Need advice from Navy Vets (vanity)

freerepublic.com ^ | 10/1/2017 | Self(vanity)

[CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC]

Hi, what's the way for my 94-yr-old WWII Navy Vet father to obtain papers proving his veteran's status?

He went through Midshipman's school, and was then recruited into the Naval Language Program. Obviously he received papers when he was discharged (DD-214?), but 72 years and 17+ moves later, there's not a prayer he'd ever find them.

He's never once asked a store about a Veteran's discount. (Similarly, he never asks for Senior discounts, nor for the handicapped license plate he is greatly overqualified for, and he won't return defective goods to stores unless pushed hard to do so. Guess it's just something about men of his generation.)

But he & my Mom & I inherited my sister's house when she died in June, and we're renovating it for sale, and with huge home improvement purchases coming up and people telling us, "Use his Veteran's discount at home improvement stores!" ...

I assume that ancient photos of him in Midshipman's uniform, and more recent photos of Naval Language Institute reunions, won't cut it. :-)

Is it a photo ID we're talking about, or a card he presents in conjunction with his Driver's License?

Is there some DoD website for this kind of thing?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[Chuck N]

https://m.lowes.com/l/in-store-services.html

Once you follow Lowe’s process for verification and he gets verified you will get 10% off even when placing orders on line. Lowe’s used to make the service member come into the store only but now it’s on line purchase to and they have made the verification process simple.

What documentation do I need?
You’ll need photo identification and one of the following:
Veteran’s Administration:
Veteran’s Identification Card (VIC)
Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
Department of Defense:
Common Access Card
Uniformed Services Identification Card
Uniformed Services Identification Card Active Duty
State driver license and identification with veteran’s designation
DD214 or DD256

And you might want to call the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). This is probably not the most direct way to verify a 94 year old served in the military but they are experts in verification. Yes the Saint Louis records is good but it takes awhile.

https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl/appj/contactUs

I hope this helps.

[CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC]

Hey, thanks to all of you! A great help!

The archives.gov website makes it sound as if it could be quite awhile before we get a response.

But more in-depth reading implies that the veterans who take a really long time to process are those whose records were destroyed on the 6th floor of the big 1973 fire at the St Louis archives, because whatever info is still available must be painstakingly "reconstructed from other records".

And it says that it was basically only Army & Air Force records that were destroyed on that floor. So his Navy records should have survived the fire.

OTOH, he was discharged 72 years ago, but it says that "Records are accessioned into the National Archives, and become archival, 62 years after the service member's separation from the military." And I don't know what the implications of that are ("accessioned"??? "Today's English class assignment: write a sentence using the word 'accessioned'") Does it mean a longer wait time or what?

Think I'll also try some of the other links and pointers to local organizations / govt offices that some of you posted. Thanks again!

[Terry Mross]

St Louis is the place but as another poster pointed out there was a fire. My advice is to contact your congressperson. Every congressperson has a military/veteran liason staffer. They can get it quicker than anyone.

[ConorMacNessa]

Archives.gov will test you patience. I obtained "reconstructed" records for my Great-Uncles. With regard to Uncle Joe Gavin, who was WIA in France late 1944, we had never received any acknowledgment from the government. By virtue of the persistence of my Aunt and Cousin, we finally obtained it 69 years late:



Keep on keepin' on FRiend - the info is out there - you just have to dig.

"I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces guarding our country and our way of life.
I am prepared to give my life in their defense."

[OldMissileer]

OTOH, he was discharged 72 years ago, but it says that "Records are accessioned into the National Archives, and become archival, 62 years after the service member's separation from the military." And I don't know what the implications of that are ("accessioned"??? "Today's English class assignment: write a sentence using the word 'accessioned'") Does it mean a longer wait time or what?

I had to get training from the National Archives on the entire process and I also had a small office there to review nuke records. Anyway, that term means the documents are sent to the National Archives, NARA, in DC or to the additional building, NARA II, in College Park, MD. The records will be placed on a list and Archives personnel there will have to search the shelves for the proper box then go through that box to find the document.

[shibumi]

About 20 years ago I had to get a copy of my DD214.

I used the facility 2DV listed for you and had a copy in hand within 2 weeks.

I was more than satisfied with that service.
Not sure if they are still that efficient.

[Skybird]

I read “accessioned” as records from the individual services storage locations being brought into the larger collection of the National Archives.

I’d contact your congress critters for assistance. They should also be able to replace any medals or decorations that he received or was entitled to.

The poster who said that DD Form 214 has a black background is correct. Think of a printed b&w negative with the text in white lettering on some of the older ones.

Thank you for his service (from this Air Force retiree).

[GailA]

YOU NEED TO CONTACT YOUR US CONGRESS CRITTERS. Have some basic info on unit, time period, you can also use his photo copied DD214 to request any medals or ribbons. SS # maybe of some but little help.

NOTE: Fire destroyed many records of that time period. IF he used the VA they will have copies. It’s how I got my dad’s from his DD214. That must be done in a written request to a congress critter.

As far as I know only the service person and living spouse can get discounts from businesses with Military ID, not family of a deceased one. That is the way it currently works. We are Ret. Navy 60-80’s.

[MomwithHope]

Ping to find later

[MomwithHope]

Thanks to your Dad for his service. My Dad was also in WWII Navy. He would have been 95 this past June. He served on the DD442 USS Nicholson. His papers were also lost in that fire. He saw action in both theaters, Europe and his ship was in the battle of Midway. He used to talk about the kamikaze pilots that dove at his ship. He was a gunners mate and came away partially deaf in one ear. My brother at one time looked into getting him the medals he was probably due but got the info back about the fire. I hope you can get everything worked out so he can get any benefits possible. God bless!

[JimRed]

His service number and a request to the VA should get him a new DD-214. Might take while, though.

[CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC]

Hi all, thanks for the advice!

It took 5 weeks - even with some expediting help from my Senator's local office - but we finally got an eCopy today of my Dad's separation papers from the US Navy!

Only thing is ... there was no DD-214 for him. That's because it turns out there were no DD-214's until 1/1/1950. And he separated from Active Duty Service in July of 1946. (He separated from Reserve Duty in 1952, but DD-214's were only for Active Duty separations at that time).

What we did get was one of the older predecessors to the DD-214's - the NAVPERS-553 - which should do just as well for him getting his 10% Veteran's Discount.

At least, I hope so. I hope nobody says, "Sorry, but my store's policy says here you must provide a DD-214 or else forget a discount".

Nice present to receive today, his 94th Birthday! (My Mom turned 94 in June; she really robbed the cradle, eh? Does 5 months difference qualify her to be a "Cougar"? Or maybe not until she reaches 100 and he's still in the double digits? :-) )

Interesting stuff in there. "CNO-ONI OP-23 F-5" as near as I can tell breaks down as: CNO = "Chief of Naval Operations" ... "ONI" = "Office of Naval Intelligence" ... OP-23F = "Assistant Chief of Foreign Branch" and "5" must be some subsection of OP-23-F.

[easternsky]

Very Glad for you and your Family, hope all goes well for whole Family. You are Blessed to still have you Parents with you but sure you realize that. Now go to closes Disabled American Veterans not VA, or American Legion etc and see if your Father is entitled to any other Benefits etc, you might be surprised what He might be entitled to. It will be well worth your time.

[cva66snipe]

Glad you got a copy of it. I do not mean to be morbid but this is about one of his benefits for him and your mom. They are entitled to burial in a veterans cemetery meaning a VA ran either National or a joint state/VA ran one. That paper is all it takes. VA in most states pays for the grave itself, opening, closing, and in some states a vault. They also give a headstone as well. It literally saves thousands of dollars and many vets do not know about it.

One thing. To maximize space they bury vet and spouse in the same grave first one about 2 - 3 ft deeper. They do not pay for the funeral service cost though but do allow a graveside service or in some of them a pavilion is used.

My mom and dad and my wife are buried in a VA/State Veterans Cemetery. I knew because during my early after Navy days going to school I worked at a work study program for the VA at one for extra income.

[Terry Mross]

Tell your dad this Seabee renders him a hand salute.

[MomwithHope]

THANKS so much for the update. Glad it all worked out. You are so fortunate to still have your Mom and Dad and they are fortunate to have you. God Bless your holidays!

[WASCWatch]

Take him to the DMV and get an ID card/Driver’s license and get a veteran designation on the card. I’m sure they have encountered this situation before and the NAVPERS-553 would suffice.

Print this page, and there should be no problem if he doesn’t want to get an ID card:

https://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/dd-214.html