OT: Related to the military service thread...........

[futaba.79]

I read with great interest the whole thread. Several posters mentioned that their Dads, like mine, are WWII veterans and have also passed. If you'd like to find out more about your father's service, submit a FOIA request through the DOD's website. I did this after my Dad passed. They sent me his file and replicas of all his medals. Very interesting stuff in that file. I knew my Dad had been honored with the Bronze star. Never knew that he had earned two.

My Dad was a veteran of WWII and Korea. He never talked about his service and I never pushed it. A big regret of mine. But at least now I have his file.

 

[Hellsyeah]

For those of us who don't know, could you please tell what FOIA and DOD stands for? And is there a charge for the info?

 

[Philly Dawg]

Freedom Of Information Act and Department Of Defense

 

[Hellsyeah]

Thanks. Would like to get info on my granddad. Knew he was in some serious **** in WWII but he never really talked about it

 

[MagnoliaHunter]

steps please

I read with great interest the whole thread. Several posters mentioned that their Dads, like mine, are WWII veterans and have also passed. If you'd like to find out more about your father's service, submit a FOIA request through the DOD's website. I did this after my Dad passed. They sent me his file and replicas of all his medals. Very interesting stuff in that file. I knew my Dad had been honored with the Bronze star. Never knew that he had earned two.

My Dad was a veteran of WWII and Korea. He never talked about his service and I never pushed it. A big regret of mine. But at least now I have his file.

I would love to do this to get the info on my grandfather. Please give the specific steps you did to get this information, and how much it costs.

thanks.

 

[futaba.79]

Here you go......

http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/dfoipo/

That should get you started. It was free when I did it about 5 years ago. You're probably going to need your the son/daughter of your grandfather to help with this. I don't know if they release info to grandkids. You'll need as much info on your grandfather as you can get. Social security number (if available), bday and so forth. When I submitted my request, I got a confirmation email telling me I would get the requested info within 5 weeks to 6 months. It took the 6 months. To the DOD's credit, and much to my surprise, they threw in replicas of my Dad's medals. I got the package right around Christmas too.