I have a question for you 1950s military veterans-- or military historians.
Last month I spent a couple weeks with Dad. Alzheimer's has taken his short-term memory and much of his long-term memory. However when I was going through the last boxes of his photo albums, I also found his DD-214. He no longer remembers any of this other than "being in the Army".
I don't think he's entitled to any military benefits, but I'm obligated to find out. The problem is that we only have a DD-214, a couple sets of orders, and my vague memories.
Dad got his BS.EE from U of Cincinnati in the 1950s. I know he graduated from high school in 1952 but I'm not sure what year he graduated from college-- 1957 seems about right. He did it on a work-study program (back then it was called co-op) that involved several months of internships between semesters. That program took five or six years to complete instead of four, but the internships made it almost free.
He was drafted by the Army, of course, but I remember him talking about student deferments. I think he was a college grad by the time that they called him up, because his DD-214 lists 17 years of education and a BS.EE. He was also working at Westinghouse on electrical distribution systems and nuclear power plants, so his "critical skills" meant that he was given some sort of reduced military service commitment. Under the "Reserve Forces Act of 1955", he was inducted in Jan '58. Presumably that was recruit training because in May (the end of four months) he was promoted to E-2. In August he was released from active duty training and transferred to the Army Reserve to finish seven years and six months in the inactive Reserve. Before that, according to the DD-214, he had three months of total active service plus three months & 12 days of "other" service. I'm not sure what that "other" service means, but it all took place between 21 Jan- 2 Aug 1958 so the days match the dates. He has a graduation certificate dated Aug 58 from the Fort Knox Armor Center for completing three months of active duty formal training under the "Reserve Forces Act Program"... so maybe he had three months & 12 days of recruit training plus three months at this formal training.
All I remember is that he told me his military training culminated in him spending a night guarding a tank and being challenged to recite the General Orders of a Sentry. The next day he transferred to the Army Reserve and never donned a uniform again.
The DD-214 specifically says that "total active service" is three months and zero days. Perhaps recruit training didn't count, but I'm pretty certain that it also means he has less than 180 days of active duty. Under today's rules he wouldn't be eligible for benefits. I suspect that 1958 was the same rules.
Can any of you tell me if that seems correct? Better yet, are there any websites for verifying this information? I figured I'd start here but I can also move this to Military.com, TogetherWeServed.Navy.com, USAA, and a few other forums.
Last month I spent a couple weeks with Dad. Alzheimer's has taken his short-term memory and much of his long-term memory. However when I was going through the last boxes of his photo albums, I also found his DD-214. He no longer remembers any of this other than "being in the Army".
I don't think he's entitled to any military benefits, but I'm obligated to find out. The problem is that we only have a DD-214, a couple sets of orders, and my vague memories.
Dad got his BS.EE from U of Cincinnati in the 1950s. I know he graduated from high school in 1952 but I'm not sure what year he graduated from college-- 1957 seems about right. He did it on a work-study program (back then it was called co-op) that involved several months of internships between semesters. That program took five or six years to complete instead of four, but the internships made it almost free.
He was drafted by the Army, of course, but I remember him talking about student deferments. I think he was a college grad by the time that they called him up, because his DD-214 lists 17 years of education and a BS.EE. He was also working at Westinghouse on electrical distribution systems and nuclear power plants, so his "critical skills" meant that he was given some sort of reduced military service commitment. Under the "Reserve Forces Act of 1955", he was inducted in Jan '58. Presumably that was recruit training because in May (the end of four months) he was promoted to E-2. In August he was released from active duty training and transferred to the Army Reserve to finish seven years and six months in the inactive Reserve. Before that, according to the DD-214, he had three months of total active service plus three months & 12 days of "other" service. I'm not sure what that "other" service means, but it all took place between 21 Jan- 2 Aug 1958 so the days match the dates. He has a graduation certificate dated Aug 58 from the Fort Knox Armor Center for completing three months of active duty formal training under the "Reserve Forces Act Program"... so maybe he had three months & 12 days of recruit training plus three months at this formal training.
All I remember is that he told me his military training culminated in him spending a night guarding a tank and being challenged to recite the General Orders of a Sentry. The next day he transferred to the Army Reserve and never donned a uniform again.
The DD-214 specifically says that "total active service" is three months and zero days. Perhaps recruit training didn't count, but I'm pretty certain that it also means he has less than 180 days of active duty. Under today's rules he wouldn't be eligible for benefits. I suspect that 1958 was the same rules.
Can any of you tell me if that seems correct? Better yet, are there any websites for verifying this information? I figured I'd start here but I can also move this to Military.com, TogetherWeServed.Navy.com, USAA, and a few other forums.
