PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:           9 December 1998                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-12150

	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	
	Ms. Wanda L. Waller		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. June Hajjar 		Chairperson	
	Mr. Fred N. Eichorn		Member	
	Mr. Thomas B. Redfern, III		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 correction of item 26 (Decoration, Medals, Badges, Commendations, Citations and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized) of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) to show award of the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Ribbon (correctly known as the National Defense Service Medal), the Regular Reserve Ribbon (correctly known as the Armed Forces Reserve Medal) and unspecified unit citations.      

3.  The applicant states his DD Form 214 should list these three awards.  He contends that, in effect, he is entitled to the Armed Forces Reserve Medal because he served in the active Reserve for about one year in a civil and military Government unit.  He also requests consideration for other awards he may be entitled to.  

4.  The applicant’s military records show he entered active duty on 2 November 1954, trained as a musician and served in Hawaii from 26 April 1955 to
27 August 1956.  He was separated in the grade of E-3 with an honorable discharge on 30 August 1956.  

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214, which is authenticated in his own hand, does not show the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal or the Armed Forces Reserve Medal as authorized awards.

6.  There is no evidence of record that the applicant was recommended for or received the first award of the Good Conduct Medal.  However, item 32 (Remarks) of the applicant’s DD Form 214 shows “Item 26 – Eligible for GCM” [Good Conduct Medal].        

7.  There is no evidence the applicant served a period of service which qualifies for award of the National Defense Service Medal.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant entered active duty on 2 November 1954 and was separated on
30 August 1956.  

8.  There is no evidence the applicant was awarded or qualified for the Armed Forces Reserve Medal.

9.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) does not show the unit to which the applicant was assigned was awarded a unit citation during his service in that unit.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by their conduct, efficiency and fidelity during a qualifying period of active duty enlisted service.  This period is 3 years except in those cases when the period for the first award ends with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Although there is no automatic entitlement to the Good Conduct Medal, disqualification must be justified.  
11.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service for any period between 27 July 1950 through 27 July 1954, 1 January 1961 through 14 August 1974, and 2 August 1990 through 30 November 1995.

12.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, in pertinent part, provides for award of the Armed Forces Reserve Medal (AFRM).  It is awarded for honorable and satisfactory service as a member of one or more of the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces of the United States for a period of 10 years.  The conditions for award of the AFRM include requirements for such service to be completed within 12 consecutive years and service in a regular component of the Armed Forces, tenure in elected state office, tenure as a member of a legislative body of the United States or a state, and service as a judge of a court of record of the United States, a state or territory or District of Columbia is excluded from credit to ward this award but does not constitute a break in service.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant is entitled to the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period of 2 November 1954 through 30 August 1956 based on completion of a period of qualifying service ending with termination of a period of Federal military service. 

2.  There is no evidence of record available to the Board which shows the applicant completed a period of active service during a period of eligibility for the National Defense Service Medal.  Therefore, the applicant is not entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show this award.

3.  There is no evidence of record, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows he completed 10 years of Reserve service required for award of the Armed Forces Reserve Medal.  Therefore, he is not entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show this award. 

4.  There is no evidence or record, and the applicant has provided no evidence, which shows that he was entitled to a unit citation.  

5.  In view of the foregoing findings and conclusions, it would be appropriate to correct the applicant’s records, but only as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing that the individual concerned was awarded the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period of 2 November 1954 through
30 August 1956.
2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied. 

BOARD VOTE:  

JH______  FNE_____  TBR____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AC98-12150/AR1998012926	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19981209	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19560830	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.