Barbara Aysha Kronlund: National Archives can assist veterans who have lost their records
I recently assisted a homeless Vietnam veteran family member obtain his DD214 military discharge papers. Forty years ago he tried to get benefits, but was told the Veterans Administration could not find his records and, regardless, any benefits would have run out. In seeking his records, local VA offices in Sacramento, Stockton and Palo Alto had “no records” on the veteran.
I was directed to the National Archives, to make an on-line request. Within two weeks I obtained the DD214 discharge papers and this veteran is now enrolled, for the first time, in VA Healthcare – some 50 years after his discharge from the Marines. If you know a veteran who is not connected to the VA, you can assist them by going to Vetrecs.archives.gov and requesting their records. This can literally be a life-changer for a veteran.
Barbara Aysha Kronlund, Stockton
This story was originally published December 2, 2016 at 11:54 AM with the headline "Barbara Aysha Kronlund: National Archives can assist veterans who have lost their records."