There are a number of potential stumbling blocks one might encounter while using these records. Most can be overcome with the help of Research Center staff and additional sources.
The first problem a researcher might encounter is deciding in which volume to begin their search. If the city of residence during World War I is known but not the county, a listing of all Wisconsin cities and the counties in which they are located is available upon request. There are also county maps available that can help a researcher to search in bordering counties if uncertain about the exact residence of a serviceperson.
Once a volume is selected, the researcher should not become discouraged if initially unable to locate the surname. Because the soldiers' names were usually spoken to the recorders, the spelling of the surnames will vary depending on the speaker's accent and enunciation and the recorder's hearing and spelling skills. Researchers should always check potential alternate spellings (e.g. Hanson, Hansen, Henson, Hensen).
Finally, there are many abbreviations used in these records to denote both rank and military units that can be quite difficult to decipher. The Reference Archivist has several military abbreviation lists, available upon request, that can be of great aid to researchers.
