DD214 Update

If you have followed any of the saga about trying to order a military marker from the VA for my brother's grave, you know that I/we have been in search of Doug's military discharge form, the infamous DD214.  It wasn't among his effects when he died.

The last time I was at my daughter's...early April...she helped me submit to a records search division of the VA all of the documents and information required to do a search for a copy of his DD214.  I was hopeful that we would have the document in hand shortly and could continue with the quest to get his marker.

But noooooo...!  The government can't find it!  What are the odds?  What are the odds that my brother would lose his DD214, and the government would, too???  Just my luck!  The letter said that the file had been removed for a previous inquiry, that they had searched "extensively" but hadn't been able to find it, and that they'd keep looking.  Well, great.  What to do now???

If I were a betting person, I would put my money on my brother being the "previous inquiry" for his own records.  He was famous for not taking care of things.  He had lost his job toward the end of his life and was living on revenue from the sale of the family farm before he found another.  During that time, he may have thought he needed medical care from the VA and would need his DD214 in order to get it.  (I'm just guessing.)

In any case, I'll wait a little longer before I get hot on the trail again, hoping they can find it.  I can document his graduation from boot camp, at least four of his duty stations, and one vessel on which he served, as well as his dates of service.  Maybe that will be enough to get a waiver for the stupid DD214 in order to get a marker for his grave?  Do they do stuff like that?  I'm about to find out!