Indiana, World War I, Enrollment Cards, 1919 - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
Index and images of Statement of Service Cards of Indianans who served in the United States Army, Navy, Coast Guard, or Marines during World War I. Each soldier has one or two cards giving information on his/her military service, such as name, serial number, residence, place, and date of birth, military organizations he/she served in, rank, engagements participated in, wounds or injuries received, dates serving overseas, discharge date, percentage disabled, and additional remarks. The collection is located at the Indiana State Archives in Indianapolis.

See also Susan Goss Johnston "World War I Statement of Service Cards" NGS Magazine 43 (July-September 2017): 42-25.

Related Digital Book
 * Indiana Historical Commission. Gold star honor roll : a record of Indiana men and women who died in the service of the United States and the allied nations in the World War, 1914-1918. Indianapolis,Indiana: Indiana Historical Commission, 1921.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
These records may contain:
 * The name of the soldier
 * The serial number
 * Residence
 * Place, and date of birth
 * Military organizations he/she served in
 * Rank and engagements he/she participated in
 * Wounds or injuries received
 * Dates serving overseas
 * Discharge date
 * Percentage disabled

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the individual
 * The date of the event

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. The information may also lead you to other records about your ancestors.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the names, age and residence to find census records including the 1910 and 1920 census. The 1930 also identifies World War I veterans.
 * Look for discharge records. Many veterans registered their discharges at the local county courthouse.
 * Look for membership applications at the local American Legion Post.
 * Look for a published military unit history.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor and that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times.

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. Pay special attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try variations on the pronunciation
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well
 * Immigrant first names may be in their native language
 * Look at the 1910 census to identify names and ages of additional family members

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Indiana.
 * US Military Basic Search Strategies
 * Beginning United States World War I Research
 * Indiana Guided Research
 * Indiana Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1900 &#124; 1900-Present
 * Beginning Research in United States Military Records

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.