. Fredsall

Kenneth Harlow

Walter L. Hunt

John T. Knudsen

Sally L. Lorensen

Gerald A. Minor

Patsy Narciso

Marvin Parris

Ralph A. Petruzzi

Vincent J. Skelte

Ernest Sommers

Earle R. Thompson

Calvin C. Wiltshire

Alan J. Woodward

Honor Roll: Part 4, Vietnam War Veterans from Bethlehem, Connecticut

In this 4th post about military memorials on the green at Bethlehem, Connecticut, I'm transcribing the wording and names of veterans from this stately plaque as part of the Honor Roll Project. My first post explains the overall project. The goal is to transcribe veterans' names and make them more accessible for descendants and relatives who search online. 

Roll of Honor

Dedicated to the young men and women of the community, who by their patriotism and loyalty served God and country during the Viet-Nam War, December 22, 1961-May 7, 1975

Erected by the citizens of Bethlehem, May 30, 1982

Glen B. Adams

J. Rodney Albert

Arthur Banks

Stewart W. Banks

Scott H. Beardsley

John D. Benjamin

Dwight C. Bennett

Charles C. Bock

John A. Bosco, Jr.

Bonita J. Bouffard

Raymond A. Boulanger, Jr.

Roy L. Boulanger

Ronald W. Box

Thomas E. Box

Raymond W. Brown

Walter W. Brutting

David C. Butkus, Sr.

Philip P. Butkus

Raymond T. Butkus

Charles Clifford

Robert Clifford

Anthony Communale

Thomas S. Doran, Jr.

Thomas C. Fitzgerald

Brenda R. Gallop

Edward P. Goodwin

Ronald S. Graves

George S. Haburey

Scott Huber

William Huber

Wright L. Jimmo, Jr.

Richard O. Johnson

James V. Kacerguis

Matthew J. Kacerguis

Peter A. Kacerguis

Ernest T. Kleinheinz, Jr.

David A. Kmetetz

Leland W. Krake III

Thomas S. Krake

Douglas Krantz

Richard Krantz

Paul Maddox

Philip A. Mansfield

Matthew P. March, Jr.

Thomas C. McEvoy

James B. Melesky

Dustin Merrill

James W. Meskun

Gerald E. Meskun

Gearld A. Minor

Michael Mitchell

Justin F. Moore

Edward M. Nelson

David W. Nurnberger

Daniel P. O'Neil

Stephen J. Palauskas

James T. Patterson

Samuel C. Patterson

Kenneth R. Pearsall

Karl G. Pelzer

Thomas Piazza, Jr.

David A. Pierson

Michael J. Petruzzi

John E. Plungis

Gary A. Rand

John J. Rockwell

Randolph L. Richards

Ricky Russell

Anthony M. Satula

Ward M. Sheehan

James T. Shupenis

Gerald C. Stockwell

Jon F. Stockwell

Albert T. Szubka

Daniel P. Tanuis, Sr.

Charles W. Thompson, Jr.

Stephan Trapper

George C. Turner, Jr.

Arthur F. Thorsen

Porter L. Woodcock

Ronald Woodcock

Honor Roll: Part 3, WWII Veterans from Bethlehem, Connecticut

This is Part 3 in my series, photographing and transcribing names of veterans memorialized on plaques gracing the historic town green in Bethlehem, Connecticut. Part 1 explains more about the Honor Roll Project by Heather Wilkinson Rojo. This WWII plaque, unlike any of the previous Bethlehem plaques I transcribed, includes the name of a servicewoman, Ruth H. Goodrich.

Bethlehem WWII veterans plaque

The plaque intro reads:

Erected by the people of the Town of Bethlehem to commemorate the patriotism and loyalty of those who served their country during World War II. Dedicated 1947.

*Peter S. Sproule [star usually indicates war casualty]

Clifford Adams
Leon W. Banks 
Thomas C. Bate, Jr.

Samuel L. Benedict

Elbert V. Box

Ian Braley

John Butkus

John P. Butterly

Cleland E. Dopp

Terrance F. Dowling

Rev. George G. Finlay

Leon J. Grabow

Milton L. Grabow 

Ruth H. Goodrich

Paul L. Johnson

Bryan T. Keilty

John G. Kelly
Mark G. Kitchin

Robert C. Knudsen

Nicholas Krause

Carl A. Lynn

Mahlon A. Lynn

R. Elwood Lynn

Robert W. Lynn

John A. Majauskas

Wesley C. Meskun

Ames T. Minor

Truman S. Minor

George P. Oren

H. Brainard Risley

Allan S. Root

Joseph R. Sabot

Edward J. Skelte

Vincent J. Skelte

Vincent T. Skeltis

William R. Smith Jr.

Joseph A. Stevens

Waldo M. Swinton

Theodore M. Traub

Arnold S. Waldron

Elmer C. Wiltshire

Anthony F. Winslow

Alan J. Woodward

Charles F. Woodward

Earl L. Wooster Jr.

Joseph R. Shupenis

Honor Roll: Part 2, War of 1812 Veterans from Bethlehem, Connecticut

In this second part of my series of posts for Heather Wilkinson Rojo's Honor Roll Project, I photographed and transcribed this plaque honoring the military veterans of Bethlehem, Connecticut, who served America during the War of 1812. Part 1 shows veterans of Bethlehem who served in WWI and the US Civil War.

Dedicated to the Men of Bethlehem Who by Their Devotion and Loyalty Preserved Our Country in the War of 1812

Allen James

Amos Baldwin

Eli Barnum

Issac Beebe

Lyman Beecher

Oliver Burton

Daniel Coe

Samuel Church

Austin Canfield

David Fairfield

Ezra French

Benjamin Frisbie

Spencer Gibbs

George Hannah

Austin Hine

Elijah Hine

Talman Hubbell

Abijah Hyde

Levi Jackson

Adam C. Kasson

Horace Kimball

Horatio Kimball

Seymour Knapp

Philo Levenworth

Jabez Lewis

Fred Luddington

Austin Lum

Harmon Munger

Sheldon Price

Freeman Seeley

John N. Seymour

James B. Skidmore

John Smith

Joseph Steele

Jeremiah Stevens

Norman Stone

William R. Williams

Linus Wilcox

Erected by the Citizens of the Town of Bethlehem, 1987

Honor Roll: Veterans from Bethlehem, Connecticut

 

On a beautiful summer's day, Sis and I visited Veteran's Memorial Park in Bethlehem, Connecticut for a quilt show. During that visit, we photographed a number of dignified plaques remembering local veterans who served their country in the American Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War. 

Honor Roll Project

My photos and transcriptions are part of Heather Wilkinson Rojo's Honor Roll Project. Although she is not actively promoting this project these days, due to lack of interest during the pandemic years, I'm delighted she will add my Bethlehem links to her project page.

The meaning of this project, in Heather's words: "The transcribed names make the soldiers available for search engines, so that descendants and family members can find them on the internet."

This is the first in a multipart series honoring the military veterans of Bethlehem, CT whose names are inscribed on the town's memorial plaques. Part 2 features veterans from the War of 1812. Part 3 features WWII veterans. Part 4 features Vietnam War veterans. Part 5 features Korean War veterans.

Bethlehem Memorial: Civil War and WWI

This plaque reads:

A tribute to the valor of the men of Bethlehem who fought for freedom and humanity 

Civil War, 1861-1865

Frederick Adkins
Joseph Boyce
Gideon D. Crane
William B. Crane

Francis Dugan

John Ferry

George W. Garthwait

James H. Gilbert

Frederick D. Holmes

Daniel Hunt

Alexander Kasson

Edgar N. Kasson

Albert J. Lounsbury

Charles Lynn

Richard Magee

Olin Nash

Dexter Northrop

Horson Northrop

John K. Northrop

Patrick O'Rourke

James Oswald

Timothy C. Spencer

Abram B. Tolles

Philip L. Waldron

George Williams

George A. Wright

World War, 1917-1919

Harry A. Anderson

Herman A. Anderson

Vincent W. Atwood

Clark G. Bennett

Arthur E. Bloss

Elbert H. Box

Howard M. Box

Harry J. Bristol

Edward P. Crane

Leroy A. Fogg

Walter W. Holmes

Harold H. Hoyt

Raymond H. Hurlburt

Frederick C. Judd

Stanley A. Marchukaitis

Harold G. Peterson

Kenneth W. Raymond

LeRoy E. Sanford

William T. Sanford

Jesse E. Smith

William R. Smith

Joseph R. Stevens

Henry C.H. Stewart

Burras C. Traub

Check out Fold3 Links on Find a Grave Memorials

If you have military veterans in your family tree, take a look at the bottom of their Find a Grave memorials. More and more now have a direct link (see orange arrow) from Find a Grave to that veteran's Fold3 memorial page. 

This little link can lead to interesting genealogical information! It's there because Find a Grave and Fold3 are both owned by Ancestry.com.

Fold3 memorial pages are FREE

Go ahead and click the link leading to Fold3--because a memorial page is completely free to view (or create or improve).

Above is part of the Fold3 memorial page for Union Army veteran Train C. McClure, which popped up when I clicked the link from Find a Grave. I can navigate to facts (shown in timeline format), stories, gallery, and sources. 

In the facts section, you'll see that the sources of both the birth date and birth place are 1 Fgv Document. Translation: one Find a Grave page. 

What are the sources?

In the sources section of this memorial page, there are two records attached (see below). 

One is Civil War info from Fold3, and the other is the Find a Grave memorial for Pvt Train C. McClure, marked as a Fgv Document. Since Pvt McClure is in my husband's family tree, I examined everything in detail.

Other documents, images, even photos may be attached to a veteran's Fold3 memorial page, so definitely click to see what you can learn. Save whatever you can to your own computer, attach to your family trees, and follow up any clues.