PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:               10 March 1999              
	DOCKET NUMBER:       AC98-10001
                                                  AR1998013617

	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. Beverly A. Young 		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Fred K. McCoy		Chairperson	
	Ms. Meta Waller 		Member	
	Mr. Kenneth L. Wright		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 award of the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) for “heroic achievement”.

3.  The applicant states that, in effect, he was never awarded the BSM.  In support of his application, he submits a letter of recommendation with endorsements, a report of the 76th Engineer Construction Battalion, two letters of support, and a letter to his Senator.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 21 March 1947 and completed training as a construction machine operator.  He completed several assignments overseas and in the United States and was retired from active duty in the grade of E-8 on 31 January 1968.

5.  The applicant’s personnel records contain one WD AGO Form 53 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation) and two DD Forms 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge).  These discharge documents do not show the Bronze Star Medal as an authorized award.  The Board notes that the applicant is entitled to award of the Army Commendation Medal which also is not shown on his discharge documents.

6.  There are no orders in the applicant’s personnel records which show he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.  The applicant submitted a letter of recommendation for award of the Bronze Star Medal for “heroic achievement”, dated 10 October 1950.  However, the Assistant Adjutant General, I Corps in Korea returned the recommendation for award without action.  There is no indication in the applicant’s records which show that the recommendation was resubmitted for approval.

7.  The applicant was awarded the Army Commendation Medal by XI United States Army Corps General Order Number 12, dated 23 January 1968.

8.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Bronze Star Medal is awarded in time of war for heroism and for meritorious achievement or service.  As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required. 

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  There is no evidence of record which shows the applicant was awarded the Bronze Star Medal; therefore, he is not entitled to correction of his records to show this award.

2.  The applicant was awarded the Army Commendation Medal; therefore, he is entitled to correction of his DD Form 214 with an effective date of 31 January 1968 to show this award.

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

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by showing the individual concerned was awarded the Army Commendation Medal.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

FKM____  MW_____  KLW____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Fred K. McCoy
		CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AC98-10001/AR1998013617	
SUFFIX		
RECON	19990310	
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.