Historian Reflects on Research, Writing, Advice

Decades of wisdom

By LTC John Geracitano, U.S. Army Student Detachment, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Article published on: June 1, 2025 in the Summer 2025 edition of Army Communicator

Read Time: < 7 mins

Former Signal Corps Branch Historian, Steven J. Rauch. (Courtesy photo)

Few people have served the Signal Corps with the dedication and insight of long-time historian, Steven Rauch. He is an institution in more ways than one. His vision has shaped the Regiment’s current leaders; their careers punctuated with stops through Greely, Cobb, and Saltzman Halls, Rauch always the constant.

An office call with him in 2012 was intended to strengthen my capstone paper. But I departed with much more: a deeper understanding of research and writing that remains with me today. With Rauch’s recent retirement, I wanted to capture his process, honed and refined over decades, to share with the broader community. What follows is a glimpse behind the curtain. However, there is no mystery to the mastery, just patience, persistence, and awareness of complexity, troubleshooting, and stress.

On Research and Writing

Like anything worth doing, planning comes first. Every January, Rauch starts the year by drafting an annual writing plan. He maps it out in a spreadsheet, breaking the year into time segments and pairing each with historical events. For instance, he’ll look at what happened 100 years ago in March (i.e., March 1925), then 75 years ago in June, and so on.

“Then I would go to the periodicals from that time, the predecessors to the Army Communicator, and read through 1925 into 1926,” he explains. “If I found some nuggets, usually two or three a year, I’d mark them on the calendar by the month they occurred and try to synchronize as that time approached.”

The plan isn’t rigid; it evolves throughout the year, giving him, as he puts it, “a framework for how to research without getting overwhelmed by everything out there.” Still, even the best plans need room for spontaneity. Some of the most compelling topics emerge organically, fueled by a strong reading habit. Rauch believes being a curious, engaged reader is essential; it's how you stumble onto ideas you might otherwise miss. It’s like a kid flipping over a log and discovering a whole world beneath while others walk past.

“There might be something that triggers you in one sentence,” he says, “that seems to have much more behind it than what appears on the surface – like a throwaway line in the narrative about a commander moving in a certain direction.”

It’s those subtle, unexplored threads that keep him inspired. They are what sustains his interest over the long haul. Another great way to discover fresh angles is by looking for tangents within your field of interest. Sure, there may already be hundreds of books on a topic, but that doesn’t mean every corner has been thoroughly explored. Sometimes, a small detail or a side topic has not received much attention. However, just because something hasn’t been written about does not automatically make it worth diving into. It’s crucial to stay curious and discerning. Some paths are less traveled for a reason. Once Rauch settles on a topic, the real digging begins. He combs through bibliographies to track down sources.

“I’m trying to get a handle on what’s out there – that’s something you have to do,” he says. “You must know everything you can about a topic before writing and publishing. Otherwise, you might miss something that completely contradicts what you wrote.”

The Information Age has made this at once simple and complex, but staying curious and following what genuinely interests you can help cut through the noise. Awareness and persistence go a long way in helping you dig deep, because, as Rauch puts it, “If you don’t ground your topic with good research, it becomes untrustworthy.”

Current book publishing practices add another layer of complexity.

“It’s becoming an issue,” Rauch admits. “Publishers aren’t checking the information like they used to; they are just doing basic editing. I can’t think of any I fully trust anymore.”

That’s where validation by triangulation comes in. To safeguard against inaccuracies, he suggests finding at least three sources that line up and then asking yourself if those sources are both credible and logical. Things get even trickier when it comes to biographies and autobiographies.

“No one writes a book that says, ‘I screwed everything up,’” he points out. On top of that, memory can be unreliable, and biographers often bring their own bias, positive or negative, into the mix. “You can’t dismiss these sources outright, though. You must acknowledge them for what they are. You don’t have to agree or disagree, but you do need to stay aware.”

Developing a sharp eye for what’s real and what’s not becomes essential as your research progresses. One way Rauch does this is by talking to people who have served in positions like “typists or cooks” – jobs that rarely show up in the spotlight.

“You don’t often hear people brag about support roles, but those stories are real,” he says. “It’s a collective effort. Not everyone was busting down doors or serving on SEAL Team Six. Understanding that comes from truly consuming and reflecting on your sources.”

And yes, it takes time. How much time? That depends on the topic. You’ll know you’re ready when you’ve read enough, made sense of the material, and feel confident in your understanding. Throughout the research process, Rauch takes notes as he reads and doesn’t start pulling everything together until later. Then, he builds a solid, logical outline and begins writing. Once a draft is done, he lets it sit for a while, allowing it to “gel” before reviewing it with fresh eyes. That space helps him catch mistakes and refine his message.

Rauch is also a firm believer in reading your work out loud.

“If you trip over a sentence, it probably needs to be rewritten,” he says.

And if possible, get a second pair of eyes on your work. A different perspective can be invaluable.

Enduring Lessons

Throughout our conversation, two themes emerged. First, you must read as much as possible.

“Get the information into your head because you may not have the time again,” he said. “You’ve got to have it when you need it. Whether it's long-form books, academic studies, or book reviews, the point is to start now. Don’t wait for the perfect moment; make time for yourself now because you never know when you will have it later.”

Rauch emphasized the importance of staying aware and knowing what books are on your topic of interest, even if you can’t read them all. That’s where book reviews come in handy; they give you a sense of the field and help you stay in the loop.

The second theme pertained to patience. His advice? Take a long view. Becoming a great historian, writer, or researcher isn’t something that happens overnight. Your 20s and 30s are for gathering degrees, certifications, and experience. The following two decades are when you hit your stride. But you must keep reading, writing, and researching along the way. These are habits to cultivate, not just skills to use.

Rauch also talked about seizing opportunities. His graduate degree in history opened doors, helping him land positions at the Command and General Staff College and as a signal historian. These kinds of roles – civilian positions especially – are rare and competitive. But if you build a strong foundation, you’ll be ready for the opportunities that will inevitably arrive, albeit fleetingly.

One more implicit lesson hung in the air: put yourself out there. Seek out those who inspire you. Find mentors and learn from them. Even a single conversation, something the mentor might immediately forget, can leave a lasting imprint on the mentee. Relationships matter. We are all connected, and the smallest gestures can often shape someone’s path forever.

It all comes back to time - our most valuable resource. Rauch teaches us to treat it intentionally. Think of life like a pair of bifocals: one lens for the close-up tasks of today and the other for the broader vision of tomorrow.

We need urgency to avoid procrastination and patience to play the long game. This duality shaped the way Rauch approached his career and his work. The principles he lived by never went out of style. There are no shortcuts, no substitutes.

Rauch may have stepped away, but his influence endures. As he passes the torch, it’s up to us to carry forward his legacy through our research, writing, and the spirit he instilled in us and the Regiment.