Save Our Veterans Stories - sos.togetherweserved.com USAAF... · USAAF Liaison Pilot Badge (WW2) USAAF Aerial Gunner Wings (WW2) AFF Observer Badge (WW2) USAAF Navigator Badge (WW2)

U.S.A.A.F ASSISTED VETERAN HELP GUIDE

TogetherWeServed.org 6-2016 1

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This Help Guide enables you to organize and gather all information associated with your Veteran Family Member’s military service, ready for you to post to their Military Service Page on TogetherWeServed.org. Once completed, a beautiful “Shadow Box” presentation of their entire military service, including all insignia, badges, medals, photos and memories is available for you to print out and frame, or share with other family members via your own personal web address. ________________________________________________ Contents: Military Service Information 1. Brief Overview - “Getting Started” 2. Your Veteran’s Discharge Certificate Explained 3. Basic Veteran Military Service Information 4. Medals and Ribbons Awarded 5. Boot Camp or Officer Training School Attended 6. Units and Duty Stations Assigned To 7. Combat and Non-Combat Operations Participated In

References 8. Collar Insignia - Illustrated Selection Reference 9. Badges - Illustrated Selection Reference 10. Medals and Ribbons - Illustrated Selection Reference 11. Service Reflections - Capturing Memories Worksheet 12. Service Photographs – Photo Description Summary 13. Veteran Video Interview Guidelines 14. Posting Video to Your Veterans Military Service Page 15. Posting Veterans Discharge Certificate 16. Viewing, Printing and Sharing Your Veterans Shadow Box



GETTING STARTED Step 1 – Gather Your Veteran’s Service Information Using This Help Guide

First locate your Veteran’s discharge certificate if available. Work with your Veteran to enter as much information as you can from this certificate into the Basic Veteran Information page. You will use this information during the Join process.

On the Help Guide, identify and mark all the medal ribbons, insignia and badges

awarded to your Veteran. Scan their discharge certificate and all military photos.

Now you are ready to start building your Veterans Military Service Page. Step 2 - Build Your Veteran’s Military Service Page On Together We Served.org

After joining Together We Served.org as a Family Member, enter all the information gathered on the Help Guide into your Veteran’s Military Service Page using the ‘Add’ button in each section. Need help? Contact our online Help Desk at bottom left.

A complete service history will begin to appear with medal ribbons worn exactly as on

uniform and all badges, insignia and unit patches correctly displayed.

Add their photos to designated photo albums - an album is available for each event in their service career - boot camp, each assignment, combat mission etc. Click the Edit button in any section of their Military Service Page to add photos to an event in that section. eg add related photos to a specific duty station in the Assignments section.

Click on the ‘Shadow Box’ and ‘Timeline’ buttons on your Veteran’s page to view unique

and beautifully illustrated presentations of your Veteran’s military service which can be shared via a personal web address or printed out and framed.

Step 3 - Capture Your Veteran’s Service Memories.

A unique feature of your Veteran’s Military Service Page is as section called ‘Service Reflections’. Service Reflections is an easy to complete self-interview designed to help your Veteran remember key people and events from their military service

The Service Reflections interview questions are contained in this Help Guide. Your Veteran may wish to write their own answers which you can then enter into the Service Reflections section of their Profile Page. Each question may be answered on at a time.

Once your Veteran has completed their Reflections, you can choose to have your Veteran recount their military memories in a video record. Using the Reflections Interview Questions to guide the session, you can record your Veteran reflecting back using any recording device - smartphone, tablet or video camera.

You can now upload your recorded video to your YouTube account and insert the YouTube Share link in the Service Reflections section of their Together We Served Military Service Page.



SAMPLE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCE DISCHARGE FORM



Basic Veteran Information (Numbers Reference Red Numbers on Discharge Certificate)

Name (1) Last Name:

Initial: First Name:

Nickname/ Military Codename

Final Rank (2)

State / Zip Code of Residence

State:

Zip:

Date of Birth (9) Home Town (8)

Date of Birth (9):

Home Town (8):

State/ Country of Birth

State of Birth:

Country of Birth:

Contact Phone Number

Contact E-mail Address

Service Years (3) (4) Start Date (3):

Separation Date (4):

Service Status (Circle) a) Veteran b) Retired

Last Military Occupational Specialty Number (6)

Last Unit or Duty Station Assigned To (5)

Hashmarks (Service Stripes on Sleeve)

Number of Diagonal Stripes: Number of Horizontal Stripes:

Language(s) Spoken



Medals and Awards (See Medals Reference in Appendix)

Medals and Awards (7) If a medal was awarded more than once, list each award separately along with its year of award.

1.Name: Year: 2. Name: Year: 3. Name: Year: 4. Name: Year: 5. Name: Year:

6. Name: Year: 7. Name: Year: 8. Name: Year: 9. Name: Year: 10. Name: Year:





Service History: Recruit Or Officer Training and Assignments

Recruit or Officer Training (Boot Camp)

Training School Name:

Location:

Month: Year

Company: Platoon:

Assignment #1 Squadron Duty Station Formal Schools

Squadron, Duty Station or Formal School: Start Year: End Year:

Rank: Job Code:

Location:

Assignment #2


Rank: Job Code:

Location:

Assignment #3


Rank: Job Code:

Location:

Assignment #4


Rank: Job Code:

Location:

Assignment #5


Rank: Job Code:

Location:

Assignment #6


Rank: Job Code:

Location:



Assignment #7


Rank: Job Code:

Location:

Assignment #8


Rank: Job Code:

Location:

Assignment #9


Rank: Job Code:

Location:

Assignment #10


Rank: Job Code:

Location:

Assignment #11


Rank: Job Code:

Location:

Assignment #12


Rank: Job Code:

Location:

Assignment #13


Rank: Job Code:

Location:

Assignment #14


Rank: Job Code:

Location:



Service History: Combat and Non-Combat Operations

Combat / Non-Combat Operations #1

Name of Operation: Dates of Operation: Memories:








Name of Operation: Dates of Operation:

Memories:








Name of Operation: Dates of Operation:

Memories:







Service Branch Collar Insignia (Mark Those Worn By Your Veteran)

Enlisted Officer Branch

Acquisition Corps

Army Band

Air Defense Artillery

Adjutant General

Armor



Armor (1940 – 1942)

Aviation

Branch Immaterial

Civil Affairs

Chaplain

Chemical



Command Sergeant Major

Cavalry

Dental Corps

Engineer Corps

Electronic Warfare

Field Artillery



Finance Corps

General Officer

Infantry

Inspector General

Judge Advocate General

Logistics



Medical Department

Military Intelligence

Military Police Corps

Medical Service Corps

Medical Specialist Corps

Nurse Corps



National Guard Bureau

Ordnance

Public Affairs

Psychological Operations Corps

Quartermaster Corps

Signal Corps



Special Forces

Special Services (WW2)

Staff Specialist

Tank Service (WW1 - 1917)

Tank Service (WW1 – 1918)

Tank Service (1919 – 1920)



Transportation Corps

U.S. Enlisted

Veterinary Corps

Warrant Officer Candidate

Warrant Officer



Aviator Badges

Image Name

USAAF Aircrew Badge (WW2)

USAAF Air Ship Pilot Badge (WW2)

USAAF Balloon Pilot Badge (WW2)

USAAF Bombardier Badge (WW2)

USAAF Command Pilot Badge (WW2)

USAAF Flight Engineer Badge (WW2)

USAAF Flight Nurse Badge (WW2)

USAAF Flight Surgeon Badge (WW2)

USAAF Glider Pilot Badge (WW2)

USAAF Liaison Pilot Badge (WW2)

USAAF Aerial Gunner Wings (WW2)

AFF Observer Badge (WW2)

USAAF Navigator Badge (WW2)



USAAF Pilot Badge (WW2)

USAAF Service Pilot Badge (WW2)

USAAF Senior Pilot Badge (WW2)

USAAF Technical Observer Badge (WW2)

Womens Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) Badge (WW2)

Marksmanship Badges

Image Name

Expert Marksman

Sharp Shooter

Marksman

Marksmanship Bars

Rifle

Pistol

Automatic Rifle



Recoilless Rifle

Small Bore Rifle

Small Bore Pistol

Machine Gun

Sub Machine gun

Carbine

Bayonet

Grenade

M-203 Grenade Launcher

Flame Thrower

Mortar

Rocket Launcher



Tank Weapons

Anti-Aircraft Artillery

Field Artillery

Missile

Aero Weapons

Driver, Operator, Mechanic Badges

Image Name

Driver-A

Driver-M

Driver-T

Driver-W

Mechanic

Operator-S



Special Operations

Image Name

Air Assault Badge

Airborne Glider Badge

Parachutist (Basic)

Basic Parachutist (1 Combat Jump)

Basic Parachutist (2 Combat Jumps)




Senior Parachutist

Senior Parachutist (1 Combat Jumps)







Master Parachutist

Master Parachutist (1 Combat Jump)

Master Parachutist (2 Combat Jumps)




Pathfinder Badge

Military Freefall Parachutist



Military Freefall Jumpmaster

Official Badges

Image Name

WWI Discharge Pin

WWI Discharge Pin (Wounded)

Army Honorable Service Lapel Pin (1920-1939)

Honorably Discharged WW II

WWII EOD Sleeve Insignia

Meritorious Unit Commendation 1944-1961



Meritorious Unit Commendation 1944-1961 (2nd Award)

Meritorious Unit Commendation 1944-1961 (3rd Award)

Meritorious Unit Commendation 1944-1961 (4th Award)

Meritorious Unit Commendation 1944-1961 (5th Award)



Army Medals and Awards Reference (Mark Those Awarded to Veteran)

Mark the Medal Ribbons which have been awarded to your Veteran. See (7) on their Discharge Certificate When a Medal has been awarded more than once, indicate how many times. National Guard Ribbons are too numerous to include here but are available on the website.

Army Medal of Honor

Distinguished Service Cross

Defense Distinguished Service Medal

Army Distinguished Service Medal

Silver Star

Defense Superior Service Medal

Legion of Merit

Distinguished Flying Cross

Soldier's Medal

Bronze Star

Purple Heart

Defense Meritorious Service Medal



Meritorious Service Medal

Air Medal

Joint Service Commendation Medal

Army Commendation Medal

Joint Service Achievement Medal

Army Achievement Medal

Prisoner of War Medal

Army Good Conduct Medal

Reserve Components Achievement Medal

American Defense Medal

Women's Army CORPS Service Medal

American Campaign Medal

Asiatic/Pacific Campaign Medal



European/African/Middle Eastern Campaign Medal

WWII Victory Medal

Army of Occupation Medal

Medal for Humane Action

National Defense Service Medal

Antarctica Service Medal

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

Armed Forces Service Medal

Humanitarian Service Medal

Armed Forces Reserve Medal

NCO Professional Development Ribbon

Army Service Ribbon

Overseas Service Ribbon



Reflections On Military Service Interview Questions

What influenced your decision to join the military?

Whether you were in the service for several years or as a career, please describe the direction or path you took. What was your reason for leaving?



If you participated in any military operations, including combat, humanitarian and peacekeeping operations, please describe those which were the most significant to you and, if life-changing, in what way.



Of all your duty stations or unit assignments, which one do you have fondest memories of and why? Which one was your least favorite?

From your entire service, including combat, describe the personal memories which have impacted you most?







What achievement(s) are you most proud of from your military career? If you received any medals, awards, formal presentations or qualification badges for significant achievement or valor, please describe how these were earned.

Of all the medals, awards, formal presentations and qualification badges you received, or any other memorabilia, please describe those which are the most meaningful to you and why?



Which individual(s) from your time in the military stand out as having the most positive impact on you and why?

Please recount the names of friends you served with, at which location, and what you remember most about them. Indicate those you are already in touch with and those you would like to make contact with.



Can you recount a particular incident(s) from your service which may or may not have been funny at the time, but still makes you laugh?



What profession did you follow after your military service and what are you doing now? If you are currently serving, what is your present occupational specialty?

What military associations are you a member of, if any? What specific benefits do you derive from your memberships?

How has military service influenced the way you have approached your life and career?

What advice would you have for those that are still serving?



Military Photographs

Photo #1

Title of Photo: Approximate Year:

People in Photo:

Description:

Photo #2

Title of Photo: Approximate Year: People in Photo:

Description:

Photo #3


People in Photo:

Description:




Photo #4


People in Photo:

Description:

Photo #5


People in Photo: Description:

Photo #6






Photo #7



Photo #8


People in Photo:

Description:

Photo #9


People in Photo:

Description:




Photo #10


People in Photo:

Description:

Photo #11


People in Photo:

Description:

Photo #12


People in Photo:

Description:




Photo #13



Photo #14


People in Photo:

Description:

Photo #15


People in Photo:

Description:




Photo #16


People in Photo:

Description:

Photo #17


People in Photo:

Description:

Photo #18


People in Photo:

Description:




Photo #19


People in Photo:

Description:

Photo #20


People in Photo:

Description:

Photo #21


People in Photo:

Description:



Suggested Video Interview Questions

1: Early Years: Tell me about your early years in the service. Who or what influenced you to join the military? Where did you go to boot camp/ officer training and what memories do you have from that time? 2: Service Years or War Years: Briefly tell me about your career path. What was your first unit assignment and where were you located? What were your subsequent assignments? Your main military occupation was that of infantryman (substitute other occupation). Tell us a little bit about particular military equipment you worked with and any associated special memories. You participated in combat operations in Vietnam (substitute war or type of operation specific to your Veteran). Can you recall the most significant of those operations, the role you played and specific memories you hold to this day of what happened? Your received a Purple Heart (substitute for other significant medal or award specific to your Veteran). How was this earned and what special meaning does this have for you? You left the service in 19XX. What influenced your decision to leave? 3: Special Memories: Which individual(s) from your time in the military stand out as having the most positive impact on you and why? Can you recount the names of friends you served with and what do you remember most about them? Of all your duty stations or assignments, which ones do you have fondest memories of and why? Can you describe a particular incident(s) from your service which may or may not have been funny at the time, but still makes you laugh? What achievement(s) are you most proud of from your time in the military?



Record and Upload Your Video To YouTube And Veterans Military Service Page

1: Prepare Your Veterans Interview

a) Prepare your questions in advance, based on the guidelines on the previous page and show them to your Veteran. Modify your questions to suit.

b) Have your Veteran seated comfortably in a quiet room with no background noise.

c) Decide on your recording device – smartphone, tablet or video camera are all suitable.

However the recording device must be held steady. If possible it is better that another person or tripod holds the recording device which enables the interviewer and your Veteran to concentrate on the interview without distraction.

2: Recording Your Veterans Interview

a) The interview should be ideally be 30 minutes to 60 minutes long.

b) Introduce your Veteran and include the date of the interview and where it was made.

c) Ask your questions sequentially with a pause in between each question. Let your Veteran reminisce as much as they like. Keep the atmosphere similar to a relaxed conversation.

d) Look for a story within a story. If a memory is recalled that would prompt an unplanned question, feel free to ask this.

3: Uploading Your Video To YouTube

a) Most recorded video files are extremely large – anywhere from 3 to 5 GB. YouTube is a

very convenient place to upload your video and share this very easily using the YouTube shared video address for your video.

b) To upload your video to YouTube, you need to have a YouTube account which is very

easy to set up. Go to http://YouTube.com and click on “Sign In” at the top right of the web page. If you do not already have a YouTube account you can create one by clicking on “Create Account”.

c) Once you upload your video file to your YouTube Page, you will be able to view this on YouTube. Click on the “Share” link underneath your video to obtain your videos YouTube web address. This web address will be in a form similar to https://youtu.be/zgOWBXAUeAU.



4. Posting Your Video To Your Veterans Military Service Page on Together We Served

a) This YouTube web address is what you will use to post your video on your Veterans Military Service Page on Together We Served.

b) Log in to http://TogetherWeServed.org and go to your Veterans Military Service Profile

Page.

c) Click on the “Upload Reflections Video” link in the Service Reflections section of the Profile Page. A popup will appear. Enter your YouTube web address in the designated YouTube field and click on “Save”.

d) Your video is now available for viewing.

e) Any questions contact our Live Member Help Desk at the bottom left of your Together We Served website.

Post a Scanned Copy of Your Veterans DD-214 Discharge Certificate

1/ On your Veterans Military Service Page, just under your Veterans Service Photo, click on the “DD-214” link. This allows you to upload a scanned copy of your Veterans Discharge Certificate most commonly called “DD Form 214”. 2/ After you have scanned your Veterans DD-214, please blank out the “Service Number” at the top of the form in the event this is a Social Security Number. If you don’t know how to do this don’t worry, our Administrators will do this for you before approving the DD-214 for upload.

View Your Veterans Shadow Box and Order Poster Print

Viewing Your Veterans Military Service Shadow Boxes and Timeline On your Veterans Military Service Page, just under your Veterans Service Photo, there are three links you can click on:

a) Shadow Box – Summary of Complete Military Service

b) Reflections Shadow Box – Summary of Complete Military Service plus Memories

c) Military Service Timeline – Timeline Presentation of Complete Military Service



2/ Shadow Box and Timeline presentations are fully illustrated with all insignia, medals, badges and patches. 3/ Each time you update your Veterans Military Service Page, their Shadow Boxes and Timeline automatically update. Sharing Your Veterans Military Service Shadow Boxes and Timeline 1/ Click on the link above your Veterans Shadow Box frame entitled: “Share your Shadow Box or adjust your Shadow Box settings HERE.” Now you can:

a) Customize the presentation of your Shadow Boxes.

b) Switch your privacy settings from “Private” to “Shared”

c) Obtain your personal web addresses for each Shadow Box or Timeline you can share with family or friends.

Printing Your Veterans Military Service Shadow Box 1/ You can order a high resolution, 18” wide Poster Print of your Veterans Shadow Box by clicking on the “Order Poster Print” button above your Veterans Shadow Box frame. Your poster is professionally printed on quality satin finish photo paper and delivered to your door in strong cardboard tube. 2/ You have the option to frame your Shadow Box Poster Print and hang this on your wall.

Documents

Save Our Veterans Stories - sos.togetherweserved.com USAAF... · USAAF Liaison Pilot Badge (WW2) USAAF Aerial Gunner Wings (WW2) AFF Observer Badge (WW2) USAAF Navigator Badge (WW2)