HELPFULL INFORMATION

      Below are listed the various ways we know to contact lost buddies and other information we feel might be helpful to those of us not actively connected to the Army. We hope they will be of help to you. We also appreciate any suggestions or information you may have that would add to the value of this page.

     

    CONTACTING FORMER SOLDIERS

      The Army is presently reviewing their locator service previously provided. News of this service and how it will be implemented will be published here soon.

      "Old Buddies, Pals, Shipmates, Families and Friends" is a new locator service for former and currentmilitary personnel and their families, on the World Wide Web. The Web site at  http://www.shipmates.com/  is a free service available for anyone to use. There are three databases for each branch of the service. One database allows individuals to register where others can find them. A second database allows posting the names of individuals (or units) that people would like to contact. A third database is for listing reunions. Contact: Nick Baker, Email  mailto:nickbaker@shipmates.com.  This is a fairly new service and the database are limited to those who provide submissions but its worth a try!

      

     SERVICE RECORDS REQUESTS

       Service Records for DISCHARGED Soldiers can be requested by a family member free of charge from:
       

           National Personnel Records Center
           9700 Page Blvd, Room 5007
           St Louis, Mo 63132-5295
           

       Provide them as much information about the service member as possible, rank, SSAN, mos, ect.,and what information you are looking for.

     
      

        BURIAL INFORMATION

       Q — What information is needed about a veteran to arrange burial in a national cemetery and who makes the arrangements?

      A — Burial arrangements for an eligible veteran are made by the funeral director or the next of kin by contacting the national cemetery in which burial is desired. The veteran's name, rank, service number, Social Security number, and VA claim number if a prior claim has been made, date and place of entry into and separation from the service, branch of service, date and place of birth, and date of death, should be furnished. A copy of the official military discharge document bearing an official seal or a DD 214 is required and is usually sufficient to establish eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery. The document must specify active military duty and show that release from
      active duty was under conditions other than dishonorable. (Families of retired Reservists and Guard members may furnish their 20-year letter.) The cemetery director sets a tentative date for the committal service, pending verification of eligibility, and notifies the applicant when the burial is authorized.

      Q — What benefits are included when a veteran is buried in a national cemetery?
      A — For eligible veterans and family members, VA provides a gravesite, preparation of the grave site and burial, a headstone or flat marker, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, a burial flag, and perpetual care of the gravesite, but does not cover funeral home costs.

      Q — A veteran wants to be cremated and have his ashes scattered. Is there a marker for this?
      A — Memorial markers are available from VA. The marker is the same as that used to identify a grave, except the words "In Memory Of" are inscribed.

      Q — My father, who recently died, was an honorably discharged veteran. Can VA reimburse our family for the headstone he paid for through a pre-need burial plan?
      A — No. VA provides headstones or markers without cost, but does not reimburse the cost of purchasing them from other sources. VA headstones or markers are available for the unmarked grave of veterans buried anywhere in the world and of eligible dependents buried in national, state veteran or military post cemeteries.

      Q — If a veteran not in receipt of any monetary benefits from VA dies in a VA medical center, can VA provide any financial assistance for the burial?
      A — Yes. VA can pay up to $300 in burial allowance. VA may also pay a $150 plot allowance if the veteran is not buried in a national cemetery. Also, costs of transporting the remains to the nearest national or state veterans cemetery with space available for burial may be reimbursed.

       

      AGENT ORANGE UPDATE

      New study of Agent Orange effects WASHINGTON, DC — The pilot phase of a study to determine possible health effects of Agent Orange exposure on Vietnam veterans was announced by the VA.

      Letters are being sent to 500 randomly selected veterans inviting them to participate. Random selection is being used to achieve a representative sampling. Volunteers are not being sought. The study may ultimately include 2,600 veterans, if the pilot phase shows the full study’s feasibility. The feasibility study is expected to take at least a year. If the full-scale study is feasible, that may take another three years.

      Knowledge of the effects of Agent Orange has grown as studies have been completed and newer laboratory methods have been used. Study results have enabled VA to award disability compensation to Vietnam veterans suffering from certain chronic diseases.

      Two earlier VA studies of Army veterans assigned to Chemical Corps units in Vietnam who died later have found a significant excess of deaths from digestive disease, primarily due to liver cir- rhosis. Nonsignificant but elevated rates were also observed for deaths due to all cancers combined and for specific cancer sites. An ongoing mortality follow-up study is being conducted by VA.

      VA Regional Offices: 1-800-827-1000
      VA TDD (Telecom Device for Deaf: 1-800-829-4833
      VA Insurance:
      East of Missippi:  1-800-669-8477

        Insurance
        PO Box8079
        5000 Wissahicon
        Philadelphia, PA 19101
         

      West of Missippi:  1-612-725-3311

        Federal Building
        Ft. Snelling St,
        St. Paul MN 55111
         

        INSURANCE HOAX

      The annual VA insurance hoax has hit the world wide web. At least once a year, the rumor circulates that everyone who ever held a Serviceman's Group Life Insurance Policy is entitled to a refund whether the policy is active or not. This is not true. Those with active policies receive dividends automatically, there is no need to apply. Remember that you can find official VA news on the web at  www.va.gov

         

    • INTERNET LOCATOR'S Switchboard Nationwide Locator     http://www.switchboard.com/bin/cgiqa.dll
      Yahoo People Search                       http://www.yahoo.com/search/people
      Four11 Email Directory                   http://www.four11.com
      WhoWhere Search                          http://www.whowhere.com
       
       

      NATION WIDE PHONE BOOKS ON CD-ROMS  There are several such programs on the market which have a data base containing the subscribers name, address and phone number for all listed phones in the United States. Data is accessed by name and the search can be narrowed down to state and city/town. Such programs are invaluable in locating persons provided you have accurate, uncommon names. We located the majority of our 700 plus members using the Select Phone programs sold by Pro CD, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923-4520. We have no connection with such company. We used their product and were satisfied with
      results.

      We see numerous advertisements offering to research names at a cost of $15 per name. This is a good deal if one is searching for only one or two individuals with uncommon names.

      Pro CD has a toll free number 1-800-992-3766 for placing credit card orders. Regular retail price varies and is about $100.

      TIPS

      • Before you invest in a phone book CD-ROM you might check with your local library. Many carry phone books for major metropolitian areas. In addition, many of the larger libraries have computers and phone book programs you can use for free. It is worth checking out.
      • If searching for someone with two capitals in their last names, e.g., DeMarco, try both "DEMARCO" and "DE MARCO."
      • Same for those with names like "O'Connor, try "OCONNOR" and "O'CONNOR."
      • Lots of the clerks who type in the names for the phone data bases will  abbreviate first names, especially if the last name is long. So if you are searching for a William Higganbotham be sure and try W'm H...."
      • If there are very few listings for a last name but no match on the first  name then try "Bill"   for a "William," "Bob" for a "Robert," "Sam" for a "Samuel," "Ed" for an "Edward," etc. Also try initials.
      • We found that sending letters was an expensive and time-consuming way to make contact. A phone call is quick and only costs pennies when you contact the wrong person. It does run up a fairly large bill if it is the person  you are looking for but it is sure worth the  money.

      • We recommend searching for someone with a common last name who has an unusual first name.If you are searching for a retired military person with a totally common name it often pays to review the long list of identical names to see if an individual's rank is shown and/or if the individual has an address near a major military installation of his branch of service..
         

      Last Update 01/120/98