We’re trying to help my dad get his military records, including his discharge papers, so I completed paperwork in March and mailed it in. I called the other day to see what progress (if any) had been made and was told to expect the records on September 3, nearly 6 months after the request was made! I was astounded that the backlog is so long, but glad that at least had an expected date. I wonder what they would do if it was a rush, like for veteran’s funeral services etc. Maybe they have an express process for such situations.
My dad has always said he’d like to be cremated and interred at a national cemetery. When talking about his military service, I was surprised to learn that he served less than a year, yet got funding via the GI bill to go to college, law school and also get his MBA. Of course, he worked to supplement, but he got a lot of financial benefit from his service. I had always thought he had served for several years but figured it would be good and interesting to get his entire military file, so that is what he requested.
@HImom:
If you run into trouble, try calling your local congressman’s office, they get these kind of things all the time. I was curious about my dad’s military service (he was a WWII vet of Europe), and while sadly a lot of the information was lost thanks to a fire at a facility in St. Louis during the 1970’s, I was able to get some information about his service, local congressional office helped.
As it’s not a rush, we will wait and see what we receive on 9/3, which is the date they mentioned in the phone call when I was checking up on the request. Thanks for your experience. I was just surprised that there is such a lag between the request and getting the docs.
Sorry to hear there’s such a delay. Approx 10 years ago I ordered and received my great great grandfather’s Civil War era military records. They were extremely interesting and very comprehensive. I think there might have been as much hoop-jumping and paperwork pushing required 150 years ago as there is today.
I recently got FIL approved for VA benefits using a credit card sized equivalent of a DD214 discharge papers that he carried in his billfold I am guessing since 1946. I went to a copy place and blew it up to read and send in paper size. printed amazingly well. this was an accidental find when I was looking for a health insurance card in his billfold. we also learned that he did get a lot of awards but not the purple heart that he thought he got.
I think another way to get them is to apply through a DAV office disabled american veterans- there is usually one in a VAMC hospital.
I am trying to sell a house I inherited part of. The person needs his military records as part of his qualification process, and they said it could be 3-4 months. I wasn’t even sure he was telling the truth, but you’ve helped confirm.
I believe there was an option to expedite, but for us, it wasn’t a rush. Perhaps your person’s congressional reps could help expedite his records if it would help him qualify to purchase your place.
Mine only took 6 to 8 weeks and they advised me ahead of time. You can pay a fee to expedite them and the length of time depends on when the person served. There are numbers to call to discuss this.