Tip: Getting your DD214

Comrad

Comrad

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Sadly we just lost an inlaw unexpectedly who served in the Army in the 1970s. Nobody knows where his DD214 is and a replacement can't be obtained util after burial.

So my tip to all veterans, keep your dd214 with your final wishes if you would like to receive military honors.

Is there any other way to prove service on a holiday weekend with funeral set for Labor day?
 
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Comrad said:
Sadly we just lost an inlaw unexpectedly who served in the Army in the 1970s. Nobody knows where his DD214 is and a replacement can't be obtained util after burial.

So my tip to all veterans, keep your dd214 with your final wishes if you would like to receive military honors.

Is there any other way to prove service on a holiday weekend with funeral set for Labor day?
Click to expand...

For a small fee you can file your DD214 with the recorder of deeds in your county.
 
I don't have anybody who would want/need to prove mine, so I'm not really worried about it.

Like some of y'all, when I got out I did the County Records thing. Just recently when I talked to a VFW employee helping me with disability claims, he mentioned that they REALLY don't recommend that anymore. Reason being because once it's in there it's a public record, and anybody can go down and get a copy of it, along with your SSN and address after separation.
 
There is no way to get an authentic one, at this point in time. for the funeral. The government is just too slow.


However, this brings to light something we should all do. Take important papers, i.e. birth certificate, DD-214, High School and college diplomas, a CD with pictures of all your valuables and their serial numbers, and store it in a safe deposit box or a friend's house. As unlikely as it is, house fires and floods happen and they are the leading cause of losing important papers. By storing them elsewhere, you ensure they are as safe as they can be.

A small Pelican case in a safe deposit box is the best protection a regular person can get. Cheap and secure. And, don't forget to update them.


Another thing to put in there is a list of passwords. Your loved ones may need access to on-line stuff should something happen to you. I have an envelope with a letter, power of attorney, insurance info and a few other things stored at a friend's house. My wife doesn't know it exists, but I guarantee she'll be glad it's there if I'm not able to respond.
 
My family knows that my DD form 214 is in my safety deposit box; the wife has the key, and can give my key to any of my kids if I pass before she does.

I was told when I left active duty to always preserve that document, and I have. It enabled me to show veteran status on my driver's license, and you'd be amazed at the number of businesses (such as restaurants) that give veterans discounts!

John
 
You can get one quickly, if willing to pay for it, from Touchstone. It's a notarized legal copy.
 
codenamedave said:
I don't have anybody who would want/need to prove mine, so I'm not really worried about it.

Like some of y'all, when I got out I did the County Records thing. Just recently when I talked to a VFW employee helping me with disability claims, he mentioned that they REALLY don't recommend that anymore. Reason being because once it's in there it's a public record, and anybody can go down and get a copy of it, along with your SSN and address after separation.
Click to expand...
My home town recognizes that, and won't provide a copy to just anybody who asks for a copy. That leads me to wonder, at what point will the town provide the copy to someone who can't prove he's the one named in the DD214 - must it be an immediate family member holding a death certificate? I imagine there are lots of different rules for different states and towns, probably worth a phone call to see how it works in your town if you have one on file.
 
Please be advised that there was a huge fire in St. Louis back in the 1970's that destroyed a tremendous number of veterans' records. The county courthouse (recorder of deeds or civil clerk) may have be the only source of finding a veteran's discharge papers. My grandfather was a World War I veteran and I had to call the courthouse in Brookville, PA to get a copy of his discharge and service record to prove my eligibility to join the VFW Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion.
 
The St. Louis fire has over the years become somewhat of a running joke.
Any records which can't be recovered are blamed on the doggone fire!
But he wasn't in the Military until way after the fire!
Ain't you ever heard of of a prequel?
His records burned before they existed!
If you record you 214 as a public record, you are inviting identity theft.
If you want to roll the dice, go for it!
Yes it's true! The 'Word' used to be record with county clerk.
But in the words of Senor Zimmerman , 'These Times They are A-changing.'
That Word was changed a number of years ago.
 
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When I was released from the USAF back in 1963 we were all told to have a copy of our DD214 put on file at the county recorder's office as soon as we got home. I did so, and informed several appropriate people. But better is to pre-arrange your funeral, and furnish a copy to the funeral home of choice along with all the arrangements and have it paid for.

I have an envelope marked "Where everything is" in a location I have informed my two children of. It contains the location where all my passwords are, what credit cards and #'s are, bank accounts, stock broker, etc. Which funeral home has all the information for my funeral and that it is all paid for in advance, and other pertinent information.
 
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Your DD214 is the most important piece of paper any veteran can have. More important that your birth certificate, your social security card, your drivers license or anything else. I learned that the hard way trying to help a family get one for a deceased member. Apparently there was a big fire up in Missouri or somewhere and a lot of records were destroyed and getting old DD214's was pretty much impossible.
DO: gave extra certified copies
DO: let loved ones know where they are
DO: keep them is a safe yet accessable location
DON'T: record it, or anything else with your SSN for that matter in the courthouse-too much personal information there for the picking
Finally, ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS pay your lawyer!!:D
Promptly ;)
 
If he had a pre-arranged funeral the funeral home should have a copy
of the DD214 for his grave marker. I know my funeral is pre-arranged
and my funeral home has a copy of DD214 on file. If he went to the
VA hospital they would have a copy. If he has veteran's license plates
the DMV may have a copy. They do in my state.
 
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