Thread: Military Records

Has anyone ever had to request Military Records from the 1960s? My pops and I had some demons and never got along. He has since passed on and I have put in a request for the records, I was just wondering what I should expect from the records and about what time frame I should be looking at.

Thanks.

My guess is you'll get a copy of the DD214 which verifies service, awards and shows discharge status and thats about it. To get much more than that you would probably need releases and court orders. I had to get mine several years ago and I needed a certified copy showing my pay records and I had to practically to sign my life away and it took forever.

I asked for a non-redacted copy, so I hope that I get more than that. Not that I want mission status or what have you. Just what ship he was one, job aboard, etc.. Hopefully I can get that much because he was discharged so long ago.

I used this service and it didn't give me what I really wanted, my page 13.

How to Request Military Service Records or Prove Military Service (DD Form 214, DD-214, DD214

I only requested and received my DD214. It took what seemed to be an inordinate amount of time. However, based on other dealings with the Government, it may have been a perfectly ordinate amount of time.

A few years back I learned that I was entitled to a Cold War service ribbon. I filled out the required forms and made my request for the decoration. Fortunately I can still get coffee with my buck and a half without the ribbon ecause it appears to be a lost request. Hey, I've made it fifty years without the F'ing thing. I'll probably survive a few more.

Originally Posted by icedog

I only requested and received my DD214. It took what seemed to be an inordinate amount of time. However, based on other dealings with the Government, it may have been a perfectly ordinate amount of time.

A few years back I learned that I was entitled to a Cold War service ribbon. I filled out the required forms and made my request for the decoration. Fortunately I can still get coffee with my buck and a half without the ribbon ecause it appears to be a lost request. Hey, I've made it fifty years without the F'ing thing. I'll probably survive a few more.

Man I got one letter of commendation and one appreciation from a admiral two years after I got out of the navy. If I would have gotten them on time I would have advanced a rate in the navy. I thought about trying to get them put in my record and maybe the back pay, but decided the fight wasn't worth it. Since then I have learned that I earned a few more medal's and service ribbons for just being in the right place at the wrong time. Same story, it would be such a hassle to get them that I really don't care. I don't think I know of anyone who has put in for medal's or such and gotten them. Especially now that we have had so many people put in for medals and awards they never earned and made the politician look like crap for helping them out.

Originally Posted by jimmyseymour

Man I got one letter of commendation and one appreciation from a admiral two years after I got out of the navy. If I would have gotten them on time I would have advanced a rate in the navy.

My last month in the Navy was the end of the Gulf War and I was given the Naval Achievement Medal for services performed. They gave me the medal and the letter that goes along with it. When I finally got my records after separation there is no mention of it on my page 13 along with my Marksman Medal. I had a bunch of commendations and they were in there but not those medals. I have the photo of the Admiral giving me the Achievement Medal and the letter for what it was for and when I tried to fix this I was told on the phone "look, your out does it really matter". I'm like, yes it does matter, to me. I still have no remedy to that.

Originally Posted by icedog

I only requested and received my DD214. It took what seemed to be an inordinate amount of time. However, based on other dealings with the Government, it may have been a perfectly ordinate amount of time.

A few years back I learned that I was entitled to a Cold War service ribbon. I filled out the required forms and made my request for the decoration. Fortunately I can still get coffee with my buck and a half without the ribbon ecause it appears to be a lost request. Hey, I've made it fifty years without the F'ing thing. I'll probably survive a few more.

if you earned it you should have it. go the v.a they might be able to speed it up a little for ya. if i need something from uncle sam thats what i do, then i dont have to have the headache from all the red tape. thats what they are there for

From the 60's? No. But I have requested my medical records after I got out (2007) and I had to sign a form and eventually it made its way to me after a couple of months. I was lucky to get that because when I was on my last week of terminal leave I got a phone call from somebody asking me where I was and why I hadn't shown up in a couple of weeks. It seems they lost all records of my process of being discharged. Sign out sheets, medical record, travel requests, dd214. They also 'lost' my last two weeks of pay. Good thing I worked for a warrant officer who seemed to have a way of getting things found. So, I wish you the best of luck with that endeavor.

Thanks guys. I received the confirmation last night that they received the request. So they tell me 10 days to get back to me. We will see.