Replacement Medals and Awards

RE: Replacement Medals and Awards (wolfcub)

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:02:06 GMT

This is so typical of NPRC. I requested my dad's Korean records and got a nice package of information. I then asked for his WW II records and got the standard "lost in fire" bs. Very strange considering that the Korean War package contained a copy of Dad's WW II DD214 which showed what appears to be very minor fire damage around the. Because I have a copy of Dad's WW II DD214 which predates the fire, I was able to determine that no information had been lost!

If enough people who have experienced this situation would get together, perhaps we could petition Congress to investigate NPRC. Don't forget, this is an election year! If anyone is interested, feel free to contact me. BTW, no veterans' personal information would be necessary to file a petition.

SeekerJay--check out "gruntsmilitary" (sorry I can't provide a link). They have many images and allowed me to download what I wanted on request.

RE: Replacement Medals and Awards (CTSawyer)

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:21:49 GMT

George,

http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm

http://hutchison.senate.gov/contact.html

And unless your in the 21st district, you'll have to look up your own Representative

http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml#tx

RE: Replacement Medals and Awards (one1)

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:29:22 GMT

NPRC strikes again.

I requested military personnel records (DD214) for another Uncle (family history). Yesterday, the "FIRE" letter arrived but with a new twist.

After explaining about the fire destroying records they say "Fortunately, there were alternate records sources that contained information which was used to reconstruct some service record data lost in the fire. However, complete records could not be reconstructed."

The next paragraph states they have located a file created during our reconstruction attempts. This partially "reconstructed" file is in the LEGAL CUSTODY OF THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION. A reconstructed file typically contains limited service data from some of the alternate record sources ,working notes from the reconstruction efforts and misc correspondence or unofficial documents sent to NPRC with previous requests for information. (Can someone tell me what all this bull means)

Now for the good news. I can have all of the above for the nominal reproduction fee of $50.00. I have no idea what I would be getting, how many pages are involved but its 50 bucks.

What I don't understand is why NARA has records that pertain to a serviceman but are not considered part of his personnel record. If records were destroyed in the fire and records are available in other Government files WHY are we being made to pay exorbitant reproduction charges for records that should be free.

Hello Senator and Congressman.

George

RE: Replacement Medals and Awards (seekerJay)

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:10:33 GMT

one1:

"I paid $15.00 for a Final Pay Voucher, that belonged to the National Archives (?) ,so that there would be some record of his Military Service."

How did you go about this? I was told that there were no records for my father and they asked me a lot of questions that I had expected them to answer. So this type of record still exists even if files were destroyed by the fire? It would have been polite for them tell me that.

k9iua:

I was very surprized when I first heard they would send replacements medals to anyone besides a Vet. I wouldn't mind if there was a site with high-resolution down-loadable images, though.

RE: Replacement Medals and Awards (jonjac)

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:08:24 GMT

[[Do you think they are interested to support WWII former POWs being denied the Purple Heart? ]]
Robert

It wouldn't hurt to give them a try. To a Veteran - a Vet is a Vet, whether he served in the Revolution War, or Bush's war.

RE: Replacement Medals and Awards (Robersabel)

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:56:11 GMT

ORIGINAL: jonjac

If you can't get any help where you are you might try them.
Jack

In Arizona a Congressman's office advised protocol does not allow his office to assist because I am not in his district. (perhaps less than 50 miles away).

By the way, the subject would benefit WWII veterans located across the country, and not pertain to me.

Harkin a Fighter Pilot, Boswell a Copter Pilot (I believe). They both are good at going to bat for Vets

Do you think they are interested to support WWII former POWs being denied the Purple Heart?

Robert

RE: Replacement Medals and Awards (jonjac)

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 21:55:27 GMT

George;
I don't know where you are from or what you might have in D.C. to represent you. Here in Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin and Rep. Leonard Boswell are both Viet Veterans. Harkin a Fighter Pilot, Boswell a Copter Pilot (I believe). They both are good at going to bat for Vets - I've had personal experience. If you can't get any help where you are you might try them.
Jack

RE: Replacement Medals and Awards (GREMLIN2)

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:39:31 GMT

George,

Sounds like things have changed since I got my dads decorations.

I contacted St Louis in the late 1990's looking for my dads medals he didn't get at discharge in 1945. (he only received ribbons as noted on his DD214 or 215 I forget which was very common.)

Anyway, St. Louis advised me his records were destroyed and it might take a year or more to receive them.

I didn't care for that reply and contacted my local U.S. Senator by letter with a copy of what I had. I received 4 weeks later from the Air Force in the southwest not only the medals I requested but all my dads medals including the Air Medal and others he had previously received.

The order form with the medals had "Congressional inquiry" marked in red at the top. I suggest you contact your local senator and see what he does for you .

Good Luck!

Jack

RE: Replacement Medals and Awards (Herb Harper)

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:08:46 GMT

May I suggest:

Go to your LOCAL VA Representative. He is usually located in your County Government Complex (court house). He should be able to confirm any new policies. If the replacements are still available, he can order them by elecrtonic transmission then and there. You may, however, be required to present a copy of the DD 214 Discharge document. I went this route and received mine in about six weeks. One thing though, They did not have ALL mine in stock, so I was instructed to obtain them from a commercial source. You may also check my WEB www.pyramidiers.com "AF LOCATOR" page for other addresses for official documents.

Good Luck

Herb Harper, Historian 98th Vets. Assoc.

RE: Replacement Medals and Awards (Yunch)

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:30:27 GMT

George,
This "OLD" coot is not the least surprised by the reply you recieved. I was almost 3 years in getting my wifes brothers deserved medals. I finally resorted to going to the US Congressman of our district for help. It ended up because of redistricturing 2 Congressmen became involved. We finally got the medals. You have to look at the big picture of our now illustrious US Gov. "BS". You have to get beyond the "separator".
This is the person who first recieves your request for medals. his/hers real job is to seperate the pink copies from the white copies etc. Your request is secondary. Many times you have to go to a higher level, to by-pass the seperator to get results.
Is this diatribe also "BS", no sir, been there done that.

RE: Replacement Medals and Awards (k9iua)

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:06:34 GMT

I have not had personal experience in this matter, so I cannot help you with the "pull" influence you are looking for.

But this decision by the military does not surprise me the least. I am in fact surprised that they provided replacement medals as readily as they did for as long as they did. I would have imagined only their providing medals the first time to an immediate family member whose loved one was MIA or KIA in a conflict, and maybe one replacement set directly to a living veteran who could show cause for needing replacements. But beyond that I would not have expected medals to have been distributed - to me that diminishes the honor and value of such medals otherwise.

For what that was worth,
Kevin Anderson
nephew of three brothers who served in the AAF during WWII, two of whom died as part of the conflict (one in a stateside training accident and one after the Bataan Death March) and one who made a career of the USAF.

RE: Replacement Medals and Awards (CTSawyer)

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:04:03 GMT

George,

Sounds like you got a bs response, and if this is the NPRC new policy towards reissuance it sounds of bs too. As for someone with pull, I'd start straight with John Cornyn or Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Replacement Medals and Awards (one1)

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:17:29 GMT

This what I received yesterday regarding my Mothers request for her brothers medals awards etc.. The email was from a CSR at the National Personnel Records Center.

"The military has made a decision to limit the issue of veterans medals whom have been discharged for over 62 years.. This decision was based on on the belief that, for over 62 years, the military has more than met its obligation to veterans and their descendents by issuing and reissuing medals. The military cannot provide medals in perpetuity to all future descendants of military war veterans. However, these awards can be purchased from civilian dealers in military insignia. "

When I applied for these medals for my Mother no mention was made of this "decision". Her brothers records were destroyed in the fire. I paid $15.00 for a Final Pay Voucher, that belonged to the National Archives (?) ,so that there would be some record of his Military Service.

Has anyone else had the same/similar experience with the NPRC ? Does anyone know a someone that has "pull" in this type matter ?

Thanks in advance for any help or support.

Regards
George