Are there official military records or discharge papers (DD-214) available for Dan Flood?
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Executive summary
Official U.S. military discharge records (DD Form 214) are maintained by the National Personnel Records Center and can be requested by veterans or next-of-kin; the National Archives explains how to request military service records and SF-180/eVetRecs options [1]. Public online repositories like Fold3 host historical military documents but availability depends on which "Dan Flood" is sought and whether records are public or require next-of-kin authorization [2] [1].
1. What the DD‑214 is and where it’s kept
The DD‑214 (Report of Separation) is the U.S. military’s primary discharge document; military personnel records are stored at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), and the National Archives’ Military Personnel Records page explains the process to request service records and the use of eVetRecs or Standard Form 180 for requests [1].
2. How to get a DD‑214 for a living veteran or next‑of‑kin
If you are the veteran or the veteran’s next‑of‑kin, the National Archives directs you to use eVetRecs (online) or submit Standard Form 180; these are the established channels to obtain copies of DD‑214s and other personnel files [1]. Available sources do not mention any faster or alternative official channel to obtain a DD‑214 beyond the NPRC guidance [1].
3. Public availability limits and privacy rules
Not all personnel records are public: privacy rules and the status of the veteran (living vs. deceased) determine access. The National Archives guidance notes that some records require signature or next‑of‑kin authorization and that request processing and access depend on law and NPRC policies [1]. Available sources do not provide a blanket rule that every DD‑214 is searchable online without permission [1].
4. Multiple people named “Dan Flood” — identity matters
Search results show several distinct individuals named Dan(n) Flood across time and countries — for example, Daniel J. Flood, the long‑serving U.S. congressman (1903–1994) with a detailed congressional biography [3] [4], and other contemporary figures mentioned in social and news posts [5] [6]. Before requesting records, identify the exact person (full name, DOB, service branch, service number or Social Security number) because NPRC searches require precise identifiers [1]. Available sources do not state that a generic name search at NPRC will reliably produce records for any “Dan Flood” without further identifiers [1].
5. Historical and non‑US military records
For individuals who served in non‑U.S. forces or in earlier eras, other repositories exist: for example, the Auckland War Memorial Museum’s Online Cenotaph hosts records for a Dan Flood (a New Zealand serviceman born late 19th century) and points to archival references [7]. If the Dan Flood you mean is that figure, you must consult those country‑specific archives rather than the U.S. NPRC [7]. The National Archives guidance applies specifically to U.S. military personnel records [1].
6. Commercial and archival databases — helpful but incomplete
Commercial aggregators and specialty sites like Fold3 compile military documents and can be useful for historical research, but they do not replace NPRC records and may have gaps or require subscriptions [2]. Social media posts and private sites naming a “Dan Flood” (e.g., threads or commentary) are not authoritative records of service and can conflate different people [5] [6]. Treat those sources as leads to verify through official records [2] [1].
7. If you’re investigating a public figure named Dan Flood
For historical public figures such as Congressman Daniel J. Flood (1903–1994), extensive biographical and congressional records are available [3] [4]. Available sources do not assert that his DD‑214 is publicly posted online; biographical works and congressional archives are the better starting points for background on his career [3] [4]. To obtain his official service record (if any), follow NPRC procedures or query archives that hold veterans’ records from his era [1].
8. Practical next steps and cautions
If you want a DD‑214 for a specific Dan Flood: 1) gather full legal name, date/place of birth, branch, and service dates; 2) use the National Archives request page (eVetRecs or SF‑180) as directed by NPRC [1]; 3) for historical or foreign service, search national or specialist archives such as the Auckland Museum for New Zealand service records [7]. Be aware that privacy rules, record loss (noted in other reporting historically), or lack of digitization can delay or prevent delivery — available sources do not guarantee every record will be retrievable [1] [2].
Limitations: this analysis uses only the provided sources and therefore cannot confirm whether a particular DD‑214 for any single Dan Flood already exists online or in-hand; to verify that specific claim, follow the NPRC request process described above [1].