About Us

     McHenry County Gold Star Legacies is dedicated to preserving the memory of every servicemember whose sacrifice is tied to our county. From World War I through the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, we research, document, and honor the men and women who gave their lives in defense of the United States. Our mission is to ensure that McHenry County's fallen are remembered with accuracy, dignity, and enduring respect, and that their stories remain a permanent part of our county's historical record. 

Research Methodology

Verification Criteria: 

Servicemembers are included based on confirmed ties to McHenry County through residence, burial, or next of kin.

Primary Archival Sources:

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Individual Burial Case Files, Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF), Individual Deceased Personnel Files (IDPF), and other vetted historical repositories.

Supplemental Sources:

Local newspapers, cemetery records, city directories, wartime casualty lists, and legitimate websites

Additional Information:

If you have documents, photographs, or family information related to any servicemember listed on this site, please contact me.

Contact Information

McHenry County Gold Star Legacies

Honoring Our County’s Fallen

Creator & Curator: Mark Hutson

Contact: Email: serviceflagtradition@gmail.com

Phone: 815-354-9758

Last Updated: May 2026

Information for Visitors

     McHenry County Gold Star Legacies provides a dedicated webpage for every fallen service member from World War I through the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. Each page includes essential biographical information, a photograph when available, a link to the service member’s burial location, and an image of a footlocker.

     Selecting the footlocker will open a secondary page where visitors may download archival military documents related to that service member. Please exercise caution when reviewing Burial Case Files and Individual Deceased Personnel Files (IDPFs), as these records may contain graphic images and detailed descriptions of the circumstances surrounding the service member’s death.