A friend from the ADAH serves as a USAF military historian. When not on active duty, he's been compiling the service rolls and military history of the 34th Alabama Regiment. So he's had considerable experience with both subjects that your raised.

Next time I see Ken, I'll ask if the work he been doing in Afghanistan and elsewhere will ever serve any useful purpose.

http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/alcwmb/index.cgi?noframes;profile=ken+tilley