If a veteran’s DD-214 discharge paperwork cannot be located, it can be replaced. At Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland, we help East Bay families obtain those records that matter.
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Many families are unaware of what a DD-214 is until they’re arranging a veteran’s service. They know their loved one served, but may not know eligibility still must be established for a veteran to receive the honors they earned through their service. The DD-214 is the document that establishes eligibility for military honors, burial benefits and if desired, interment at a national or state veterans’ cemetery. A lost DD-214 can be replaced, and Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland can help families sort out the details. Our team helps East Bay families request the records and we use it for the arrangements that follow. This is how the process works.
Getting discharge papers in California is easier than it looks once you know who to ask and what to bring. Here are the steps East Bay families follow. Our caring Oakland team will walk you through each one.
Veterans can request their own DD-214 at any time. After a death, the next of kin, including spouses, parents, children and siblings, can request the documents.
Most veterans’ records are held by the National Archives at the National Personnel Records Center. This is the place to start to request a DD-214 in California, at no cost.
Requests can usually be made online, by mail or in person at the local VA office. Having the veteran’s full name, service branch, Social Security number and dates of service speeds up the process.
A missing DD-214 isn’t gone forever. Bay Area families can replace a DD-214 that was misplaced, damaged or never received. The replacement is the same as the original and is an official record of service. We will help you make the replacement request so nothing holds up the arrangements.
You don’t have to handle this paperwork on your own. Our Oakland team helps your family request the DD-214 and use it for honors and benefits so it becomes one less detail to worry about. We treat a veteran and their service with the respect they deserve.
The California Department of Veterans Affairs estimates there are about 31,000 veterans in Alameda County, more than 32,500 in Contra Costa County and more than 6,600 in Marin County.
1909 Founded
115+ Years Serving Oakland Families
100K+ Families Served
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— From the families
If a veteran has passed and you cannot find their DD-214, our Oakland team will help you request it and arrange the honors that follow. We’re here for your family.
We’re available 24 hours a day.
A DD-214 confirms the eligibility of, and therefore the benefits and honors a veteran earned. Once it’s in hand, our caring team handles what comes next in one place, so your family is supported throughout the process.
A DD-214 is the official record of a veteran’s military service and discharge. It establishes eligibility for military honors, burial benefits and if desired, interment at a national or state veterans cemetery. If a copy has been lost, it can be replaced.
Whether you’re arranging a service now or planning ahead, our Oakland team will help you replace a lost or missing DD-214 to use it for the honors and benefits your veteran earned through their service. We’re here for your family, at any hour of the day.
We’re here for you during this difficult time.
(510) 379-5200