Interesting talk with my Dad today re DD214

He is a retired Air Force personal commander and
republican.

I sent him an email asking what a dd214 is and he called
me on the phone right away. He wanted to know why I wanted to know.
I just told him I was talking to some other people about it and knew he would know what it was. He told me a couple of years ago he wanted to be buried in Arlington and I would need his dd214 to make sure that happens.
He was rather angry I hadn't remembered and said, "I've got it here
in front of me right now, raised seal and everything." I asked
him if other branches of the service issued dd214's and if everyone should get one. I also asked him what it says. He proudly told me
it was a one page summary of your military career with discharge status etc. After discussing the document I asked him if Bu$h should have one.
And that if he does it hasn't been released. He said,"was he on active duty?" I told him I didn't know. He got a little snippy but not too bad. I hope asking my father the question while he held his own dd214 in his hand made him think.


PS this is my first du thread wooohoooo!

Basically, it's a synopsis of a person's Service record.

We recently sent for copies of my late Father's service record. It took about 8 weeks, and we got a stack of copied paperwork about an inch and a half thick (Dad was a lifer, having enlisted nine weeks before Pearl Harbor and served 40 years).

The form to request this information is called "Form 180", IIRC -- there were several we had to file, but the people at the military documentation centers we talked to were very helpful.

--bkl

And Welcome!

:toast:

I'm ex-Navy and have a DD-214. Your dad is right that you will need it to prove his service in order to get veteran's benefits, including getting buried in Arlington. I needed mine to get my VA loan for my house, so it's a handy document, indeed.

BTW-- I had to get a copy of mine, which is kept on microfiche. I served from '74-'77, so if they can find mine, they can find the shrub's.