My dad died in 1997. He was a WWII vet, Navy officer in the Pacific.

More than ten years ago, at the urging of one of my sister, I started trying to find his separation document to make him eligible for interment in a national cemetery. 50 years, several moves, raising a family, running a business, a flood or two, who knows where that paperwork went.

I sent away a form to the Navy Records Center. Months later, I got a letter that they had the file, send $60 for complete copy. I did so, and months later got copies of his file from when he signed up through Midshipman School to commissioning. Nothing about actual duty or release from service. I tried various suggestions with no results, even having a pal rummage around the bowels of the Pentagon to get hoped for leads, no joy.

Last year, I decided to have another go. My mother had died and it was time to get them out of my brother’s garage. One thought was if nothing else we could sneak them in with me. I have my DD214. Instead, I went to the Veterans Service Office here. The fellow knew exactly what to do. We filled out the form, put it in the computer and off it went. Months went by, no reply. The VSO gave me an 800 to call. Ha! The number is ALWAYS busy. After a couple of months of this, I decided to unleash the “nuclear option.”

I filled out the forms, carefully attached needed exhibits, drafted a very good letter, and sent the whole pile to Sen. Cruz. This was last February or so. Within a week or so, I got a call from a polite young man from the Senator’s office. He had the documents, everything was in order, he was sending it in and would report back.

Earlier this summer, I was excited to receive a fat manila envelope, with a letter from Sen. Cruz. It was a copy of MY service record! Close but no cigar.

I got that corrected and was gratified to receive about a month ago, the NavPers553, predecessor to the DD214. I contacted the National Scheduling Office, got them the necessary documents, called Ft. Sam cemetery, got scheduled, and today my surviving siblings and spouses went over and got it done. It wasn’t easy, or quick getting the necessary documents, but once I had them, the people at the cemetery could not have been nicer or more efficient.

Persistence pays off. I have had good luck with our PAST Senators, Cochran and Lott. They were in office long enough to have competent staff. Less so with our current bunch.

Now that was a fight worth fighting and WINNING for!

Not necessarily a fight, but certainly a struggle.

Be sure to remember Sen. Cruz in the weeks ahead.

I did throw a few quid in the collection box for him, and will again.

Still waiting for the punchline...

I am pleased to read this, and knowing you have a very troubling weight off your shoulders.

The fifth commandant.
"Honor your father and your mother, in order that your days be lengthened on the land that the Lord, your God, is giving you."

Is between the first commandants between man and God, and the last between mankind, is that of our parents, an anchor point, and transition and a separation of the profane(earthly things) and the holy(heavenly things).

You certainly have shown lifelong fulfillment of this.

May they rest in peace.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
I am pleased to read this, and knowing you have a very troubling weight off your shoulders.

The fifth commandant.
"Honor your father and your mother, in order that your days be lengthened on the land that the Lord, your God, is giving you."

Is between the first commandants between man and God, and the last between mankind, is that of our parents, an anchor point, and transition and a separation of the profane(earthly things) and the holy(heavenly things).

You certainly have shown lifelong fulfillment of this.

May they rest in peace.

Thank you. This was made easier by the circumstance that I had uncommonly good parents, not overly social or frivolous, but intelligent, responsible, caring in spite of what many today would consider disadvantageous conditions of Great Depression and war interfering with “the good life.”

Another remarkable if not unique fact is that I never heard a hard word between them. No arguing, no fighting, temper tantrums.... what they may have disagreed about they resolved without rancor, hurt, score settling, etc. as far as the 4 kids ever knew.

Their 4 children never spent a night in jail, earned 8 degrees, each married persons of the opposite sex, owned at least one home, had children of their own, and took up professions. My parents were pretty happy about all this. So, they earned their peace.