Help For Your
Loved Ones
Recently some members who passed
away did not maintain a file with their DD214, discharge, separation or
retirement papers. The families were unable to arrange for a military
presence at the funeral, could not get an American Flag and were unable to
use a national cemetery.
Members are encouraged to establish
a "casualty assistance" file and make it readily available to the family. Do
not put it off. Do not use your safe deposit box to store your will. The
bank will freeze access to your safe deposit box until your estate is
settled.
In
addition, your family should call the following as soon as possible.
• Local Social Security Office or
800-772-1213
• Local Installation Casualty Assistance Office
NYC Area 718-630-4930
FLA 813-828-2712
or HQDA 800-626-3317
Overseas 703-325-7990 (Collect)
• 77th Inf. Div ROA 718-352-5666
For retirees receiving benefits
call:
• Defense Finance Accounting Service
800-321-1080
• SBP Annuitant 800-435-3396
• DEERS 800-527-5602
• VA Insurance 800-669-8477
• VA Grave Info. 800-697-6947
These numbers appear in each issue
of Army Echoes for retirees.
Calls should also be made to all
organizations, military and civilian, e.g. ROA, AUSA, VFW, ROTARY etc., to
notify them of the death of a member. Some of these organizations
automatically insure all of their members. If you wish to be buried in
uniform, make sure it is easily located and that all insignia and awards are
properly positioned. Please take care of these things now. Apprise your
family of the file and uniform locations. Now forget about it. All is in
order. Enjoy!
