Source hierarchy
The strongest sources for the website are contemporaneous newspaper coverage, institutional records, obituary materials, aviation memorial listings, bibliographic metadata, and family archive materials when clearly identified as such.
Contemporaneous newspaper coverage is preferred for Mercer-era chronology and public statements. Obituary materials are useful for birth, death, family, community, awards, and authorship claims, but they are not the same as official military personnel records.
Unresolved points
Some public materials differ on spouse chronology and karate rank. The site should keep those points conservative unless stronger documentation is supplied.
The editorial rule is simple: when sources overlap, state the fact plainly. When they diverge, explain the limit briefly or choose narrower wording. This keeps the memorial readable without sacrificing trust.