WW2 Honorable Discharge
- 57 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Jeffrey A. Rothermel
April 29, 2026
Captain's Log:
The WW2 Honorable Discharge Certificate
for the
Army of the United States
An interesting leaf of ephemera recently entered the bookstore. It was a piece of paper printed on both sides in 1945. The front side of the document contained the bottom line. It was a certificate stating Private First Class Hesseltine "is hereby Honorably Discharged from the military service of the United States of America... 22 October 1945." The backside of the certificate stated Donald E. Hesseltine was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge by General Order 8, of the 362nd Infantry Regiment on 10 AUG 44. He was wounded on 19 OCT 44. His Purple Heart Medal was documented in General Order 135 15 EVAC Hospital. He honorably participated in the North Apennines, Po Valley, and Rome military campaigns in Italy. This essay highlights how the U.S. Government no longer posts the veteran's military record on the back of Honorable Discharge certificates.
Photo of an authentic World War Two Honorable Discharge Certificate in 1945. Printed on the back of the certificate is WD AGO 53 - 55 1 November 1944 (Similar to today's DD FORM 214).
The above WWII certificate is similar to the modern DD Form 256A [Honorable Discharge Army] implemented in May of 1950[1]. Seeing the Second World War document caused me to compare it with paperwork the U.S. Government issued me upon various points of transition.
There are a few notable differences between the Second World War Certificate (depicted above) and what came afterwards (depicted below).
The older certificate has black and white (B&W) printing versus the modern color. Additionally, the older B&W version has Army of the United States at the top. The colored document has "Honorable Discharge" at the top with United States Army in the middle. The third and most significant difference is the veteran's military record was typed on the back of the World War Two Honorable Discharge Certificate. Today, military veterans do not have a synopsis of their military service typed onto the back of their Honorable Discharge Certificate.
Picture of War Department Adjutant General's Office Form 53- 55 Form: WD AGO 53 - 55 1 November 1944.
The WD AGO 53 - 55 was an "enlisted record and report of separation Honorable Discharge" form. Today, a single form is used for both officers and enlisted for every manner of discharge such as dishonorable or honorable. It is called the DD Form 214 (Department of Defense) Form. During the Second World War, each soldier was assigned a unique "serial number." The military dropped special serial numbers for a time period. Instead of using both a serial number and a social security number, they used a "single" social security number (SSN). The U.S. Army and Air Force began using Social Security numbers on July 1, 1969. Due to Social Security Number identity theft, the U.S. Army has gone to a ten-digit numbering system for identification tags. [2.]
The National Archives allows access to veteran records sixty-two years after the veteran was discharged from the military.[3.] Veterans may register a copy of their DD FORM 214 with their local county recorder's office. Having a copy registered with the local government substantiates local or state veteran benefits that the veteran may be eligible to obtain. Hesseltine's records were registered with Jefferson County [Iowa] Records Office in Book Nine, page 288 on June 29, 1964.
The Second World War Honorable Discharge document is currently on display at the Captain's Book Shoppe in Iowa City, Iowa. Additional items currently on display include U.S. Navy Naval Aviator Certificate dated 26 November 1943 for a U.S. Marine Corps Officer qualified to operate a single engine plane. Three flight logs for the officer (1,977.3 total flight hours) along with B&W photographs (aircraft, aircraft carrier, men in uniform at U of Iowa). If you have questions about your military memorabilia, you are welcome to call Jeff at the store to discuss.
Browswers Welcome!
Captain's Book Shoppe LLC
1570 S. 1st Ave, Suite H
Iowa City, Iowa 52240 USA
Store Phone: USA (319) 351-3166
===== NOTES.
[DD FORM 256AF = Air Force.] [DD FORM 256CG = Coast Guard] [DD FORM 256MC = Marine Corps] {DD FORM 256N = Navy]
Veterans Military Discharge Documents - National Cemetery Administration (Accessed April 29, 2026)
[2.] The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps made the identification number switch to social security numbers on January 1, 1972. The Coast Guard switched on October 1, 1974. Identity theft caused the U.S. Army to announce identification tags (dog tags) would no longer have the SSN. A ten-digit identification number would be used.
Service Numbers and Social Security Numbers | National Archives (Accessed April 28, 2026).
In Major Change, Army Removes Social Security Numbers from Dog Tags | Military.com (Accessed April 28, 2026).
Dog tags get first update in 40 years | Article | The United States Army (Accessed April 28, 2026).
[3.] Request Your Military Service Records (including DD214) | Veterans Affairs (Accessed April 28, 2026).
