Another item, Renee:
A very important part of the process is to request your father's mlty. records from NPRC (Ntl. Personnel Records Center) on Page Ave. in St. Louis, MO. The form is found at:
http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/mil...-form-180.html
You are next-of-kin so you should have some success in obtaining records
pertaining to your dad. Be advised, though, of the disastrous fire at NPRC
back in 1973, in which many records were destroyed.
Regards,
Tripp