Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or benefits advice. Benefit amounts, phone numbers, and URLs are verified as of March 2026 but may change. Contact the VA or NPRC directly for the most current information.
My father, Thomas Patrick Lydon, served his country.
When he was in hospice — in the last days of his life — my five siblings and I found ourselves doing something no family should have to do in that moment: searching for a piece of paper.
His DD-214. His military discharge document. The single form required to access the veteran burial benefits he had earned through his service. We didn't know exactly where it was. We weren't sure if he had kept it. While my father was dying, we were scrambling.
We found it. But the experience of that search — the stress, the urgency, the feeling that this should not be this hard — stayed with me. It is a large part of why I built EmberKeep.
If your parent, spouse, or loved one is a veteran, please read this page. Then please tell someone where the DD-214 is.
— Michael Lydon, Founder, EmberKeep
“While my father was dying, we were scrambling to find a piece of paper. This page exists so your family never has to.”
DD Form 214, officially titled “Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty,” is a one-page document issued by the United States Department of Defense to every service member upon separation from active duty. It is the single most important document a veteran possesses.
The DD-214 contains the veteran's name, dates of service, branch, rank at discharge, military occupational specialty, awards and decorations, and — critically — the character of discharge (honorable, general, other than honorable, etc.). This information determines eligibility for nearly every veteran benefit.
Every service member who completes a period of active duty, including those called to active duty from the Guard or Reserves, receives a DD-214 at the time of discharge. It is typically handed to the veteran in person on their last day of military service.
The DD-214 is the key that unlocks every veteran death benefit. Without it — or without being able to prove military service through alternate means — families face delays, complications, and in some cases cannot access benefits at all.
Here is what most families do not know: many of these benefits have time-sensitive requirements. Burial at a National Cemetery requires scheduling through the National Cemetery Scheduling Office. Military funeral honors must be coordinated with the funeral home and the military branch. Non-service-connected burial allowance claims must be filed within two years of permanent burial.
And all of these require proof of military service — typically the DD-214.
When a veteran dies, the family is grieving. They are making funeral arrangements, notifying loved ones, managing an impossible number of decisions. The last thing they should be doing is searching for a document. But if they do not know where it is, that is exactly what happens.
Veterans received their DD-214 as a physical document on their last day of active duty. Over the years, that document ends up in different places:
"I think Dad kept it with his military stuff."
"Mom said it was in the safe, but we can’t find the key."
"He mentioned it once but I don’t know if he still has it."
"We found a photocopy but we’re not sure it’s the official one."
If any of these sound familiar, keep reading. You can request a replacement — and it is far better to do it now than during a crisis.
If you cannot locate the original, you can request a replacement through the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). There are several options depending on your situation and urgency.
The fastest standard method is the online eVetRecs portal, operated by the National Archives.
The process involves five steps: identity verification, service details, veteran information, documentation upload (PDF format, under 5 MB), and review/submit. You will receive a confirmation with a case number beginning with “C-”.
You can also request records by mailing Standard Form 180 (SF-180) to the NPRC.
If you need the DD-214 urgently — for burial arrangements or time-sensitive benefits — you can submit an emergency request.
Tip: Contact your congressional representative for additional assistance. Their office can often expedite federal records requests. Find yours at house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative.
Your local VA office can also assist with locating records and accessing benefits.
| Information | Notes |
|---|---|
| Veteran's full name | Including any name used during service |
| Service number or Social Security number | Older records used service numbers (SSN became standard later) |
| Date of birth | — |
| Branch of service | Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard |
| Approximate dates of service | Even approximate dates help narrow the search |
| Type of discharge | Honorable, general, etc. (if known) |
| Relationship / death certificate | Required for next-of-kin requests |
On July 12, 1973, a fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis destroyed approximately 16–18 million Official Military Personnel Files. No duplicate copies, microfilm, or indexes existed.
Records most affected:
If your request is affected, the NPRC will send NA Form 13075 (Questionnaire About Military Service) to help reconstruct what was lost. They may also send NA Form 13055 for medical record reconstruction.
Alternate documentation that can help: discharge papers, military IDs, VA correspondence, unit photographs, letters mentioning service details, state veteran benefit records, and employer records showing military leave.
Veterans who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable may be eligible for the following benefits. Each requires proof of military service — typically the DD-214.
Eligible veterans receive a gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, a government headstone or marker, perpetual care, and a burial flag — all at no cost.
Schedule: 800-535-1117 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m. ET) | Schedule online
Every eligible veteran is entitled to a funeral honors ceremony that includes, at minimum, the folding and presentation of the American flag and the playing of Taps. Coordinate through your funeral home.
A certificate signed by the sitting President, honoring the veteran's service. Multiple copies can be requested for family members.
Apply: VA Form 40-0247 | Mail to: NCA FP Evidence Intake Center, PO Box 5237, Janesville, WI 53547
Service-connected deaths: up to $2,000 (for deaths on or after September 11, 2001). No time limit to file.
Non-service-connected deaths: $1,002 burial allowance + $1,002 plot allowance (for deaths on or after October 1, 2025). Must file within 2 years of permanent burial.
Apply: VA Form 21P-530EZ (online) | Learn more
The VA provides a headstone, marker, or medallion at no cost for eligible veterans buried in any cemetery (national, state, or private).
Apply: VA Form 40-1330 | Mail to: NCA FP Evidence Intake Center, PO Box 5237, Janesville, WI 53547
A tax-exempt monthly benefit paid to eligible surviving spouses, children, and parents of veterans who died from service-connected causes.
Base rate: $1,699.36/month for surviving spouses (effective December 1, 2025). Additional amounts for children under 18 (+$421.00/child), Aid and Attendance (+$421.00), and a transitional benefit for the first 2 years (+$359.00).
An income-based monthly benefit available to surviving spouses and dependent children of wartime veterans. Eligibility is based on income, net worth, and the veteran's service history.
Contact: 1-800-827-1000 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. ET) | Find your nearest VA office
My father Thomas served. He earned his honors. His family was with him at the end — all six of his children. We found his DD-214. He received the burial he deserved.
But I think about the families who don't find it. Who miss the window. Who don't get the flag folded the way their parent or spouse had earned.
If this page helps one family find that document — or better yet, know exactly where it is before they ever need to look — then it was worth writing.
Tell a veteran in your life to read this. Then ask them where their DD-214 is.
— Michael Lydon
Answer 4 questions. Get the exact steps and links for your situation.
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EmberKeep is a secure family vault where you can record the location of your DD-214 and every other critical document — so your family never has to search during the hardest moments of their lives.