Military Discharges

INDEX

• Upgrading Discharges

• Introduction to Spin Codes

• List of Spin Codes

• Legal Action

Upgrading Discharges

Over 400,000 veterans who received "less than honorable" discharges between 1964 and 1973, may be eligible to have them upgraded to Honorable.  (This does not include Dishonorable or Bad Conduct discharges)

Postal applications:
Joint Liaison Office
Attn: Army Liaison Team
USARPAC
St. Louis MO  63132

Phone calls:
The Joint Liaison Office 1-800-325-4040
Alaska, Missouri, Hawaii, & Puerto Rico 1-314-428-3500

National Personnel Records Center - Military Personnel Records

Introduction to Spin Codes

Even on an Honorable discharge, a "Spin Code" (SPN - Separation Program Number) can hurt a veteran's chance of being hired by a prospective employer.  These spin codes were put on DD 214 (discharge papers) from the 1940's through the early 1970's. Veterans can request a new DD 214 with the spin codes removed.

Examples of a few spin codes:
SPN 258 - Unfitness, multiple reasons
SPN 263 - Bedwetter
SPN 41A - Apathy, lack of interest
SPN 41E - Obesity
SPN 46C - Apathy / Obesity
SPN 463 - Paranoid personality
(see longer list of spin codes below)

If you were in the US Army, written requests for having a SPN code removed from your DD 214 (Report of Separation From Active Duty) or earlier discharge papers, should be sent to:

Commander
Reserve Components Personnel
& Administrative Center
Box 12479
Ollivette Branch
St. Louis, MO 63132

List of Spin Codes

Spin Codes - Legal Action
By: Edwin Crosby

The author of this story, Edwin Crosby, served in the USAF from 1966-1971.  He volunteered to go to Vietnam, and served in MACVSOG, 15th Special Operations Squadron,  Nha Trang, AB,  RVN  from November 1968 to June 1970.
His lawsuit began in March of 1976, having discovered in February of 1976, he had a BAD 'Spin Code' number.  The case was originally filed in the US District Court, Northern District of New York, Syracuse.  He has been fighting this case on behalf of all veterans and has been instrumental in having D.O.D.  change the DD-214 many times to prevent future damage to other veterans.

Beginning JUNE 11, 1956, under D.O.D. Instruction 1336.3,  DOD ordered the military departments to begin putting a coded number on the main employment reference document of veterans. This document known as the DD-214 is intended to be presented to employers by veterans seeking employment and benefits.

According to Plaintiff's Exhibit NO: 6, D.O.D. Instruction 1336.1, dated September 1, 1966, SUBJECT - Standardization of Forms for Report of Transfer or Discharge of Members of the Armed Forces of the U.S., there were to be 8 or more copies of DD-214 made.  Copy one to the veteran, other copies eventually went to State Adjutant General, VA Data Processing Center, Austin, TX.,  State Director Selective Service, Nat. Military Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.

As of 1977, nearly 20 million veterans had a coded number. This is SHOCKING as in 1974  D.O.D. told Congress that only a couple hundred thousand had a code number.  Moreover, in 1974  DOD told Congress they would stop the " SPN "  coding system, however, in 1972, they were already changing the system to " SPD "  ( separation program designator ).  They deceived Congress and the American People.  Millions of veterans with an Honorable Discharge have a " BAD "  coded number.

Plaintiff's Exhibit NO: 19  is the " infamous corporation questionnaire ". These are major corporations admitting to having the codes and using them against veterans.  I am the only one to have this due to litigation, as it is locked up in Congress under a " Classified "  coding.  Banks, life insurance companies, State Gov't & Federal Gov't Agencies have them as well.  Lists of the codes were sent to FAA, ( federal aviation admin. )  HUD, ( housing & urban development )  Office Personnel Management.

One corporation admitted that the VA has told us this is not confidential and they will send us a copy.  Amazing!

There are Congressional Records available to read on this matter. As Congress attempted once to pass a law regarding the use of the coded numbers, however, this failed to pass.

Have you ever gone to a VA Hospital and had the doctor attempt to send you to the psychologist or psychiatrist ??  Your coded SPN was probably the reason why, and you did not even know, moreover, there could be nothing in your military records saying you had seen a psychologist, but, that did not stop them.  One of the most given out codes was SPN-265 or SDN-265, which says,  unsuitability, character & behavior disorders.

There were 5 main categories;  unsuitability,  unfitness,  misconduct, homosexual, or, any reason based upon mental or moral issues.  Then under each category, they piled on a bunch of numbers and meanings.  i.e.  SPN-384,  Drug Abuse, Marijuana or Heroin.  And get this, those veterans who signed up for  " DRUG AMNESTY "  you got a code number, SPN-384,   YOU GOT NO AMNESTY !!!  You got screwed.

Here are some things I have discovered over the years:  (1)  the State of N.Y. denied me the right to take a Civil Service Test because the State Employee punched my SSN into a computer and pulled up my military records  ( they are not supposed to have them )  then said there is your code, sorry, NO TEST.  It was the very same code number the Gov't said in Court would never surface again, they corrected the records, RIGHT, they did nothing.   (2)   VA'S  Board of Veterans Appeals sent a 500 page transcript regarding my 19 year old claim for disability over to the U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals, on page 63, there was the same DD-214  the Gov't said would never surface again,  RIGHT, they did nothing.  Have you had trouble getting benefits with VA ?  Try this on for size,  someone else has your claim number, a phony or ghost, and they get your money !   (3)  VA employee tells me someone else has same number as you, that's impossible, or,  is it ??   (4)  a U.S. Senators aid here in Montana tells me this doesn't exist, it is a rumor,  yep, sure, then I say, I am the one who took lawsuit to US Supreme Court, well now, all of a sudden its no longer a rumor, and does exist.

I have lived in Upstate NY,  Missouri for 8 months,  Illinois for 16 months, and now Montana 9 months.  Everywhere I go, I speak to veterans, or, meet with them to tell them what is going on.  On Sept. 29, 2001,  I attended a " Veterans Standdown "  here in Billings.  I set up a table, and 7 vets came by with their DD-214 ( others did, but did not have DD-214 with them ).   Vet NO: 7 had a code I never saw before, advised him to write to service branch he was in and ask, the other 6 veterans had an HONORABLE DISCHARGE,  and  ALL had a rotten coded number.  What was alarming was all 6 said there was nothing in their military records to indicate they should have had that code.  They were stabbed in the back.

In 1984, I submitted a PROPOSAL to the VA under PUBLIC LAW  98-160, National Needs Assessment of Vietnam Veterans.  I had the support of the National Council of Churches, and the N.Y. State Council of Churches.  I won that GRANT !  My Grant called for " CHAPLAINS "  not psychologists who are lying to veterans about this PTSD stuff, when the coded SPN, SDN, or SPD code is responsible for many, many problems.  The White House took it away.  The Church folks got on a plane and lit out for Washington. Some deal was struck, think it was Veterans Outreach Centers, whatever.

You must find out what your coded number is, remember, if you were discharged before 1974, you automatically have one, after 1974, it went on the other 8 or more copies of DD-214, and your still dead meat.

What angers me most is the American Legion & V.F.W.   They remain silent on this matter.  I was a service officer for Am. Leg. in N.Y.  I actually got fired for helping veterans and widows win their benefits.  I file a claim, and they had to reinstate me.  I resigned 2 months later, having been cut off from those items I need to help veterans with.

Here is my email address;  ehcrosby7@att.net    if you have any questions, want to see copies of these documents, give me a FAX number, will send them to you, with your promise to show them to other veterans, or help a vet with one of these codes.

Currently,  I am reopening this lawsuit here in Billings, Mt.  The Judge should make some sort of Decision by the end of April, at least I hope he does.  The smoking gun is there, however, the corruption within our Justice System is outrageous.  I sent a criminal complaint to the FOREMAN of the Federal Grand Jury here on March 1st, 2002.  The US Attorney intercepted it.  Charges,  GENOCIDE & WAR CRIMES,  both under TITLE 18, PART 1, CHAPTER 50A, SECTION 1091,  and,  TITLE 18, PART 1, CHAPTER 118, SECTION 2441.   Those of us who have these codes fall directly under the wording of these 2 sections of law.  We are being systematically eliminated because thieves want to rip off the VA for billions of dollars.  Well, screw them.

For those veterans who do not like to be stabbed in the back, and you are looking for a way to fight back,  there is the BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS.  It requires one piece of paper, a Gov't Form, and a very good statement of case.  That is to say,  on my DD-214 is a coded number, there is nothing in my records saying I did what the code says, you have blacklisted me, stabbed me in the back, character assassinated my good family name.  Under TITLE 10, Section 1552,  you are entitled to be paid for an " injustice ".   That is what you are claiming.  I would look on an internet library such as Cornell Univ. and make copy of that law: http://www.law.cornell.edu

Do not be afraid to get some help, however, be careful as any vet rep may try to talk you out of it.  You have been stabbed in the back,  make sure you get some Justice.

Edwin Crosby III
315-963-2671
ehcrosby7@att.net 

 UPDATE - November 2, 2002 

By Edwin Crosby  III

As of this date,  November 2, 2002,  Mr. Crosby has file the last BRIEF/REBUTTAL with the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.  Mr. Crosby is trying to reopen the SPN, SDN, SPD coded number lawsuit he took to the U.S. Supreme Court.   A U.S. Federal Judge in Billings, Mt. denied his request to vacate or set aside the original Decision based on SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY.  This is incorrect under 28 U.S.C. 1331.

       Moreover,  the U.S.A.F. and the Gov't lawyers now claim they DID NOT have to obey the two (2) U.S. Federal Court Orders issued to them as the Judge did not list each and every DD-214 the Government generated,  nor,  list each and every electronic data bank  ( computers )   this coded number was sent to, including State & Federal Government Agencies.   Is that lame or what ??!!!!    Twice Federal Judges said to correct ALL the RECORDS,  now they use a lame excuse like that.  Hopefully, other Judges will not buy that theory.

       Should the 9th Circuit Court refuse to do anything about this sordid matter of branding human beings with coded numbers for the purpose of systematic elimination,  veteran Crosby is going to Canada and request political asylum based on GENOCIDE.   Currently under  U.S. law,  TITLE 18, Part 1, Chapter 50A, Section 1091, GENOCIDE,  veteran Crosby and any other veteran in the Untied States with one of these coded numbers falls under this law as a victim.  Moreover,  Title 18, Part 1, Chapter 118, Section 2441,  WAR CRIMES,  veteran Crosby and any other veteran with one of these codes also falls under this section of law as a victim.

       Once the international community sees the proof of this branding of human beings with numbers in America,  only one thought will be forthcoming,  this is what happened in Nazi Germany,  now its going on in America.   Who is responsible for this Holocaust 2,  look no further than the Justice System, controlled by a secret society, the BAR ASSOCIATION and its members, LAWYERS.   The framers of the U.S. Constitution left the word lawyer out of the Constitution and for good reason.  NOW we see that reason, decades of systematic elimination by a corrupt justice system.

       It is shameful that State Veteran Agencies have not told veterans about this coded number,  even more shameful is the theft of monies from the Veterans Administration via the use of the coded number.  Brother veterans,  thieves are criminals,  and have NO HONOR.  If more of you sought legal redress for this outrageous conduct towards Americas Veterans,  something wonderful would happen.  Liberty & Justice For All would become reality.  Pledging allegiance to the flag ends with the words,  with Liberty & Justice For All,  and many have died upon the battlefield for just that.  Will you Honor those who died by telling other veterans about this sordid matter?   Will you write a letter to these so called veterans service organizations and ask them why they keep their mouths shut on this matter ??

Edwin Crosby  III
ehcrosby7@att.net 

UPDATE  -  OCTOBER 17,  2006

          Ed Crosby file a complaint with the V.A. Inspector General regarding a matter about FROSTBITE.  The V.A. Inspector General investigated this phony claim and said,  "...the erroneous claim for frostbite was removed from Mr. Crosby's file as he did not open such a claim ".   VA Regional Office Manager at Ft. Harrison, Mt. , filed this FALSE CLAIM by forging Mr. Crosby's signature upon official Gov't documents designed to CHARACTER ASSASSINATE a litigant.  Moreover,  it was also discovered that the MAIN PIECE OF EVIDENCE in the lawsuit,  a legal transcript submitted to any Federal Court Clerk,  had been removed from the Official File and destroyed.  THEREFORE,  with the evidence destroyed,  the Courts had no choice but to say,  no subject matter jurisdiction.  Criminal complaints have been filed with FBI,  nothing done to date.   Lastly,  someone in the US Attorneys Office in BILLINGS, Mt.  called Ft. Harrison Regional Office and told them to destroy the transcript and open a phony claim to discredit Mr. Crosby.   V.A.  moved one William Peterson,  Regional Office Manager, Ft. Harrison, Mt.  to a Regional Office in Kentucky.  Can you believe it,  he was not arrested !!!!   We have the evidence,  where is our Judicial System ?????     

 Edwin H. Crosby  III                 THANK YOU.
ehcrosby7@att.net 

UPDATE DECEMBER 2010

          Board For Correction of Military Records.  Each branch of the military has one of Boards as directed by Congress.  TITLE 10  U.S.C.  Sec. 1552.   Here a veteran is to receive some justice for errors in their records, falsehoods, correct an injustice, and pay for said injustice.  Recently four (4) questions were sent to nearly 20 Members of Congress asking if they would send said questions over to each of the military BOARDS and get answers.  For months we received nothing,  then Senator Lugar of Indiana produced answers to those questions.   For you readers we are posting up here both the 4 questions, and the answers to those questions.  Moreover,  there is a REPORT entitled,  “ Military Record Correction Boards and Their Judicial Review “  done for the State Bar of TEXAS, and dated JUNE 11, 2010.  A Raymond J. Toney of Woodland, Calif., was asked to submit said Report.

           This LINK will take you to that REPORT;   http://www.texasbar.com/flashdrive/materials/military_law/militarylaw_toney_militaryrecord_finalarticle.pdf       Scroll down and read “ L “.  Quoting;  the Navy, Army, and Coast Guard do not require their board members to review applications and supporting evidence before deciding applications;   END QUOTE.   You send in your claim, and right to the DENIED PILE IT GOES,  NO DUE PROCESS !!!  Since 1985 there has been a lawsuit,  CASEY  v.  U.S. 8 Fed. Cl.Ct. 234  that says if a veteran has a STIGMA DISCHARGE  (  a BAD SPN, SDN, or SPD CODE )  he/she was entitled to a Due Process Hearing.  If you did not get one, and the regulations said you would NOT, then they had to tell you about the BAD code,  fix it,  and pay you.  Guess what,  who got paid ?   NOBODY !  Who got some Justice, NOBODY !   Who failed to follow LEGAL PRECEDENT,  the BCMR’s did NOT follow res judicata, i.e. legal precedent.  Are you a veteran who filed a claim between 1986 and 2010 and were DENIED and you knew you had a good claim ??   You need to RE-FILE and demand JUSTICE.   This time, send it directly to the Secretary of the branch of the military you were in,  NOT THE BOARDS.

           Below,  are the 4 questions, and the 4 answers.  You should get what this is all about,  missing money, failure to pay veterans stabbed in the back, and NO DUE PROCESS OF LAW.   You might call the Federal Court of Claims and ask them why a Judges Decision is ignored and mocked by military BCMR’S.   

Edwin H. Crosby III

LINKS