You Go Stan! Now is the time to start the planning, however. Don't forget to post inquiries on surname boards. One never knows who else is doing the same thing, and already has information that could save you from re-inventing the wheel!. That is exactly what happened to me. I met a distant cousin on the board just two weeks before we left on our trip, and we met at the cemetery in Pryor, OK, where we have common ancestors buried; ditto in Bluejacket, and we all looked for and found the Cleveland cabin together; had several meals together, and watched a video made by yet another cousin in NC of our ancestral graves there; and she handed me the information I had not been able to find on my Whitaker line. From these seeds, I have found two family lines, voluminous military history on both, met new cousins by phone and e-mail (we all share info now), and which we all plan to be together with to tramp the old family haunts together in the near future. Little seeds from giant acorns grow!! (Corny but true..), and all from one posting on a board! Most people researching military history of their ancestors are doing exactly what we have been discussing - ancestry and genealogy. I think what they want to avoid is probably too many statistics being posted. I do think that interaction with fellow researchers is so helpful. Several people on this board have helped me immenseley. If I run across your surnames in my searches, I'll let you know..don't be afraid to let people help you. It always comes back to them. I speak from experience..