PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:            20 October 1999                   
	DOCKET NUMBER:    AR1998012936

	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. W. E. Schnupp		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred K. McCoy		Chairperson	
	Mr. John H. Kern		Member	
	Ms. Barbara J. Ellis		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 he be awarded the Good Conduct Medal (GCM).

3.  The applicant states that he would like his WD AGO Form 53, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, corrected to show the GCM and then be issued the GCM.  In support of his request, he has provided a copy of his WD AGO Form 53, a letter setting out the circumstances of his request and a copy of his Honorable Discharge Certificate.

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Information herein was derived from documents provided by the applicant.

5.  The record shows that he entered the Army on 28 October 1946 and served in the European Theater of Operations from 21 February 1947 to 5 September 1949 as a light truck driver.  He was honorably discharged on 12 September 1949 after 2 years, 10 months and 15 days service in the grade of corporal.  He had no days-lost time during his term of service.  His awards include the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany) and the World War II Victory Medal, which were issued to him on 4 May 1999.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, provides, in pertinent part, that the Good Conduct Medal is awarded on a selective basis to soldiers who distinguish themselves from among their fellow soldiers by their exemplary conduct, efficiency and fidelity throughout a specified period of continuous enlisted active Federal military service.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  While the applicant’s records are indeed sparse, those available do show that he served 2 years, 10 months and 15 days honorably without any lost time, and except for administrative error, would probably have been awarded the GCM.

2.  Based on the evidence available this Board believes that award of the GCM is appropriate in this case.

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:

a.  showing that the individual concerned was awarded the GCM for exemplary service during the period 28 October 1946 to 12 September 1949; and
	b.  correcting his WD AGO Form 53 to show the GCM and issuing him the GCM.

BOARD VOTE:  

__fkm___  _jhk____  _bje_____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		__Fred K. McCoy________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1998012936	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	YYYYMMDD	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  107.00		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.