In the Fall of 2023 I was fortunate enough to work with Florida-France Soldier Stories, a UCF based organization working to bring the stories of fallen World War II veterans to life.
Working with Dr. Amelia Lyons, I learned new and exciting methods of research and sharpened my writing skills and editing skills
The goal of FFSS is to produce biographies for Floridian veterans who died in service during WWII and were laid to rest in American Battle Monument Commission cemeteries in France. These biographies are the result of exhaustive research the provides primary and secondary sources to help illustrate the lives and legacies of these fallen soldiers.
Draft Card of Jake Willard Stephens. Source: U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, Ancestry.com
Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial. Source: Florida-France Soldier Stories, University of Central FloridaFor my service-learning project, I was tasked with completing initial research on a veteran interred at the Lorraine American Cemetery in north-eastern France. The sources I found will be used for a future biography commemorating Private First Class Jake Stephens of the 79th Infantry Division.
I was also assigned a previously drafted biography to be edited before publishing. This is a very important step in the process as it allows multiple members of the FFSS team to correct inaccuracies and confirm the work follows the established conventions.
For a more detailed report on my work with FFSS, please review the following links: