FREE
Castro Valley Library, 3600 Norbridge Ave, Castro Valley, CA. Sunday, November 8, 2026, 2PM – 4PM
What you will learn
• Access military records from major archives and databases
• Interpret DD-214s, draft cards, and service records
• Use census and muster rolls to trace service
• Create storytelling from veteran oral histories and personal accounts
* Create and share a meaningful memorial page
Session Abstract:
Unlock Your Ancestors’ Military Records: Critical documents, resources, and techniques to create military service stories. Discover the hidden stories of veterans in your family. This seminar shows how U.S. military records can enrich genealogy research by revealing an ancestor’s life, service, and character. Learn step-by-step methods to access records from the National Archives, FamilySearch, fold3, and online resources. Explore how to interpret DD-214 forms, locate draft registrations, use census and muster records to trace service and deployments. Hear veteran oral histories that bring records to life with personal context. Participants will learn to create a lasting memorial page honoring service.
About The Speaker: Ron Chan
Ron is a seasoned lecturer on family history documentation best practices, captivating audiences worldwide at genealogy workshops and libraries across the San Francisco Bay Area. As a published genealogy author, he has a passion for storytelling and teaches innovative technologies to bring ancestral tales to life. Ron is the Founder and Executive Director of the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group, dedicated to preserving ancestral stories. He is also a co-founder of the Chinese American GI Project, ensuring that veterans’ legacies are not lost, forgotten, or ignored. Ron shares with you how to capture and share family struggles of the past so future generations can embrace, remember, and learn from those who came before.