PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:            11 February 1999                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1998012208

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Mr. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Mr. Jessie B. Strickland		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. Irene N. Wheelwright		Chairperson	
	Mr. Van B. Cunningham		Member	
	Ms. Carol Jo Suiter		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests that his separation documents be corrected to reflect his correct date of birth (DOB).

3.  The applicant states, in effect,  that his separation document (Form 53-55) dated 13 January 1946 incorrectly reflects his DOB as 2 April 1922 when his correct DOB is 24 May 1922.  In support of his application he submits a copy of his birth certificate card issued by the State of South Carolina indicating that his DOB is 24 May 1922. 

4.  The applicant’s military records were destroyed in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center at St. Louis, Missouri which destroyed approximately 18 million service records.  However, the available records show that the applicant was inducted on 1 January 1943, that he entered active duty on 8 January 1943 and served until he was honorably discharged on 13 January 1946. 

5.  The applicant subsequently enlisted in the Regular Army on 21 July 1953 and served until he was discharged under honorable conditions on 15 February 1954 under the provisions of Army Regulation 615-365.  However, at the time of his separation from the service on 13 January 1946, his Form 53-55 indicates that his DOB is 2 April 1922. 

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Although the applicant’s records are not available for review by the Board, the Board is convinced, based on the evidence submitted, that an administrative error resulted in his DOB being incorrectly entered on his separation documents.

2.  Therefore, it would be in the interest of justice to correct his DOB at this time to reflect his correct DOB as 24 May 1922. 

3.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the DOB of the individual concerned is 24 May 1922 instead of 2 April 1922 as currently reflected on his separation documents.

BOARD VOTE:  

___inw__  ___vbc__  __cjs___  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Irene N. Wheelwright  ___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999012208	
SUFFIX		
RECON	 	
DATE BOARDED	19990211	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	 	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	 	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	 	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT 	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  110.00		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.