[Title 32 CFR 578.25a]
[Code of Federal Regulations (annual edition) - July 1, 2002 Edition]
[Title 32 - NATIONAL DEFENSE]
[Chapter V - DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY]
[Subchapter F - PERSONNEL]
[Part 578 - DECORATIONS, MEDALS, RIBBONS, AND SIMILAR DEVICES]
[Sec. 578.25a - Certificate of Honorable Service and Record Service (Deceased Military Personnel).]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]


32NATIONAL DEFENSE32002-07-012002-07-01false578.25aSec. 578.25aNATIONAL DEFENSEDEPARTMENT OF THE ARMYPERSONNELDECORATIONS, MEDALS, RIBBONS, AND SIMILAR DEVICES
Sec. 578.25a  Certificate of Honorable Service and Record Service (Deceased Military Personnel).

    (a) Certificate of Honorable Service. A Certificate of Honorable 
Service (DA Form 1563) is issued to the closest next of kin of record in 
recognition of services rendered by those who die in line of duty while 
in active military service in time of peace when the Accolade is not 
appropriate.
    (1) The certificate reads as follows:

    Honorable Service in the Armed Forces of the United States of 
America. This is to certify that--------------------------died while in 
the service of our country as a member of the Army of the United States 
on the--------------day of-------------- This certificate is awarded as 
a testimonial of Honest and Faithful Service. (Signature) Secretary of 
the Army.

    (2) Certificates of Honorable Service will be issued by The Adjutant 
General upon receipt of reports of death.
    (b) A Record of Service--Deceased Military Personnel (DA Form 53A). 
Form 53A will be issued for all military personnel who die while in the 
active military service or while taking inactive status training as 
reservists not on active duty, regardless of line of duty status. 
Commanding officer having custody of the individual's records at time of 
death will prepare the form in duplicate. The original will be forwarded 
to the closest next of kin of record of the deceased individual in the 
following order: Widow or widower, eldest son, eldest daughter, father, 
mother, eldest brother, eldest sister, eldest grandchild.