Unusual Discharge Papers

Dateline: 5 June 2013

As I noted in my previous post, my son is now out of the Army. He spent a year in Korea and the rest of his four years in the the U.S. He decided he had enough of the Army and got out just before his unit was sent to the Middle East. All in all, I would have to say the Army was good for him. And, except for a severely broken ankle, he came out of the experience physically and mentally undamaged. Unfortunately, he has friends who were not so fortunate. 

Getting out of the military is something of an ordeal. A lot of paperwork and other things have to be done. When they're all done as required, the final step is to get your DD214, which is a "Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty." When the Army gives you that form, that's it—you are officially out of the service.

When my son went to the proper place, at the proper time, on the appointed day, to finally get his DD214, he met with a man who took care of issuing the final paperwork. He was a civilian employee of the Army, but my son said he was "an older veteran." 

The man explained what he needed to explain, and issued the DD214. All of this was the usual protocol. But then the man broke with protocol and handed my son another piece of paper. He said, "Here's some hope for the future."

That piece of paper is shown above. You can click the picture to see an enlarged view. But here is what the paper says...

Are You Concerned About 

The Future? Don't Worry!

You're in Good Hands!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

The old veteran then shook my son's hand and thanked him for his service.

My son wants to frame the paper. 

I was blessed to hear this story—to know that there is an old veteran out there who is ignoring political correctness and giving true words of hope to the soldiers he is discharging back into the civilian world.