Key Takeaways

With living WWII veterans falling below 1%, preserving their heroic narratives and invaluable stories is a profound urgency.
Ancestry helps uncover family connections with over 50 million WWII records and other vital military resources.
Victory was secured by front-line soldiers and the unheralded contributions of those fighting in secret or battling injustice.

This Veterans Day, as we continue to honor the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, we are faced with a profound urgency: the need to preserve the heroic narratives of the generation that risked their lives to ensure our freedom. The estimated number of living WWII veterans has fallen below 60,000, less than 1% of the 16 million who served, making every surviving story an invaluable national treasure.

Ancestry is committed to ensuring these memories and the crucial impact of these heroes live on through our new initiative, “Thank You For Your Story,” launched in partnership with the WWII Veterans History Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to documenting these important firsthand accounts. This effort preserves 80 veterans’ stories from the WWII Veterans History Project archive and is our enduring way of saying, “Thank You for Your Service,” and connecting generations to the experiences of those who served.

A Two-Front War: Courage Beyond the Battlefield

Victory in World War II was secured not only by soldiers on the front lines, but by the unheralded contributions of those who fought in secret and those who battled injustice within their own ranks.

Daniel Keel, U.S. Army Air Forces, Tuskegee Airman Flight Officer. Photo courtesy of the WWII Veterans History Project.

The experience of Flight Officer Daniel Keel, a Tuskegee Airman from Mineola, New York, exemplifies the profound racism that Black military personnel faced within a segregated military during WWII. Serving in the U.S. Army Air Forces—the precursor to the modern U.S. Air Force—Keel achieved the rare distinction of becoming one of only three Black officers to earn a triple rating as a navigator, bombardier, and pilot. This accomplishment, however, did not shield him from the relentless, systemic discrimination shared by hundreds of thousands of his generation, which highlights the stark contradiction of fighting for freedom overseas while being denied it at home.

Florence Johnson, U.S. Navy WAVES, “Code Girl”. Photo courtesy of the WWII Veterans History Project.

The intellectual firepower of service members in top-secret roles provided a vital edge for Allied victory. One of these people was Florence Johnson, of the U.S. Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service), who worked as a cryptologist at the codebreaking center in Washington, DC. As part of a vast corps of women known as \"Code Girls,\" Johnson worked in grueling shifts to decipher a constant flow of intercepted German messages. The critical intelligence these women produced saved countless lives by giving American commanders a decisive advantage in battle. Johnson's story reveals the immense responsibility and essential contribution of those whose clandestine work was fundamental to the war effort.

Resilience on the Front Lines of Europe

The bravery demonstrated on the ground during intense campaigns shaped the fate of the world. Two veterans, Irving Locker and Vernon Brantley, offer deeply impactful insights into the chaos during the European theater and the resilience required of them.

Irving Locker, U.S. Army, Staff Sergeant - Anti-Aircraft Artillery. Photo courtesy of the WWII Veterans History Project.

At the young age of 19, Staff Sergeant Irving Locker, commanded a four-gun battery with the 116th Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) Gun Battalion. His war on the front lines began on D-Day when he landed on Utah Beach. From there, he fought in five major battles, including the brutal Battle of the Bulge, and helped liberate the Gardelegen concentration camp. His account provides a harrowing look into some of the most pivotal moments in the liberation of Europe.

Vernon Brantley, U.S. Army, Private First Class Infantry. Photo courtesy of the WWII Veterans History Project.

As a jeep driver with the 289th Infantry Regiment, Private First Class Vernon Brantley was thrust into the chaos of the Battle of the Bulge, where he was wounded and, for six weeks, mistakenly listed as missing in action (MIA). After recovering, he returned to combat in Holland and Germany, helping to capture thousands of German soldiers near the Elbe River. When the fighting ended, he served in the vital post-war occupation and reconstruction efforts in Germany. Brantley’s journey captures the full arc of a soldier's experience in Europe.

Tangible Connections to Iconic Moments

Rodney Homer Adams, U.S. Navy Motor Machinist, First Class. Photo courtesy of the WWII Veterans History Project.

Rodney Homer Adams, a Motor Machinist, First Class in the U.S. Navy, enlisted in November 1942. Adams was assigned to PT-59, a patrol boat commanded by future President John F. Kennedy. Adams saw intense combat during the Solomon Islands campaign, participating in missions that JFK himself once described as “packed with a great deal in the way of death.” Adams remained under Kennedy’s command until March 1944. His story connects the sacrifice of an ordinary serviceman with one of America’s most iconic figures, and provides a tangible link to history: parts of his PT Boat, PT-59, were salvaged and are now on display at Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts.

Uncovering Your Family’s Wartime Experiences

These powerful narratives shared through “Thank You For Your Story” underscore a crucial point: In a recent Ancestry survey, nearly all people (97%) emphasize the importance of preserving and sharing WWII experiences for future generations. Yet, according to that same survey, 80% of people acknowledge knowing little to nothing about their own family's World War II experiences. More than half of those surveyed only learned these stories through books or documentaries, underscoring a significant gap in personal family history knowledge.

This Veterans Day, Ancestry is helping to close that gap. As the global leader in family history, Ancestry makes it easier to uncover your family's WWII connections and experiences by bringing together millions of records. We hold over 50 million WWII records, and with a seamless way to preserve heirlooms, countless untold stories await discovery.

To help everyone discover their own connections to this pivotal era, Ancestry is providing free access from November 10th to November 12th to over 200 million U.S military records. This includes vital resources like WWII draft cards, which offer a snapshot into what your ancestors’ lives were like at the time.

We invite everyone to explore these powerful narratives documented by the WWII Veterans History Project, and to take the first steps toward learning more about their family's connections to World War II at ancestry.com/wwii. It is more important than ever to ensure the stories of these veterans—our heroic ancestors—are not lost forever. Current and former military personnel can also save 20% on an All Access membership to continue discovering their family history.

About the WWII Veterans History Project

The WWII Veterans History Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission to give the past a future, one story at a time. We're dedicated to educating and inspiring future generations to better appreciate the sacrifices made by the greatest generation through documentary films, traveling museum exhibitions, and educational programs. Founded by Benjamin Mack-Jackson in 2015, our organization has impacted veterans and students alike, preserving countless war stories and encouraging students to reflect on the past and its lasting impact.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the significance of researching WWII history this year?
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII, and the number of living veterans from that war has fallen below 1%, making the preservation of these stories critically urgent.
How can Ancestry help me find my personal connection to WWII?
Ancestry is committed to helping people uncover their family's WWII connections using its vast collections, including over 50 million WWII records and free access to 200 million U.S. military records from November 10th at 4 pm MT to November 12th at 8 am MT.
How do I turn WWII facts from the records into my ancestor’s story?
With just one click, Ancestry members can use the StoryScout tool to discover stories about what their family members may have experienced during the WWII era. Simply enter a family member’s name and where they might have lived and you can be given rich, visual stories.

*Ancestry WWII Survey 2025
Research methodology: Weber Shandwick and Ancestry commissioned Atomik Research to conduct an online survey of 1,005 adults throughout the United States. The makeup of the sample is representative of the U.S. population based on national census data regarding demographic variables such as gender, age, race, ethnicity and geographical regions. The margin of error for the overall sample is +/- 3 percentage points with a confidence level of 95 percent. Fieldwork took place between May 16 and May 20, 2025.

Preserving the Stories of WWII Heroes