FOIA Correspondence (March 25, 1999)

Dear Sir,

I have recently obtained a purported Notice of Separation record which I believe to be a forgery, as it differs considerably from that provided by the Bureau of Naval Personnel through FOIA. It lists World War II awards (“Br. & Dtch. Vict. Meds.”) and other qualifications which simply do not exist. It is being represented as a true and accurate record originating with the Bureau (and your copy is claimed to be a forgery manufactured by the US Navy). I enclose a copy of the disputed record for your interest.

I am trying to corroborate certain other details given in the purported record, in particular the following points:

1. The record refers to USS Howland. I can find no record of this in the Dictionary of American Fighting Ships, but I believe it may have been the name given to a naval receiving
station on Long Island, NY during World War 2. Can you confirm this?

2. The record lists Lt L. R. Hubbard USNR 113392 as being the Commanding Officer of the USS Howland, though the period is not given. Do you have a record of the Howland’s COs during the period 1 July 1941 through 31 December 1945?

3. The record purports to have been signed by Lt Cdr Howard D. Thompson USNR, presumably on or around the date given on the document, 6 December 1945. Presumably Lt Cdr Thompson would have been assigned to the Bureau of Naval Personnel, given the supposed provenance of the record in question. Can you confirm his existence, did he serve in the Bureau in Nov-Dec 1945 and can you give me any details of his service record?

I would be grateful if you could action these requests under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act. I am willing to pay fees up to the value of $60.

If you wish any clarifications from me, I can be contacted at the address above or via the following:

Telephone: – 0900 through 1700 weekdays
Facsimile: – ditto (mark “for attention of Mr. Owen”)
E-mail:
Any assistance you could render would be most gratefully received.

Yours faithfully,
(signed)

Chris Owen