Your Veteran's History — John Southard PhD

Unlock the untold stories of Your Veteran's History

Discover your veteran’s untold story with a custom package tailored to your needs — whether it’s a concise Visual Timeline, a captivating Short Story, or a Full-Length Book — each crafted with care and historical expertise.

Their story deserves to be told, their sacrifices honored, and your family given the closure and pride that comes from finally knowing Your Veteran’s History.

Professional Historians. Personalized Stories.

PhD Expertise
We are professional historians with PhDs in military history, bringing unmatched credibility to every project.

Exhaustive Research
We spend 40+ hours finding and meticulously analyzing war records, personal materials, archival documents and more to ensure that your veteran's story is fully and accurately told.

Customization
No two books, short stories or visual timelines are alike — each one is tailored to your veteran's unique experience.

The Story of
Your Veteran’s History

My parents, Kari and Dan Southard, shortly before my dad deployed to Vietnam in 1970.

Your Veteran's History was born from a deeply personal understanding of the challenges veterans have faced in sharing their experiences. My father, a U.S. Marine in Vietnam, like many who served, rarely speaks about his time in the war. For countless families, the details of their veteran's service have remained elusive, leaving them with the huge void of not knowing what their loved one experienced.

Your Veteran’s History was created to fill that void. We uncover the untold stories of veterans, bringing to light the sacrifices they made and the harsh challenges they endured. For families, it’s not just about learning history — it’s about preserving the legacy of those who served, ensuring their stories are never forgotten.

Every veteran's story matters — whether they served on the front lines or in support roles. Together, we’ll ensure their legacy endures for generations.

How We Bring Your Veteran’s History to Life

STEP 1: Tell Us About Your Veteran
Provide us with details about their service by filling out the Reconnaissance Request form below. This allows us to conduct preliminary research to confirm if enough information is available to tell their story.

STEP 2: Deep Research and Thoughtful Writing
Our team delves into military records, archival records and personal accounts to uncover the details of your veteran’s story. We connect the dots of their service history, crafting a narrative that reflects their unique journey with accuracy and meaning.

STEP 3: A Personalized Tribute You’ll Treasure Forever
Upon completion, you will receive a thoughtfully crafted tribute—whether a timeline, short story, or book—that beautifully honors your veteran’s journey and ensures their legacy is preserved for future generations..

Start the process of uncovering your veteran’s untold story below

What Families of Veterans are Saying

“Your Veteran’s History revealed that he helped liberate Nazi concentration camps and was there when Germany surrendered. To say we are immensely proud is an understatement. I can’t wait to tell the world what my grandfather did!”
- JoAnna Frias, whose grandfather served in the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II

“Your Veteran’s History not only told my uncle’s story, but also pinpointed exactly where he was killed in Vietnam and what it looks like today. Our family has finally received the closure we have been seeking for nearly 60 years.”
- Jonika Nix, whose uncle served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam

“My dad died in 2000 and never talked about his experiences in the war. We just assumed we would never learn about what he did. I am so grateful to Your Veteran’s History for uncovering my dad’s story. He was a bad ass! We had no idea!”
- Steve Simmons, whose father served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam

Invest in Your Legacy

We offer two unique ways to preserve your veteran’s legacy:

(1) The Visual Timeline and Short Story

(2) Full-Length Book

The Visual Timeline

Capture the key milestones of your veteran’s service in a beautifully designed, framed timeline. Each milestone is highlighted with a brief, engaging description of what your veteran accomplished, complete with images when available. We will mail you this 12x21 framed piece, which is perfect for displaying in your home or office, as a heartfelt gift to a loved one, and certainly as a conversation starter during get togethers. You’ll also receive a digital copy of the timeline and a book chapter-style narrative that details one of the moments in the timeline.

What you get:

(1) A beautifully designed, framed Visual Timeline - printed and shipped to your door.

(2) A compelling short story - our historians bring one key moment from the timeline to life in a detailed, book chapter-style narrative in digital form.

(3) Full digital access - receive a digital copy of both the timeline and short story straight to your inbox.

Total Cost - $498

Get Your Veteran's Timeline and Short Story

Full-Length Book

Give your veteran’s full story the tribute it deserves with a custom, hardcover book —complete with a digital version for sharing. Spanning 50 to 150 pages, this meticulously researched and beautifully written book provides a detailed account of your veteran’s active service. Filled with vivid storytelling, rare photos (when available), and even maps showing key locations, this one-of-a-kind book is a treasure your family will cherish for generations. Many families discover never-before-seen stories and details that bring their veteran’s journey to life like never before.

What you get:

(1) The Full-Length Book - printed and shipped to your door.

(2) The Visual Timeline - printed and shipped to your door with the book.

Total Cost - $2,998

Get Your Veteran's Book

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you do books for veterans of wars besides World War II and Vietnam?
We currently specialize in only World War II and Vietnam veterans. However, we are actively looking to expand to other conflicts soon. Be sure to check back with us as we continue to grow and offer even more opportunities to preserve your veteran’s story

How long does it typically take to complete a book?
Each book is a deeply researched and personalized project, so the timeline can vary depending on the veteran's service and available sources. We generally ask families to expect at least 6 months, as this ensures we can deliver the highest-quality, most thorough historical account. While we always aim to complete it faster, creating a legacy piece of this caliber requires some time. We also keep the customer updated on the project as it progresses, so you always know what we are working on and the updated ETA.

What kind of documents do you need to get started?
If you have the veteran’s discharge papers (known as a DD-214 after World War II), it can really streamline our research process. However, they’re not mandatory. We can still proceed without them, but having those papers on hand allows us to dive into the research much faster. Besides the discharge papers, any other documents (personal or government) you can share with us related to your veteran's service will be extremely helpful.

Can you still do a book if the veteran was killed during the war?
Absolutely. Whether your veteran was killed in action, survived the war or passed away afterward, we are fully capable of conducting thorough research to tell their story. As long as they served in World War II or Vietnam, we can start the process to uncover and preserve their legacy.

Do you cover ALL U.S. military branches?
Yes! We proudly cover all U.S. military branches for veterans who served during World War II and Vietnam. At this time, we only focus on U.S. veterans from these conflicts, but our expertise spans every branch of the military.