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

1st Lt James Lipski — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 00:54:57 -0500

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?

Response by SGT Christopher Hayden made Dec 3 at 2020 3:03 AM

SGT Christopher Hayden — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 03:03:40 -0500

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.

Response by SSG Laurie Mullen made Dec 3 at 2020 5:33 AM

SSG Laurie Mullen — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 05:33:20 -0500

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.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Dec 3 at 2020 10:20 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 22:20:44 -0500

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...