The Veterans Advocacy
LOCATOR SERVICES

    When a claim is filed with the U.S.
    Department of Veterans Affairs the
    burden of proof lies with the veteran.  
    He or she must provide evidence that
    supports he or she was injured or
    wounded in the line of duty while on
    duty.  This is done by available military
    medical evidence, incident reports,
    logs or current records of a disability.

    In July 1973, there was a fire at the
    National Personnel Records Center in
    St. Louis, military personnel and
    medical records were destroyed by
    fire or water damage, thus affecting
    records of veterans stored there at
    that time.
In lieu evidence that will be
accepted by the VA as evidence in
support of claim is called "Buddy
Statement."

A "Buddy Statement" is a testimonial
of a eyewitness account of any
incident, accidents, sudden illness,
chemical exposure, events that was
witnessed or have knowledge of by
a fellow Soldier, Marine, Sailor,
Airman that served in the same unit
at the same time and aware of the
events that occurred.

The Veterans Advocacy is able to
provide Locator Services to find a
"Buddy" searches to veterans and
their beneficiaries.  It has
successfully developed thorough
searches having found "Buddies"
who were able to give testimony
leading to a favorable grant of
benefits sought from the VA.

Every veteran should register in the
Locator Services.  You'll never know
who may be searching for you! When
the veteran registers online for this
service, he/she will be able to
communicate via e-mail with their
search request.  The amount of time
involved in a search cannot be
given - but in many cases, it could
be a matter of days, weeks or
months for a response. There will be
a one time registration fee of $10.00.
 A search request will be a fee
based service and will be charged
based on time elements involved in
the search process.
REGISTRATION FORM

FULL NAME: ___________________________________________________
MAIDEN NAME:__________________________________________________
CURRENT ADDRESS: _____________________________________________________________________
CITY, STATE, ZIP: _______________________________________________________________________
TELEPHONE NUMBER: ____________________________________CELL: __________________________
DATE OF BIRTH: _________________________ PLACE OF BIRTH: _________________________________
BRANCH OF SERVICE: ____________________________________________________________________
DATE ENTERED SERVICE: _________________________________________________________________
DATE OF SEPARATION: ____________________________________________________________________
UNITS OF ASSIGNMENT: ___________________________________________________________________
{EXAMPLE:82nd ABN DIV 5/525th Vietnam (U.S. Army); 1st Marine Div 2nd BnRecon, Lima Company, Iraq, (U.S.
Marine Corps); USS Enterprise, Persian Gulf, (U.S. Navy); 1889 Security Police Sq. Flt. 90, Korea (U.S. Air Force).
DATES OF UNIT ASSIGNMENTS: ______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
DATES OF DEPLOYMENTS: __________________________________________________________________
DATES OF SEA DUTIES: _____________________________________________________________________
MILITARY RETIRED: YES ___ NO ____  BRANCH OF SERVICE: _______________ RANK: _________________
RECEIVING: RETIRED PAY: YES ____ NO ____   VA COMPENSATION OR PENSION BENEFITS: YES ____NO___