PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF: 

	BOARD DATE:                15 December 1999
	DOCKET NUMBER:        AR1999014750

	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. Thomas N. Kuhn		Chairperson	
	Ms. Elizabeth Buchanon		Member	
	Mr. Mark D. Manning		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 award of the Good Conduct Medal and the Presidential Unit Citation.

3.  The applicant states that the awards he is requesting were administratively omitted from his DD Form 214 (Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States).

4.  The applicant’s military records were lost or destroyed in the National Personnel Records Center fire of 1973.  Records available to the Board were obtained from alternate sources and show that he entered active duty on 16 January 1952.  He served in Korea for approximately 18 months and was honorably discharged on 14 January 1955.

5.  The applicant’s DD Form 214 does not show the Good Conduct Medal or the Presidential Unit Citation as authorized awards.

6.  There is no indication in the applicant’s records that he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal.  There also is no evidence the applicant was disqualified by his unit commander for award of the Good Conduct Medal.  Available records do not indicate any instances of indiscipline or lost time.

7.  Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1, Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register, dated 6 July 1961, shows, among other information, units awards authorized for units which served during the Korean Conflict.  This document shows the applicant’s unit of assignment, the 326 Communications Reconnaissance Company, was not awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.

8.  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.  

9.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that the Presidential Unit Citation (known as the Distinguished Unit Citation until 3 November 1966) is awarded for extraordinary heroism in action. 

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant is entitled to the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 16 January 1952 through 14 January 1955 based on completion of a period of qualifying service ending with the termination of a period of Federal military service.  Therefore, he is entitled to correction of his records to show this award.
2.  There is no evidence of record, and the applicant has provided no evidence, that the unit to which he was assigned during the Korean Conflict was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.  Therefore, the applicant is not entitled to award of this unit citation.

3.  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 the individual concerned was awarded the first award of the Good Conduct Medal for the period 16 January 1952 through 14 January 1955.

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

BOARD VOTE:  

TNK____  EB______  MDM____  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		Thomas N. Kuhn________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999014750	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19991215	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	HD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19550114	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	SR 615-365-5/AR615-360	
DISCHARGE REASON	RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY	
BOARD DECISION	GRANT 	
REVIEW AUTHORITY	MR SCHNEIDER	
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.