PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:         22 October 1998      
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AC98-10934

	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. Deborah L. Brantley			Analyst	

The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Ms. June Hajjar			Chairperson	
	Mr. Fred K. McCoy			Member	
	Ms. Shirley L. Powell			Member	

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

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	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 military records be corrected to reflect award of the Army Commendation Medal and the Mechanic/Operator Badge.  He states they were omitted from his separation report.

3.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty on 27 February 1974 and was trained as a power generator equipment operator.  On 5 August 1975, while performing his duties in Europe, he was awarded the Mechanic/Operator Badge for special mechanic equipment.  (NOTE: The badge is now referred to as the Driver and Mechanic Badge).  Orders confirming the badge were published by Headquarters, US Army Europe and Seventh Army.

4.  On 20 February 1976 the applicant was released from active duty.  The badge was omitted from his separation document.

5.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides that the Army Commendation medal may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving in any capacity with the Army after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service.  As with all personal decorations, formal recommendations, approval through the chain of command, and announcement in orders are required.

6.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 also provides that the Driver and Mechanic Badge is awarded with a component bar denoting the basis for the award.  An “S” component bar denotes the badge was awarded based on operating special mechanical equipment.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The evidence confirms the applicant was awarded the Driver and Mechanic Badge for operating special mechanical equipment.  The badge was confirmed in published orders and as such it would be appropriate to add the award to his record.

2.  There is, however, no evidence, and the applicant has not provided any, that he was ever recommended for or awarded an Army Commendation Medal.

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 that the individual concerned was awarded the Driver and Mechanic Badge for operating special mechanical equipment.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

__JH___  __FKM__  _SLP____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		______________________
		        CHAIRPERSON