PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                16 December 1998
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AC98-12383
				        AR1998012229

	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. Hubert S. Shaw, Jr.		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Ernest M. Willcher		Chairperson	
	Ms. Lana E. McGlynn		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 correction of his records to show that he was a prisoner of war.

3.  The applicant states he was prisoner of war of the North Koreans from 1950 to 1953.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he entered active duty in February 1946 and completed over 25 years of active service.  The applicant was separated from active duty on 31 March 1972 and placed on the retired list the next day. 

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) does not show the Prisoner of War Medal or indicate that he was a prisoner of war.

6.  The applicant’s records contain an “OFFICIAL STATEMENT” prepared by the Adjutant General of the Army on 23 April 1979.  This document shows that the applicant was a “Korean prisoner of war from 28 November 1950 to 20 August 1953.”

7.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, for award of the POW Medal.  The regulation states that the POW Medal was authorized on 8 November 1985 and is awarded to individuals who in past armed conflicts were taken prisoner or held captive.

8.  Army regulation establishes the standardized policy for preparing and distributing discharge documents.  In pertinent part, it directs that, in the case of prisoners of war, the unit of assignment, country and dates of capture and release will be entered in the “Remarks” section of the discharge document.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Evidence of record shows that the applicant was a “Korean prisoner of war from 28 November 1950 to 20 August 1953.  Therefore the applicant is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 to show the Prisoner of War Medal and his status as a prisoner of war.

2.  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:

	a.  by showing the individual concerned was awarded the Prisoner of War Medal in item 24 of his DD Form 214 with an effective date of 31 March 1972; and 

	b.  by showing in item 30 (Remarks) of his DD Form 214 with an effective date of 31 March 1972 the entry “of item “Prisoner of War, 31st Infantry Regiment, Korea, 501128-530820”.

BOARD VOTE:  

EMW___  LEM_____  CJS____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AC9812383/AR1998012229	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19981216	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.