Instructions
1Visit the website Ancestry. The website has digitized the draft cards of men born between Sept. 11, 1872 and Sept. 12, 1900. These men would be age eligible for service in World War I. You may be required to pay for this service. Be sure to provide the site with as much information as you know, so you can easily narrow down your search. If you know first, last and middle name of the soldier, put this in the search fields. If you know the address of the soldier, even better. The more information, the more likely you are to find the soldier you're looking for.
2
Research microfilm records. The Mormon Church of Latter-day Saints has WWI military records on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Look for military records, then search by location and Selective Service records from 1917 to1918. Some larger cities may be listed separately from the rest of the county. Chicago, Illinois soldiers, for example, would be listed under Chicago instead of Cook County. View the details of the microfilm roll and note the number so you can easily request the roll be sent to a Family History Center near you.
3
Visit your local library. If you're researching a local WWI hero, chances are the librarian at your town's main library branch will be able to assist you in your search. Birth and death certificates should be available at your county clerk's office, but the library will be the most likely place to find newspaper clippings and even old yearbooks in which the soldier was featured. You also may want to ask around town; some of the soldier's ancestors may still be living in the area. It's always informative to speak with people who can give you the most interesting details of a soldier's life.