Posted on Dec 3, 2020

Where would a Navy serviceman's discharge papers be stored? How can a relative get a copy?

1st Lt James Lipski

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My wife's father served in the Navy during WW2. According to her and her siblings her Dad never discussed his time while in service. When both her Mother and Dad died no records of his time in service was found among his personal affects, only photos of him in uniform. So my question is where would his discharge papers be stored? Can she as a blood relative get a copy?

Posted 4 y ago

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SGT Christopher Hayden

Posted 4 y ago

https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records

Request Military Service Records

Veterans and their next of kin can get FREE copies of their DD 214, and other military service records including Official Military Personnel File (OMPF), Replacement Medals, and Medical and Health Records.

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SSG Laurie Mullen

Posted 4 y ago

She can still get a copy of his discharge papers. For anything else that she may want she needs to be aware of the fire in 1972 that destroyed a lot of records. I don't remember if the Department of the Navy records were affected by the fire.

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LTC Jason Mackay

4 y

The Army took the brunt of that

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SSG Laurie Mullen

4 y

LTC Jason Mackay - My dad's records were destroyed by the fire.

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LTC Jason Mackay

4 y

SSG Laurie Mullen not doubting that. Battle Drill #1 is to blame the fire. https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/fire-1973

The 1973 Fire, National Personnel Records Center

The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) Fire: A Study in Disaster Overview: On July 12, 1973, a disastrous fire at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) destroyed approximately 16-18 million Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF).

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LTC Jason Mackay

Posted 4 y ago

https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/ompf-access

Access to Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF) - Veterans and Next-of-Kin

(Not the Veteran or Next-of-kin?) How Do I Request Copies of Records? "Emergency" Requests and Deadlines Response Time and Checking the Status of a Request Filing a Claim for Medical Benefits? Information for Veterans, Next-of-Kin and Authorized Representatives Please note: the following information, regarding access, pertains only to records of veterans who separated from service after 1958. Access records of veterans who separated from...

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Where would a Navy serviceman's discharge papers be stored? How can a relative get a copy?

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