Infosheet on NPRC destroying records

INFO SHEET #14 FROM WESUPPORTTHEVETS

*The rumor that Official Military Personnel Files at the NPRC will be
digitized and then destroyed is simply not true. Every minute taken to
squelch a rumor is a minute taken away from the primary job. *

*Release No. 09-16-04
Sept. 23, 2004*

*Rumor hinders NPRC ability to perform job*

*A false rumor circulating on the Internet, in e-mails, and among
veteran service organizations is causing problems at the National
Personnel Records Center (NPRC) where military records are stored.*

*The rumor that Official Military Personnel Files at the NPRC will be
digitized and then destroyed is simply not true. Every minute taken to
squelch a rumor is a minute taken away from the primary job. *

*Neither the Department of Defense nor the NPRC intend to destroy any
official files stored at the Center, according to officials of the
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the agency under
which NPRC falls. The purpose of any electronic scanning would be to
help preserve the originals and increase efficiency in handling
reference requests. *

*NARA preserves and protects records that were transferred from the
military service departments because they are permanently valuable
records that document the essential evidence of military service for the
veterans of our nation. NPRC stores and services official records for
retired, discharged, or deceased military personnel. *

*NPRC responds to approximately 4,000 requests pertaining to military
records each day, totaling more than 1 million requests each year. Many
of those requests are for Separation Documents (usually DD Form 214) and
the Center answers the majority of those inquiries in 10 days or less. *

*Officials point out that requests resulting from this false rumor will
have a negative impact on NPRC's ability to respond to requests from
veterans with real immediate needs, such as medical treatment,
employment, retirement, etc. *

On the outside chance Bush was discharged from active duty, then the official paperwork, a DD214 (Department of Defense Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) will contain separation codes, re-enlistment codes, and periods of active duty that should open another Pandora’s Box of inquiry to check pay records, attendance records, etc.

1. Here are the legal definitions of “veteran,” “active duty,” and “active duty for training.”

There is a huge difference between “active duty” and “active duty for training.” A person can only become a veteran if they were on “active duty.” Very simply, “active duty for training” doesn’t qualify a person for veteran status.

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/38/101.html

Title 38, United States Code, Part I, Chapter 1, Section 101, Paragraph 2: The term ''veteran'' means a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable

Title 38, United States Code, Part I, Chapter 1, Section 101, Paragraph 21: The term ''active duty'' means - (A) full-time duty in the Armed Forces, other than active duty for training

Title 38, United States Code, Part I, Chapter 1, Section 101, Paragraph 22: The term ''active duty for training'' means - (A) full-time duty in the Armed Forces performed by Reserves for training purposes (emphasis added)

2. According to Bush’s military records, Bush has a discharge from the Air Force Reserve, and was issued a NGB 22 (National Guard Bureau Form 22, Bush’s Report of Separation and Record of Service in the Air National Guard of Texas). A NGB 22 isn’t a DD214. Under Line 30 on Bush’s NGB 22, only training is listed. There are no periods of active duty are listed on Bush’s NGB 22.

http://www.glcq.com/docs/arf_discharge.htm

http://users.cis.net/coldfeet/ANG22.gif

3. According to an Associated Press article, Bush was never on regular active duty. Bush served only in the Texas Air National Guard (TANG). I can’t find where Bush was ever issued a DD214. If Bush was ever on active duty, he must have been issued a DD214. The news clip below shows Karen Hughes tried to blur the lines by saying training was equal to active duty.

http://www.theunionleader.com/Gourmet_show.html?article=538&archive=1

July 17, 1999, Associated Press:

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — In 1978 campaign literature, George W. Bush said he served in the Air Force, a statement his Presidential campaign says is legitimate based on time he spent training and on alert while a member of the Texas Air National Guard.
The Air Force says once a guardsman, always a guardsman, even if called to active duty for training or another temporary assignment.
The Republican Presidential front-runner already had faced questions about whether he received preferential treatment when he joined the Air National Guard during the Vietnam War.
A pullout ad from The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal on May 4, 1978, shows a huge picture of Bush with a "Bush for Congress" logo on the front. On the back, a synopsis of his career says he served "in the U.S. Air Force and the Texas Air National Guard, where he piloted the F-102 aircraft."
Asked about the statement that the Texas governor

The Air Force says that Air National Guard members are considered "guardsmen on active duty" while receiving pilot training. They are not, however, counted as members of the overall active-duty Air Force.

5. According to the Houston Chronicle, as recently as August 2003, Bush claimed to be a member of Post 77 in Houston, Texas:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/special/iraq/2067941 The Legion application requires “active duty,” and there is no reference to “active duty for training.” Sure, Bush has an honorable discharge from the TANG between 1961 and 1975, but Bush has no discharge from active military duty produced by the White House7. Each local Legion post must keep a copy of every member’s DD214 on file as evidence of membership eligibility, otherwise anyone could walk off the street and join.

Here’s another issue: According to the news clip below, Bush let his Legion membership expire in 2002 !

http://www.caller2.com/2002/april/04/today/texasnew/27692.html

“Tom Harris, assistant director for membership at the group's national headquarters, said Bush joined Post 77 in Houston in 1995, the same year he took office as governor. Bush was part of the Texas Air National Guard in the Vietnam era. Bush's membership has expired because he did not pay the Houston post's $25 in annual dues before the end of last year, but Harris said Bush could renew.”
Take another look at the NGB 22:

http://www.glcq.com/docs/arf_discharge.htm

It isn't signed. Why isn't it signed?

we contacted the American Legion about membership rules here is their answer

Attention: National commander
American Legion
From William Gast Editor wesupportthevets.com

At one time the American Legion required that the member had foreign duty/service I believe. Is that true and when did the requirements change to only one day of active duty?
Thank you in advance for your response
William A. Gast. USN (RET)

William Gast's email: editor@wesupportthevets.com
William Gast's phone number: xxxxxxxxxxxxx
William Gast's state or location: California

-----Original Message-----
From: Internal Affairs Division
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 8:55 AM
To: Sloan, William H.
Subject: ia20795FW: Contact via the legion.org webpage from William Gast
Importance: High

-----Original Message-----
From: Vaughn, Nancy L.
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 7:51 AM
To: Internal Affairs Division
Subject: FW: Contact via the legion.org webpage from William Gast
Importance: High

-----Original Message-----
From: editor@wesupportthevets.com [mailto:editor@wesupportthevets.com]
Sent: Monday, September 27, 2004 5:21 PM
To: National Commander; National Commander
Subject: Contact via the legion.org webpage from William Gast
Importance: High

William,

The only requirement, since we were formed in 1919, has been active service in "the land and sea forces" of The United States during a time of conflict. No minimum time is required, so a person whose active duty overlaps a wartime period for even one day is eligible.

The WWI founders believed that the sailor loading the ammo aboard the ship in Philadelphia was just as important as the sailor unloading the ship in France. That tradition continued through WWII and the Korean, Vietnam, and Gulf Wars until today without change other than to add war periods.

Today, we still require only active federal service during a time in which the US Congress has determined that a state of hostilities exist, or where US citizens fought as members of an allied military force in a conflict in which the US later joined. An example would be the "Flying Tigers", American pilots who fought the Japanese in 1940-41 as members of the Chinese Air Force before the United States entered WWII.

One day of such service is enough for membership in The American Legion (unchanged since 1919). One day is NOT enough for VA benefits or "veteran's status" according to the VA and other government agencies, which have nothing to do with the Legion, but which confuses many veterans. Just remember that the Legion is not a government agency--we do not require a minimum number of days or months of wartime service.

Sincerely,

Bill Sloan
Assistant Director
Internal Affairs and Membership
The American Legion

We respectfully appreciate the prompt reply from Mr. Sloan. This should answer any questions veterans have about the President's membership in this organization.

Wesupportthevets.com