Had a buddy who was a marine, and would hint around about cool stuff he did in vietnam, but never got into details or talked about it much.  I never looked into it further than that.  Well hes been dead about 2 years now, and i want to know if i can find out anything or not.

I think you can request his records under the freedom of information act, but not being a relative, it will be really basic general stuff.  Just stuff like when he enlisted and was discharged, MOS, etc.  I think you have to be the veteran or an immediate relative to get the full records.  I looked into it for my grandfather's records one time (he was in WWII and is deceased) but never ended up requesting them.

Quoted: I think you can request his records under the freedom of information act, but not being a relative, it will be really basic general stuff.  Just stuff like when he enlisted and was discharged, MOS, etc.  I think you have to be the veteran or an immediate relative to get the full records.

well i wasnt expecting any great detail.  who would i submit the foia request to.

I was never military, so maybe someone with current or previous service can answer better, but what I had read was this:  www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/standard-form-180.html

ETA:  check this out too, it says you have to actually cite that it's under the Freedom of Information Act in your request if you're not related:  www.stolenvalor.com/foia.htm

the final DD214 will list all the decorations and awards.  Doesn't say where or why, just lists them.  If it ain't there he didn't get them.

Be aware that DD214's can be notoriously inaccurate depending upon the haste of the exiting veteran and the attention that processing personnel and the veteran gives to details. Many vets simply don't care and just want to depart the area. Half of them won't demand decent physicals...
Future award releases, school/command reporting requirements and G.I. Bill snafu's have led to blanket corrections and inaccurate documentation. Length of service compounds the problem as some of the services no longer issue DD214's upon discharge/reenlistment, getting lost in some administrative grey area as to whether its an extension, reenlistment whatever...
You could go 8-12 or more years without a DD214 if you extend your enlistment.
Typical DOD bureaucratic boondoggles.
DD215's are the corrected versions.

My experience only, YMMV

Just sayin'