RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  02-00430
					INDEX CODE 110.01  107.00
	 				COUNSEL:  None

					HEARING DESIRED:  No

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His 1946 Report of Separation (WD AGO Form 53-55) reflect the following changes:

		a.  Item 15 should reflect 5 feet 9 inches instead of 5 feet (See Statement of Facts).

		b.  Item 32 should also include campaigns in the Philippine Islands, Okinawa, Naha and Japan.

		c.  Item 36 should reflect a departure date of 24 Jan 46, rather than 24 Jan 36, and an arrival date of 2 Feb 46, rather than 2 Feb 45 (See Statement of Facts).

		d.  Item 37, Foreign Service, should reflect 1 year, 3 months and 23 days rather than 3 months and 23 days (See Statement of Facts).

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The applicant contends he has been trying for over 50 years to have the errors corrected. He provided a copy of a 27 Jun 47 letter he wrote to the Office of the Adjutant General in Washington, DC, requesting Sections 15, 36 and 37 be corrected. 

The complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The 1973 fire in the National Personnel Records Center destroyed the applicant’s records, so no unaltered Report of Separation is available from that source.  The applicant provided an annotated copy of his WD AGO 53-55 at Exhibit A.  

According to the WD AGO 53-55 provided by the applicant, he enlisted on 21 Jul 42 and entered active service on 1 May 43. He departed the US on 10 Oct 44 and arrived overseas on 7 Nov 44. The form reflects that he departed overseas on 24 Jan 36, returned to the US on 2 Feb 45, and was separated on 12 Feb 46.  Also, the form reflects that he had 2 years, 9 months and 12 days of total active service, of which 2 years, 5 months and 19 days were continental service, and 3 months and 23 days were foreign service. 

On 19 Mar 02, HQ AFPC/DPPPRA invited the applicant to provide an unaltered copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55 and copies of official documentation showing his overseas unit of assignment and inclusive dates of that assignment. However, the applicant only resubmitted the same package and indicated he did not know what a WD AGO Form 53-55 was or where to get one.

In a letter dated 2 May 02, HQ AFPC/DPPRSP forwarded a DD Form 215 to the applicant, advising that Items 15, 26 [sic] and 27 [sic] of his WD AGO Form 53-55 had been corrected.  However, the AFBCMR Staff advised DPPRSP that the Items in question are 36 and 37, not 26 and 27. DPPRSP indicated they would administratively correct these errors after the Board had concluded the case.  

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPPPR notes that the applicant did not provide any documentation to substantiate his claim for additional campaign credit.  They also note that the “Unit Meritorious Service Plaque” and “American Theater Service Medal” in Item 33 were typed on the WD AGO 53-55 at a later date, by a different typewriter, but there is no indication that these are official entries. Without the applicant’s unit of assignment and specific dates he was in the Pacific Theater, DPPPR cannot determine the number of campaigns for which his unit received credit. Without a “clean” copy of his Report of Separation, they cannot determine whether or not any additional awards should be added, such as the American Campaign Medal. The separation form reflects campaign credit for Luzon and New Guinea.  Campaign credit for Philippine Islands is for the period 7 Dec 41-10 May 42. Since the applicant was not in the Pacific during this period, he would not be eligible for this campaign, no matter what his unit of assignment was.  There is no campaign credit for Okinawa, Naha or Japan. Denial is recommended with regard to awards, decorations and additional campaign credit.

A complete copy of the evaluation, with attachments, is at Exhibit B.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 10 May 2002 for review and comment within 30 days.  As of this date, this office has received no response. 

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THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.	The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing law or regulations.

2.	The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file.

3.	Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice to warrant partial relief.  We note that HQ AFPC/DPPRSP administratively corrected Item 15 on the applicant’s separation document, so this item no longer requires the Board’s consideration.  DPPRSP also attempted to administratively correct Item 36, Service Outside Continental US and Return, and Item 37, Total Length of Service. However, the administrative corrections were erroneously made to Items 26 and 27 instead. Based on what appear to be typographical errors, we recommend that the departure/arrival dates in Item 36 be corrected as the applicant requests. We also recommend that his foreign service in Item 37 be changed to reflect 1 year, 3 months and 23 days. Further, based on the applicant’s active duty entry date and his separation date, he had 2 years, 9 months and 12 days of total active service. Since his foreign service has been increased, his continental service needs to be reduced from 2 years, 5 months and 19 days to 1 year, 5 months and 19 days. Therefore, we recommend his WD AGO 53-55 be amended as indicated below.
 
4.	The applicant’s request to include additional campaigns in Item 32 of his WD AGO 53-55 was considered. However, we do not find his uncorroborated assertions, in and by themselves, sufficiently persuasive to override the rationale provided by the Air Force. He was not in the Pacific during the pertinent period for the Philippine Islands campaign, and there is no campaign credit for Okinawa, Naha or Japan. In view of the above and absent persuasive evidence to the contrary, we conclude this portion of the applicant’s appeal should be denied.  

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THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that his WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, issued in conjunction with his honorable discharge on 12 Feb 46, reflects the following:

	a.  In Item 36, Service Outside Continental US and Return, the departure date is 24 Jan 46, rather than 24 Jan 36, and the arrival date is 2 Feb 46, rather than 2 Feb 45.

	b.  In Item 37, Total Length of Service, his Foreign Service is 1 year, 3 months and 23 days, rather than 3 months and 23 days, and his Continental Service is 1 year, 5 months and 19 days, rather than 2 years, 5 months, and 19 days.

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The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 9 July 2002 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The following documentary evidence relating to AFBCMR Docket Number 02-00430 was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 6 Feb 02, w/atchs
   Exhibit B.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPPR, dated 11 Apr 02, w/atchs.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 May 02.

                                   

AFBCMR 02-00430

MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF

	Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records and under the authority of Section 1552, Title 10, United States Code (70A Stat 116), it is directed that:

	The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to     , be corrected to show that his WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, issued in conjunction with his honorable discharge on 12 February 1946, reflects the following:

	     a.  In Item 36, Service Outside Continental US and Return, the departure date is 24 January 1946, rather than 24 January 1936, and the arrival date is 2 February 1946, rather than 2 February 1945.

	     b.  In Item 37, Total Length of Service, his Foreign Service is 1 year, 3 months and 23 days, rather than 3 months and 23 days, and his Continental Service is 1 year, 5 months and 19 days, rather than 2 years, 5 months, and 19 days.