What to do if military records are lost in a fire?

Military Law Discussions
1

Hi everyone, I’m in a bit of a situation here. My father served in the US Army and now I’m the one caring for my mom, who’s 92 and disabled. I’ve filed for DIC, but they’re asking me for a Fire Related Service - NAF 13055 Form. The only paperwork I have is his army discharge papers, and I honestly have no idea how to get the other information they’re asking for. It’s been a challenge, and I’m not sure what my next steps should be. Any advice?

2

That sounds really frustrating. I had a similar issue with lost records. Have you tried asking the VA to search for alternative records? Sometimes they can dig through other sources like pay or medical records even if the main ones were destroyed.

3

@Bailey
Yeah, definitely. My cousin had the same issue and the VA was able to pull some stuff from the National Archives. You should check that out if you haven’t already.

4

@Bailey
I didn’t even think about the National Archives. I’ll look into that! Thanks for the suggestion!

5

I’ve heard that the VA has a ‘duty to assist’ when it comes to finding missing records. Maybe they can help you track down other documents or even offer alternative ways to prove service.

6

Milo said:
I’ve heard that the VA has a ‘duty to assist’ when it comes to finding missing records. Maybe they can help you track down other documents or even offer alternative ways to prove service.

That’s really helpful to know. I’ll mention that in my next communication with them. Appreciate it!

7

You might want to try contacting veterans’ organizations like the VFW or American Legion. They sometimes have connections that can help track down people who served with your father. Worth asking around.

8

@Bennett
I haven’t tried them yet, but that’s a good idea. I’ll definitely reach out. Thanks!

9

Also, don’t forget to document everything! Keep track of all your communications with the VA. It’ll help in case you need to escalate or follow up later.

10

Zev said:
Also, don’t forget to document everything! Keep track of all your communications with the VA. It’ll help in case you need to escalate or follow up later.

Good point! I’ll make sure I do that. It’s been a lot to keep track of, but I’ll stay on top of it.

11

Sorry you’re dealing with all this. It might also help to explain to the VA that the records were lost due to the fire and see if they can move forward with what you do have. They should be understanding.

12

@Maxwell
I’ll make sure to mention that. Thanks for the support!