Military Discharge Documents

Access to Military Discharge Documents
Access to Military Discharge documents is now limited as of 10/1/02 due to military I.D. theft. These documents are required to be kept confidential for 75 years after the date they are filed, separate and apart from other records.

Note: The Military Discharge papers must be filed with this office as a resident of the Town of Hamden before any determination of benefits can be made by the Assessor’s office.

Military Discharge- Dates of Entitlement
Veterans who served in the military during a time of war, and own property or cars in the Town of Hamden must file their military discharges with the Town Clerk's office in order to receive tax exemptions. The Assessor’s office will make the final determination of the veteran’s benefits available.

There is no charge to file or for a copy of a filed military discharge. Original DD214s and certified copies of DD214s will be accepted as proof of prior service in the military.

As of 10/1/2002, military discharge documents are now confidential documents for at least 75 years after the date they are filed, to be kept separate and apart from other records. "Military discharge documents" are those that contain personal information and that evidence a veteran’s discharge or retirement from the U.S.Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or Air Force. "Veteran" means a person honorably discharged from active service or the reserves.  For access to such records, click on Military Discharge Access

The following dates are determined to be time of war by SEC. 27-103:

Spanish-American War	April 21, 1898 to August 13, 1898
Phillippine Insurrection	August 13, 1898 to July 4, 1902
Moro Province Engagement	August 13, 1898 to July 15, 1903
Boxer Rebellion	June 20, 1900 to May 12, 1901
Cuban Pacification	September 12, 1906 to April 1, 1909
Nicaraguan Campaign	August 28, 1912 to November 2, 1913
Haitian Campaign	July 9, 1915 to December 6, 1915
Punitive Expedition to Mexico	March 10, 1916 to April 6, 1917
World War I	April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918
Service in Russia	April 6, 1917 to April 1, 1920
World War II	December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946 1
Korean Hostilities	June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955
South Korea Demilitarized Zone	After February 1, 1955
Lebanon Conflict	July 1, 1958 to November 1, 1958
Vietnam Era	February 28, 1961 to July 1, 1975
Berlin Airlift	August 14, 1961 to June 1, 1962
Lebanon Peace-Keeping Mission	September 29, 1982 to March 30, 1984
Invasion of Grenada	October 25, 1983 to December 15, 1983 2
Operation Earnest Will	February 1, 1987 to July 23, 1987
Invasion of Panama	December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990 2
Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm	August 2, 1990 to June 30, 1994 3
Somalia	After December 2, 1992
Bosnia	After December 20,1995

1. Pursuant to § 12-86, twelve o'clock midnight on December 31, 1947 is the World War II termination date for purposes of granting a property tax exemption.
2. A person must serve in a combat or combat support role for the duration of any campaign lasting less than 90 days in order to qualify for a property tax exemption. An Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is awarded to such individuals.
3. Active duty service personnel first became eligible for an exemption based on service in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, while that campaign was ongoing. Individuals who received an exemption based on receipt of an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for service in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm continue to be eligible even though they do not meet the 90-day service requirement.

Duplicate copies of DD214s can be obtained by requesting and completing a Standard Form 180 (SF 180), Request Pertaining to Military Records, to:

National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100

The form may obtained by calling 1-800-827-1000.

For further assistance with regard to veteran exemptions and specific requirements for additional benefits, please call the Assessor's office at (203)287-2520.