Help with my dad's DD-214

Hello,

I am new here, so please be gentle

I am putting together a memorial for my dad which includes his burial flag and service awards. I went to the local Veterans Affairs office and obtained his DD-214. However, I am somewhat confused by what is in it. I had several questions for the lady who helped me, but she was fairly young (probably in her middle to late 20's) and admitted to me that she did not know what a lot of the information on the DD-214 meant.

He was by no means, a war hero. I don't believe he had any actual combat time. But from what I can decipher on the 214, it states that he was attached to the 13th Dep Sup Sq, and in box #10 of the 214, it says that his Military Occupation was "Foreman Automotive Repair Shop 337". I don't recall him ever talking about having anything to do with supply, maintenance or transportation. Could there be an error in his records? I have read in earlier posts here, that when people were being mustered out of the service, that sometimes things were done in haste, and may not be accurate.

Also, in the records that I have in hand, it states in box #4, that he was "AAF". Would this have been the Army Air Force? Again, I have never heard of him being associated with anything like this.

Is there any way I can get some clarification on what is actually on his DD-214? I would be happy to scan the document and post it if it would help.

Thanks for any help that anyone might be able to offer.

Jim

 

howdy,and welcome to the forum. it does seem that he would have been in the army air forces. but im sure if you scan it on the forum i'm sure that the long time members here can explain it to you.

 

Thanks..<br>
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Attached is a copy of his DD-214. Hopefully someone can shed some light on it for me. I hope it's large enough to read.<br>

 

Bump for the weekend crowd

 

hi, jim, after looking at it, he was def. in the army air force, and that he was in the automotive shop as a foreman/sgt, what else would you like translated?

 

I really don't know, gunbunny..This seems so far out in left field from anything I've ever heard about his time in the Army. I was always lead to believe that he was infantry. Nothing that I have indicates any kind service with the AAF. And nothing concerning automotive repairs. I guess I'm kinda looking for some way to find out something about the "13th Dep Sup Sq". But I don't know how to go about it. Nothing has shown up when I Google it. I'd like to find what his unit patch looked like, and possibly try to find one. I'd like to find out where he was stationed as well. But I suppose this would probably be in his personnel file, and I don't know how to get that if it even still exists. I understand that the majority of files for servicemen of that time was lost in a fire in 1973. But I was hoping that might not be the case with his. Wishful thinking maybe. I'm just looking for any and all information that I can find on him. I could kick myself for not researching this earlier in life.

Thanks again..

Jim

 

hi, jim,in this section of the forum, there is a post by JCfalkenbergIII about how to get a copy of your dads records.hope that helps. oh by the way to be honest the center tries to do the current living vets first, then they go for the older records when they have time. i hear it takes a while. good luck.

 

Thanks again gunbunny..I've tried to use the "eVetRecs" but there is apparently a problem with the system for people using Windows XP. So I guess I'll have to go the old school way and just mail the request to them using USPS.

Jim

 

hi jim, took another look at your dads 214, obviously he served as the old saying goes "somewhere in the pacific" but without his 201 it might be next to imposable to find out exactly where.

 

OK guys..

Here are a couple of pictures that my cousin sent to me. At least we may know a little bit more about where hew was.

Also, the so-called DD-214 that I posted earlier, is NOT his DD-214. It is his discharge papers. I have been told that on the discharge papers, they listed the persons last assignment as the unit in which they belonged. So he may have only been a part of the 13th Sup Dep Sq for a few days, weeks or months. It's hard to say with out the 214. In one of the photos, it clearly appears that he is dressed in a uniform that more closely resembles what an infantryman might wear. Agree??

In the first picture where they are playing "another one of those games", my father is the one sitting up in the background, looking at the camera at the Handea Air Base.

In the second photo, he is the 3rd man from the left. Can anyone tell me what the "7th A.S.A.C. would have been? Also, you can barely make out a unit patch on the left sleeve of the guy on the far right. Any idea as to what it might be?

Thanks again.. View attachment 14267

 

Jim, Found this obit for another vet from the 13th Air Supply Squadron. Francis Hewlett "Pete" Fourton Obituary: View Francis Fourton's Obituary by Star-Telegram They were attached to the 13th Air Supply Group, 13th Air Force. The obit said they were at Biac Island, but the picture seems to indicate they arrived in Japan from Hokkaido.
I Googled 13th Air Group and found quite a bit of information--but you should ask the archives for his records, if they haven't burned. And also ask for a replacement set of his awards--this is free and will add a lot to his flag display.
He was drafted late in the war and departed for the Pacific Theater on 7 Aug 1945--the month the war ended in the Pacific.
He spent much of his overseas time on Occupation duty in Japan (Occupation Medal, Japan Bar box #33)
He made Sgt. in a very short time. Hope this helps

 

I am going to 'guess' at 7th ASAC...............7th Army Security Agency Command

 

The unit is probably 13th Depot Supply Squadron.

ASAC is "Air Service Area Command". This type of unit controlled depots groups and other service units. It would have had a number, such as the xxxxth ASAC.

 

Bump this thread, slightly interesting, discharge document and two pictures.

While the photo inscription says "7th ASAC", looking through the official history for the end of the war the correct format seems to be "VII Air Service Area Command".

Nothing in the photos suggest service outside the Army Air Forces on Occupation Duty in Japan. While air maintenance is always critical, without the operational intensity of combat, for which units were designed, there could be a lot of slack time which the Army generally fills with guard duty even for specialists.

 

Perhaps a larger picture of the DD-214 could be made.....with my poor eyes I may be seeing things but towards the last there is something about "resurrected for further military training" possible after "leave" which if I am seeing right he may have re-enlisted or re trained? Also he has the Japan occupation medal which means he was on Japan perhaps the pictures say where and he served there after the Bomb was dropped? It should be realized that although he was in automotive work most men would have been destined at this time for the invasion of Japan and he would have had infantry training for that landing and invasion so what you may have understood about his infantry training may have been correct although his specialty involved supply/automotive things. Of course the A-bomb saved many from the fighting that would have ensued with the invasion of Japan.