Sunday, September 17, 2017

Certificate of Satisfactory Service

My latest find, my paternal grandfather's wallet, has been a treasure trove of information.  Who knew how such a little thing would contain so many details and lead to so many hints to follow?

The first thing I looked at was his Certificate of Satisfactory Service card.  A card he carried from 1945 until his death in 1986.  It was a post-war document that certified him as having served his full tour of duty in the United States Navy during World War II.  On the back of the card are the dates showing the period of his active duty, 21 February 1942 to 9 November 1945.  These dates are so important to have while doing research on an ancestor's military career, and I am looking forward to doing some digging.  It also states that he was given an honorable discharge from the Navy, but his signature and fingerprint are the best treasures.  It makes this paper card that he carried in his wallet for 41 years to prove that he was a veteran of World War II that much more personal and connected to who he was.



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