Hi! I'm Anastasia

Hi! I'm Anastasia

I'll help you discover your family's unique story -- with simple, easy step-by-step ideas to turn overwhelm into a fun, exciting, inspiring journey to you're family's past.
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It's all about the stories. Learn how to discover your family's amazing, unique story. And discover the stories of WW2 POWs who no longer can tell their own.

Snag Your Free Guides

Expert help to finding clues about your family history — all for FREE Get your hands on these step-by-step guides and worksheets that’ll walk you through finding the best clues about your family — so...
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Thousands of POWs went in . . . only 500 came out

At WW2’s end, Army Rangers liberated 511 American POWs held captive for almost 3 years by Japanese forces in The Philippines at Cabanatuan prison camp. I’m telling their story. It is not a pretty story....
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Your family tree has an amazing story

I’m going to help you discover that story. How it impacts your life. How it can strengthen your family today. No matter where you’re at, I’ll be with you on your family tree quest: Learn...
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I believe family history has the power to change your life and strengthen your family

I’m a mom, a wife, and a storyteller. I love God, my husband and kids, family history, and WW2.

As the former spokesperson for a high-profile family history website, I’ve travelled the US helping people — from celebs to everyday moms — discover their family’s story.

And now I’m going to inspire you discover yours.

Let’s take an amazing journey together.

Read Anastasia’s story

Recent Stories

Explore recent stories and posts
A VIP’s Guide to Surviving Japan’s WW2-era POW Camps A VIP’s Guide to Surviving Japan’s WW2-era POW Camps
A VIP’s Guide to Surviving Japan’s WW2-era POW Camps
This 50-something American colonel survived a 4-month siege and 3 Japanese POW camps. He proves that having a high military rank didn’t protect POWs from harsh treatment during WW2.
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10 Secrets to Finding Ancestors Who Don’t Seem to Exist 10 Secrets to Finding Ancestors Who Don’t Seem to Exist
10 Secrets to Finding Ancestors Who Don’t Seem to Exist
You know his or her name, but you're struggling to find anything else. Here are 10 secrets to find people who don't have a paper trail.
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7 First-Class WW2 Heroes to Celebrate this 4th of July 7 First-Class WW2 Heroes to Celebrate this 4th of July
7 First-Class WW2 Heroes to Celebrate this 4th of July
7 Americans who heroically stepped up in unexpected ways to hold off the Japanese invasion of The Philippines in the first days of WW2
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8 Things You Didn’t Know about WW2 Army Doctors 8 Things You Didn’t Know about WW2 Army Doctors
8 Things You Didn’t Know about WW2 Army Doctors
WW2 Army doctors fought a different battle -- saving lives in a war-zone, where everyone else was focused on destruction. Here's one doctor's story.
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5 Insanely Easy Ways to Spot Lies in Your Family Tree 5 Insanely Easy Ways to Spot Lies in Your Family Tree
5 Insanely Easy Ways to Spot Lies in Your Family Tree
Are your family stories complete myths? Here are 5 sure-fire ways to separate fact and fiction in your family's stories, myths, rumors.
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How Benjamin Rush Kept His Impossible WW2 Promise How Benjamin Rush Kept His Impossible WW2 Promise
How Benjamin Rush Kept His Impossible WW2 Promise
An Army medic made a promise before sailing to The Philippines. But would the ravages of WW2 let him keep that promise?
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3 Time-Saving Tips to Be Sure a Historical Document Is about Your Ancestor 3 Time-Saving Tips to Be Sure a Historical Document Is about Your Ancestor
3 Time-Saving Tips to Be Sure a Historical Document Is about Your Ancestor
Discover 3 tips to be sure a historical document is -- or is not -- about your ancestor and know when to toss out a document or add it to your family tree
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6 World War 2 Heroes to Remember This Memorial Day 6 World War 2 Heroes to Remember This Memorial Day
6 World War 2 Heroes to Remember This Memorial Day
These 6 WW2 heroes each gave their "last full measure of devotion" to their country, to freedom, and most importantly -- to us. Let's remember them together.
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This is Alma Salm

This is Alma Salm

Lt. Commander Alma E. Salm was nearly 47 years old when he became a prisoner of war in May 1942.

A career Naval officer and veteran of World War 1, Salm survived nearly 3 years in the prison camp Cabanatuan during WW2. He was liberated by American forces in January 1945.

He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1895. He married Emily M. Hunt in 1920 and was the father of two daughters.

He passed away in February 1957 in Oakland, California. He never fully recovered from the physical ravages his imprisonment.