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volosong · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2004 11:34 pm Post subject: DD-214, where do you keep yours?

Setting aside politics for a moment . . .

When I got out, the PO said to always keep my DD-214 and to never lose it. That it was a very, very important paper. For these 30 something years, I've kept it in an envelope in my brief case, always congizant of where the silly thing was.

Probably not the best place to keep it. Where do you keep your copy? Should I obtain a bank safe deposit box and keep it in there with my other non-existant valuables? Is it really that important to keep?

Thanks for the advice.

As a side note, I know that I am entitled to another medal/ribbon that we were awarded after I got out. How do I obtain "official" documentation that reflects the award?

bw · Seaman Recruit Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 26

As for the dd-214,when I got out of the service 30 years ago-a couple of my uncles(vets of ww2)told me to have it recorded at the county courthouse.At that time it was microfiched? and given a page number.I suppose that it's still done with new tech applied.Stilll theres a worry about fire -water distruction.

Redd · Seaman Recruit Joined: 26 Aug 2004 Posts: 10

Bank safe deposit box.
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RobD · Lt.Jg. Joined: 25 Aug 2004 Posts: 147 Location: Reno Nv

Recorded with the county clerk is the best way to go.
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SEABEE_JAG · Seaman Recruit Joined: 12 Sep 2004 Posts: 8

Record it at your Country Clerk's office.

That way - when "needed" (VA benefits, death benefits, civil service, re-enlistment, DOD pensions, real estate tax benefit, etc.) the county clerk gives you a copy with a certification that the copy is "A true and correct of the original DD-214 on file in the Office of the County Clerk, indexed at Volume # and Page#, and at Fiche#, Frame# etc."

In "most" counties, you can get a certified copy within a few hours to under a week.

I have found in VA and VFW volunteer work (to help vets with VA benefits and the NY State Veterans Exemption on property taxes, civil service benefits) - the county of recordation and the reel/frame, or volume/page is enough - never have to submit the original or copy of your DD-214.
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SeaBee JAG

PigBoatAndy · Former Member Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 37

1. VA - once you get your "C" number - they can mail you a "new" "certified" copy. (It just takes them over a month to gen the certified copy)

2. County Clerk. (When Dad died, it took about two days for the County Clerk to get the DD-214 for his marker)

3. Worst case - the GSA/DOD Archive in St. Louis - but it takes them t least four life times to get you a certified copy.

BigAl533 · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 2:13 am Post subject:

Thanks PigboatAndy and SEABEE_JAG for the quick response to volosong.

This is good info, but once he can document these awards, how does he go about actually recieving them?

I, too have reason to believe I am entitled to unit awards given after separation. These do not appear on my DD214 either. Also, I don't recall any "C" number. May I presume he gets it from the VA?
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Aristotle The Hun · PO1 Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 488 Location: Naples FL

It can be a hassle to replace. I know. But it is replacable, so at ease.

Sam
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JimT · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 6:09 am Post subject:

sixdogteam · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:05 pm Post subject:

If you can get the proper era typewriter and have access to a Kinko's, you can make your own--or just type it up in Word. Laughing

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Jim Peterson · Seaman Recruit Joined: 21 Aug 2004 Posts: 27

Hey All;

When all of this talk about DD-214s kicked up a while back I went to http://vetrecs.archives.gov and requested a new copy of mine. It showed up within a few weeks. I got two copys of DD-214s. The first covered 74-78 while the second covered 78-95.

I went through them both and just a few things are missing, no big deal unless I ever run for president. Also, the retirement award was never posted becasue it showed up in the mail 4 months after I retired, oh well.

Now days if you post a copy at the court house remember to black out your SSN. The court house makes a true copy of whatever you give them. The true copy can be in your desk or a safe deposit box. A new one can be had with a few clicks of a mouse.
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Training Aid for the staff Mar 74-Apr 95

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RONK · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 5:18 pm Post subject:

Had mine recorded at the court house but keep the original in fireproof box at home. Should put it in a saftey deposit box as nothing is really "fire proof". I also carry at least two copies in my wallet.Saves a lot of time should you need one for something at any given time. This saved me about three months delay in being hired when I applied for my civil service job 22 years ago because a copy was attached to my original application instead of needing to be mailed to the state capitol for verification. I was placed on the CS list with my Vet's Preference points immediately instead of having to wait and have other people hired before I was.

GM Strong · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 10:46 pm Post subject: DD-214

Registered at the Courthouse and secured in a locked file cabinet at home. I keep multiple copies and have a wallet card copy as well.
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8th Army Korea 68-69

DrEntropy · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2004 1:03 pm Post subject:

sixdogteam wrote: