[WASCWatch]

With a bit of info, he can get a replacement DD-214. Google is your friend.

[2ndDivisionVet]

National Personnel Records Center
1 Archives Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63138

Telephone: 314-801-0800
Status Check: Online Status Update Request Form *
Fax: 314-801-9195

[KarlInOhio]

I found this site:https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records

It has different locations for pre- and post-1953 discharge date.

[Salvavida]

Since he is a 94-year old WWII vet, write the Secretary of the Navy directly. Include all the pertinent information. You will get a reply, and will probably get an action officer at the Pentagon to chase it down.

[Rembrandt]

I needed some paperwork but didn’t know where to turn. Someone reco’d I go to the VFW - bartender gave me the info and I was fixed up pronto!

[PROCON]

Ping

[ConorMacNessa]

The National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis is the right place to go. But be aware that there was a fire there some years ago that destroyed many of the WWII records. Two of my great -uncles who served then were in that section.

But all is not lost - they still have skeleton records, including mustering out reports, etc, available.

A couple of things to consider - if you know what outfit he served with, there are websites dedicated to them. Ancestry.com and its sister site fold3.com have compendious records. I found my Dad's enlistment papers in Ancestry. If you have any senior relatives still living, ask them. They may have information that can steer you in the right direction.

Good hunting, and thanks very much to your Father for his service.

"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."

[cva66snipe]

Here is something to know. You have to recognize what it looks like. His DD-214 is likely a smaller paper and has a black background best I remember. I found my Dad’s after passing over it a couple times because I was looking for one like mine.

[KeyLargo]

You get copy for him here.

https://vetrecs.archives.gov/VeteranRequest/home.html

[cva66snipe]

Here’s a long shot but if your county has a Veterans Affairs Officer at the courthouse there may be a copy on file there. If he ever applied for benefits such as a loan or school a copy is likely on file there.

[Billthedrill]

And thank your Dad for his service for all of us!

[easternsky]

Service Officer is what you need, from VFW or Dav, not a fan of DAV anymore but heard they help World War II Vets great. Yes tell them the Story and they should be able to produce what you need quickly. Quicker then trying on your own.

[docman57]

Start with his Local County Veteran Service Officer, (look in the Phone Book under County offices i.e. Veterans Services). They have access to whatever is available, and are more trained than 90% of VFW counterparts, (or American Legion). Good hunting, and thank your dad for his Service!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.