Johnston County Military Discharge Records Restored and Preserved

Smithfield, NC – Johnston County Register of Deeds Craig Olive recently announced the completion of another significant phase in the office’s ongoing document restoration project. This phase focused on preserving thousands of Veterans’ Certificates of Discharge, commonly known as DD-214s.

The first DD-214 was recorded in Johnston County on January 30, 1922, documenting the service of a World War I veteran. These forms provide critical details about a veteran’s military service, including dates of service, rank, last duty assignment, military specialty, battles and campaigns, wounds received, and medals or awards. The Register of Deeds office is responsible for protecting these vital records, which are often required to obtain veterans’ benefits and services.

“This restoration is a vital and necessary duty,” said Craig Olive. “As custodian of these records, I am committed to ensuring they are preserved in the best possible condition for future generations.”

The restoration work was completed by HF Group at their conservation lab in Greensboro, N.C. The project was funded through the Register of Deeds Automation and Preservation Fund. During the preservation process, the documents were professionally de-acidified, surface cleaned, mended, and treated for stain and adhesive removal to ensure their longevity.

Military discharge records on file for 80 years or less are not considered public record and are only accessible by the veteran or their widow or widower. Once a document has been on file for more than 80 years, those access restrictions no longer apply.

This restoration initiative is part of an ongoing effort by the Johnston County Register of Deeds office to preserve historical records and ensure they remain accessible for generations to come. 

To see video highlights from the restoration project and to hear directly from the Register of Deeds, check out the latest video on our Youtube channel. Be sure to visit the Johnston County Register of Deeds website to learn more about the services they provide.