Hello GFO, I need some suggestions or confirmations regarding places to get copies of military service, and possibly discharge papers. I have a friend who has seen her father's memorial page on Find A Grave, at Willamette National Cemetery, and believes the military service information about him isn't correct. She was always told her dad was in the US Navy, and her mom lived in San Diego for a time during her dad's service. The information on her fathers grave marker says "SSGT US AIR FORCE." He died in Feb. 1979. The information at the US Veteran's grave locator website shows he served in Vietnam and Joan says her dad served during the Korean war in the Navy. I'm sure dad had to prove his military service with probably a copy of his discharge or service record, before they would accept mom's burial in Willamette. When my dad died, several years later, I provided the funeral home with a copy of dad's service and discharge papers, and they took care of making the arrangements for his burial, even scheduling a time for the grave side service. So I know there is a copy of dad's papers with that funeral home. If my friend doesn't have a copy of her dad's service record, or discharge papers, and can't find a family member who has a copy, does anyone know what she could do or who she could contact to get the paperwork? Is it possible for her to contact the local Veteran's Administration office, or contact the Navy base in San Diego for confirmation or verify her dad's service record? Or would she have to write somewhere back East to get that information? The only other thing I can think of is, if her family didn't go to Willamette National to make arrangements for burial, maybe they gave a copy of the military paperwork to the funeral home, and they might still have a copy. Can anyone confirm any of the above places as possible sources? Are there any other suggestions that might be quick and easy? Jan Fenter

Jan >Is it possible for her to contact the local Veteran's Administration >office, or contact the Navy base in San Diego for confirmation or verify >her dad's service record? I can not speak for the VA, but the Naval Base would not have the records. They would only have the records for the personnel currently serving there. Once the member separates, their records go to the archives. There could be a problem if he was Air Force and separated prior to 1972. A fire destroyed many Army and Air Force records in 1972. Navy/Marine Corp records were not affected. Duane H Funk West Linn, OR