He never spoke about it to me, and my older sister has only scant memories. So before any of us kids start dying off I want to see if this chapter in his life can be brought to a proper closure and his image and reputation be "untarnished." Eight years in the Army, and during the Korean War, is a long time in service to one's country only for some Army officer to screw it up.
Bottom line, if the Army can't justify their decision, and if they have no records to justify it, then I want to see if they'll change it. Like I said, I know it's a long shot, but I would like to see my father's image and reputation restored.
I agree it would be cool if they can find his personnel jacket.
His Army records would have whatever disciplinary action received in detail. I expect a Dishonorable discharge has quite a lengthy paper trail. But … the 1973 fire at St. Louis records depository burnt up a lot of records. There might be something available, some of the records were converted or duplicated on microfiche.
The problem here, it isn’t on them to prove they were correct, the 214 speaks for itself. The burden of proof is on you to prove they were somehow mistaken. Without supporting evidence, what other conclusion could anyone come to, especially after some 70 years?
My grandfather served in the first world war, the one that was supposed to end all wars. I think we got rooked on that deal. Anyway, the US involvement was so haphazard at first, he deployed without really being “in” the Army. He wore a uniform, I’ve got his footlocker, but I don’t think he wore rank. They found out he could type - and that saved his ass. Instead of being assigned to Infantry, he was some REMF attache assigned to a Colonel or something. Nice gig in France, for him anyway.
After the war he tried to organize “veterans” like him without actual veterans status, politicking and writing letters to congress critters. He was unsuccessful in that regard.
Well you piqued my curiosity. I’d forgotten what they all mean, or how many there are.
I found a pretty good website (Lawforveterans.org) that lays out the different discharges, a DD is usually or often recieved in conjunction with serving time in a prison. Maybe Leavenworth would be of some assistance in this matter. Here are some of the possibilities, to achieve a Dishonorable Discharge:
Murder
Fraud
Desertion
Treason
Espionage
Rape