COLUMBIANA COUNTY Recorder to offer veterans wallet-size discharge papers

LISBON -- Columbiana County Recorder Craig Brown will begin providing veterans with wallet-size copies of their military discharge papers, commonly known as DD-214s.
Brown said that he wanted to offer the service to veterans as an additional "recognition of what they have accomplished."
He said that the wallet-size discharge paper would not only serve as identification but is also "a sign of pride in what the holder has done for his or her country."
Brown said that in many situations veterans may need a certified copy of their discharge paperwork. In those cases, veterans must either provide an original personal copy, obtain one that was filed with his office or contact The National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Handy to have
The wallet-size copy is helpful because "it can be used as proof of service when attempting to obtain Veterans Administration medical benefits," Brown said.
For many years the armed forces recommended that a copy of a soldier's discharge paperwork be filed with county government as a safe place of storage, he said. That became more important after a fire at the Records Center in 1973. The fire destroyed about 17 million official military record files.
Brown said veterans who have filed DD-214s with his office can request a wallet-size copy by contacting him at the Columbiana County Recorder's office.
Brown said that he would also make wallet-size copies of discharge papers of Columbiana County veterans who have not filed the papers in his office.
Brown said the copies cost pennies to make.
For more information, contact Columbiana County Recorder Craig Brown at (330) 424-9517, Ext. 640, or e-mail at cbrown@ccclerk.org.